Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-25

ana to the ship to give an idea or the
kind of service that the young men are
rendering. Dances are given in con-
| nection with these affairs. and, in addi-
| ton, some prominent government official
| Is selected to address the members of
| the command. President Wilson, Secre-
tary Daniels and Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt of the Navy Department and
Commissioners Newman and Siddons Of
! the District of Columbia have been
visitors to the armory at these functions.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt. when he
addressed the battalion. gave official ap-
prevail to these social functions, declar-
ing that it encouraged the better class of
young men to enlist and take an interest
in the organization.
Heretofore the officers have conducted
these affairs alone. but from now on. it
is declared committee of the enlisted
personnel will be elected to handle the
affairs for the men. These functions
| were held every month last year, but
there has not been one since November.
1t is declared. however, that the officers
are now contemplating holding the first
One of the new year next month.
A number of men from the engineering
division of the Naval Battalion have been
ordered to report for duty today, when,
under the direction of the engineer Of
fcers, they will give the engine and boil
er in the steam launch a thorough over
hauling. While the battalion. is not
ricks which ordinarily would be neces-
, sary for an undertaking of this kind, the
officers decided they could do the work
by using the boat davits on the Sylvia
for lifting the top off of the boiler SO
that the inside could be thoroughly
| cleaned. The launch will be brought
| from it's mornings near the battalion's
| dock, and will be tied up alongside of
the Sylvia, where the top of the boiler
| will be removed and lifted. with the aid
of 10 tn fho
| engineers to do their work.
When the men are through their work,
| which it is expected will take them about
| half a day. the launch will be in excel
lent shape and will be ready for the
| number of cruises which 1t is proposed to
J take on her when river is again open to
| navigation.
| The proposal to overhaul the steam
| launch again. calls to the attention of the
officers of the battalion the need Of ma
chine shop facilities for the use of the
battalion. At present there are
no facilities in the way of lathes.
etc, where the men can do repair work
| which is necessary on ships Many times
| they are compelled to send to the navy
yard work which ordinarily could be
done by themselves il there was a ma
chine shop at hand. The latter part of
| last year the suggestion was made to
! Commander Dempf that he establish a
| machine shop in the furnace room of the
| battalion's armory. where there is ample
space for it. 1t would save expense and
much delay. Commander Dempf gave
his thorough approval of the idea at the
| time but. somehow or other, 1t was de-
clared, it WAS not pushed during the
| Christmas holidays. and now comes the
| time when it is needed. 1t is said to be
probable that Commander Dempf, dur
| ing the next week or two will take
active steps toward obtaining the neces-
| sary machinery.
= = :: ::
| The motor dory belonging to the local
naval militia also is to be hauled out of
| the water Sunday for repairs The engine
| in this vessel will! be thoroughly over
hauled. and several boards in the deck
! in the aft part of the vessel are in need
| of repairing. These will be renewed be-
| fore the vessel is again launched for the
spring and summer practice work of
| the battalion.
to begin at the battalion armory next
| Thursday. Under the direction of En-
| sign William R. Hoefer acting chief
| ordnance officer of the battalion, the
targets were erected in the drill hall Of
| the armory last Thursday night by Chief
Carpenters Mate Platz. with the help
| of members o. his carpenters gang
| Indoor rife shooting is to be en-
couraged by Commander Dempf and his
ordnance officer. They think the prac-
"
| by shooting in the armory will enable
| them to make high scores when they
go on the range next year for their an
nual target practice.
| !: =
| Not even the officers of the battalion
| are left ont of the instruction courses
which have been mapped out for the or
| ganizatiou. While the enlisted personnel
| were receiving their instruction In their
| quarters last Thursday night, under the
direction of the chief petty officers, the
officers were on the drill hall floor listen
ing to a lecture by Lieut.. W. Granville
] Guss, executive officer of the battalion
! Mr.. Guss expressed the desire to have
| the officers become very proficient in the
| sword manual. and he lined them up and
| put them through the sword drill. 1t is
also his idea not to let the officers, in
| handling the sword. forget about the
handling of rifle. and it is said to be
the purpose of the executive officer to
give the officers periodical drills in the
manual Of arms, just to 'Iet them keep
their hand in.
AT one of the dances given by the
battalion the officers room was turned
over to the ladies for their cloaks, and
on the door appears the sign Wraps"
This Is the room In which the officers
! conferences lately have been held, and