Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-21


Naval Battalion. n. q. D. c., is sched.
uled to return 60 her dock at the foot o.
Water and o streets southwest early to-
day. Despite the fact that this is the
holiday period for the local naval militia
no trouble. was experienced in assembling
a crew of battalion members to man the
vessel on the trip from the navy yard to
her dock.
Under the command OF Ensign William
Hoefer the Sylvia is scheduled to leave
her berth 1T the navy yard at O'clock
this morning and steam for her doc.
at the foot of o street. Ensgus Frani
w. Sigourney and Harold Crawford will
assist in navigating the vessel on her trip
down the Eastern branch and up the
Potomac, while Ensign Paul V. Thomp-
son. commanding the 18th Division. will
assist in directing the work IN the engine
room.
During the two months the little vesse
has been at the Washington yard every
part of her was gone over. both inside
and out, and where repairing was needed
it was done. Her machinery was com
pletely overhauled, the cabin was re-
modelled and new lighting system fol
this part of the ship was installed. Her
awning equipment has been completely
renewed and few side plates have been
refastened. a good part OF the woodwork
has been renewed. The bowsprit which
was on the vessel when she came here
from Philadelphia has been removed, Civ
ing the craft sort of bob-talled APP
pearance.
:: :; !: x,
Although the local naval militia has
made only one cruise on the Sylvia since
she has been here. it is not believed by
the Junior officers of the naval battalion
that Commander Dempf will allow the
vessel to lie idle at her dock during the
new year. especially in view OF the fact
that she has been thoroughly overhauled
1t was declared last week by one OF the
Junior officers. of the battalion that FOL
the vessel to lie at her dock practically
means that she will be Withdrawn as
soon as the department learns that no
use is being made of her.
The strong fight put up by the local
naval niitiamen to get the vessel even
temporarily assigned here was responsible
FOR the publication by the Navy Depart
n:ent OF the general order which stated
that owing to the great demand ON the
part of naval militia organizations for
naval vessels for practice work, coupled
with the scarcity of craft for such use.
the department would be compelled to
withdraw vessels from organizations
which do not show that they are get
ting all the cruises possible out VI tHti.
The junior officers of the battalion are
formulating plans for making regular
Sunday trips on the Sylvia in order TO
give the naval militiamen the greatest
amount of practicable experience These
plans are being framed up by the junior
officers but the vessel cannot make the
trips unless Commander Dempf approves
the plans.
However, the junior officers assert that
they will make every effort to get Com
mander Dempf's permission to take the
vessel out on these regular trips They
declare that they can never teach naval
work by standing in the armory on drill
nights but must take the vessel out and
give the members of the command train
ing in their particular branches. They
argue that in order to increase the num-
Der of enlistments they must show that
they are training the men. These Junior
officers further declare that If the men
wanted to learn infantry work they would
enlist in the land militia organizations
and not the naval militia. BY taking the
vessel out on more trips the Junior Of
fcers hope to increase the enlistments in
this organization.
x :; ::
Although last Thursday was d holiday
for the naval militiamen. number OF
the officers assembled at the battalion for
conferences Several concluded their
examinations for promotion. In this