Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-09

for it are going forward. Eff
forts are now being made to obtain some
prominent speakers to address the MEM
bers of the local naval militia Ensign
Frank w. Sigourney last week extended
an invitation to Admiral George Dewey
to address the battalion on Manila bay,
but the admiral was forced to decline
because Of his rule regarding social en-
gagements.
President Wilson and Secretary Daniels
opened the social season for the Naval
Battalion, and the officers Of this organi-
cation feel that they must keep up the
standard for distinguished speakers
When the speakers for the next muster
have been obtained the date will be an
nounced, and further preparations will be
made
All Of the schools for the enlisted men
OF the Naval Battalion were opened
Thursday night and no little amount of
experience was obtained by the men. The
schools Of engineering and signaling were
in full swing. After the short sessions
In these schools We're over the men were
taught infantry drill in the big drill hall
of the armory. for the sailor man has to
know how to do work of the infantry as
well as that of the sailor.
Although the crate bars for the bat
tallon's new steam launch were ordered
about month ago they have not ar
rived. Until this equipment comes the
launch is of absolutely no use to the
naval militiamen. 1t was said at the
armory last week that it is something un-
usual for 1t to take month to get a
shipment of this kind. They usually ar
rive about ten days after the order is
given.
An echo of the successful cruise Of
the Naval Battalion on the battleship
Alabama last summer is contained in
a letter of praise from Commander
Charles F. Preston, U. S. N, who COM
manded the Alabama on that cruise
to the Navy Department Commander
Preston is now detailed as a member
of the faculty at the Naval Academy at
Annapolis. copy of the letter was
received yesterday by Commander
Dempf.
The letter is full of praise for the
naval militiamen, and tells of the eff
clent manner in which they executed
their duties while aboard the ship. The
hearty approval of these annual cruises
is given by Commander Preston, who
saws that the naval militia must be
trained for war in time of peace. He
mahes it plain that none of the naval
militiamen was treated as guests
while they were aboard his ship
The naval militia he says, did their
part to keep the ship clean and We're
treated exactly as were the members
and night, We're strenuous and an eff
fort was made to teach the personnel
to use intelligently the batteries, fire.
control instruments, searchlights, etc.
The engineers were put on duty just
as if they were regulars in the fire
and engine rooms.
Unless the naval militia is prepared
for actual service (Which is a big or
<.Sx fhar fS nth xar-
reason for their existence that | know
of They all seemed anxious to learn
and to be actuated by a fine spirit of
civic and patriotic duty"
Commander Dempf was much pleased
with such a report from the commander
of the Alabama. With such a report be-
fore him he feels that his work to build
up the local Naval Battalion has not
been in vain, and such a report to come
from a regular officer, who is used to
having regular men do the work of the
ship, makes him feel that his men have
been taught to handle the ship just as
efficiently as the regular crew
The commander of the local naval
mand, and he added his praise to that of
the commander of the Alabama.
:: = i; X
Although the L. s. S. Sylvia, the prac
tice boat of the local Naval Battalion,
has been at the Washington navy yard
for repairs Tor nearly q HOHtfl, the WOIh
on her hull has not yet been started. 1t
was said at the navy yard yesterday that
the work has not yet been authorized
by the Navy Department. The boat was
taken away from the Naval Battalion
dock presumably to have the repairs
started Immediately, but there has been
a long delay.
While the boat remains idle at the
Washington navy yard, the local naval
militiamen are deprived of a lot of prac-
tice work, which they can obtain only
with the vessel. recent order OF the
department requires that the naval
milit.amen shall take the vessel out on
a number of cruises, or the vessel Will
be taken away and given to an organlza-
ton which will make use of her. The
loyal naval organization is eager to get
the boat to make use of her on short
trips down the river on drill nights. but
if the navy officials insist upon holding
up the work it will be summer time be-
fore the vessel returns to her dock, thus
the militamen of three months
pra ctice work. 1t is estimated that IT
will take one month to complete the re-
pairs after the authorization to begin
has been received.
:. x = :.
An invitation has been extended to the
of the District of Column
bia to visit the Naval Battalion on its
next muster night and inspect the organ