Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-24


early winter months. 1t is expected the
be permanently assigned to Washington,
will be here about the middle of the
winter. The Sylvia arrived at the bat
talon dock last Monday afternoon. hav-
ing anchored of Colonial Beach early
Sunday afternoon.
The vessel steamed into port Monday
at a time when there was no one to well
come her. The officers and Naval Militia
crew soon left the vessel and the regu-
lars who are assigned to her made prep
arations to clean her up. Early Tues
day morning the regular men aboard the
vessel started to work to paint her from
the top down, and it is expected that by
the Sunday before Labor day, when she
is scheduled to make her maiden voyage
as the Naval Battalion's vessel, with
commander Dempf in command she will
present spick and span appearance.
Last Thursday night all the men of the
naval Battalion made an inspection of
their new vessel. Much of the paint
work which had to be done had been
finished by the regular sailors, and the
remainder will be done today, when a
detail of naval militiamen will report at
the armory for this work. The little craft
was crowded with visitors Thursday
night. They examined her from top to
Ottom and admired her. All were anx-
1OuS to make a cruise on the vessel as
sOon as possible. Some of them will
lave the chance soon.
All the work which remains to be done
on the vessel will be practically COM
oleted by the detail which will report
.oday. and If any remains to be finished
1t will be completed on the next Thurs
day drill night.
Preparations are now being made by
Commander Dempf for the weekend trip
for Labor day. The boat will be in the
pink Of condition then. and the officers
Of the various divisions are picking the
crew which will handle the little craft
on its maiden voyage. About thirty men
will be needed to man the vessel, which
Battalion dock early Saturday morning,
August 30, and will not return to Wash
ington until the night of September /.
This trip down the river, Commander
Dempf expects. will give the men a lot
of training. There will be all kinds Of
drills, such fire and collision drill, and
even abandon ship drills. The cruise also
will inaugurate a series of trips which
the commander of the Naval Battalion
will make Thursday drill nights and
river remains open.
On the Labor day trip the Naval Bat
talon Band will be taken down to fur
nish music for the battalion.
x * ~ *
The Naval Battalion Band is being re-
Thursday night started the movement to
put new blood into the organization, and
to get rid of some of the material now
in it which he believes cannot work to
the best interests of the band. The men,
bers of the band are regularly enlisted
sailors detailed as musicians. The plans
which Commander Dempf has made will
be put into effect next drill night
:: :: X
The motor dory which has been used
by the members of the Naval Battalion
for short trips down the river will be
painted up within the next week, and
will be swung to the davits of the Syl-
via, replacing one of the cutters which
the Sylvia brought around from Phiia-
delphia.
The placing of this little motor boat
on the Sylvia will save the members
of the battalion lots of hard work. With
the cutters which the Sylvia has it would
be necessary to have crew to row
landing parties ashore from points where
the Sylvia anchored. With the motor
dory, only a crew of two will be needed.
an engineer and a cOXsWain. And, of
course, the little boat can make more
trips between the ship and shore than
could be expected of the cutters.
x :: ::
Tomorrow night will see the reopening
of the officers school of the Naval Batta
lion. In addition to those who were at
tending the institution when it closed in
the summer several new students will be
added to the rolls This school was es-
tablished in the early part of last winter
to train those members Of the battalion
who have been picked to be officers for
examination. The course has no definite
period to run. Those pupils who are
more apt than others are permitted to go
ahead, and special examinations are given
when such pupils think they are compe-
tent to take them.
Commander Dempf is now looking over
the material in the battalion with view
to picking students to be added to the
rolls of the officers school. The school is
lected to attend are required to report at
that time in addition to the regular drill
night.
There are number of vacancies in the
commissioned grade, and Commander
Dempf is anxious to fill them by the time
the battalion begins it's next annual
cruise. When the present ensignS of the
battalion are promoted to the vacancies in
the higher grades there will be six or
seven openings in this lowest commits
stoned grade. Examinations will soon be
given to the ensigns of the battalion, and
then will follow the examinations for pro-
motion to be ensign. In order to take the
it is necessary for those taking it to have
six months or more service in the batta
lion. Those who should enlist in the bait
talon at the present time undoubtedly
would have chance to go up for COM
mission when the regular examina tons
for ensign are held about the middle of
the winter
Efforts are being made by the recruit
ing officers of the battalion to recruit
the battalion up to its full strength OF
400 men. There are now nearly 200 men,
bers of the battalion. But with the full
strength of officers, it is desired that the
enlisted force should also be recruited
up to its full strength. With a vessel
now at the disposal Of the battalion.
members of the organization will be able
to get much actual experience on her.
The chance to learn marine engineering
is excellent, the members being under
competent engineer officers who have
had much experience in this line. The
battalion will be divided up and various
sections taken out on training cruises
from time to time, until the larger yes
sci, the q. S. S. Wasp arrives. when
all members Of the battalion can be
taken down the river at one time.
:. x = ::
The first general muster of tie Naval
Battalion since the cruise on the Ala
bama will take place the first Thursday
in September. and will take fthe form Of
housewarming for the U. IS. s. Sylvia,
the Naval Battalion vessel Elaborate
plans are being made, and ID the weather
permits most Of the ceremonies In con-
nectiOn with the muster viii be held ON
the dock under myriad of electric lights
which will be strung about the dock and
on the ship. This will be the first time
In, h0 hi fn Of hoff Ron a