Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-15

It's armOry, water ana -
streets southwest, Thursday night His
visit will take the form Of an inspection.
Elaborate preparations are being made
by the officers and enlisted personnel OF
the battalion for the visit of the Vice
President. Following the inspection. q
dance is to be given In the drill hall.
Ensign Frank W. Sigourney. abide
camp to Commander Joseph A. Dempf
commanding the naval militia, called on
Vice President Marshall last Thursday
and personally invited him to inspect the
battalion. The Vice President, the mex
day. accepted the invitation and prom
ised that he would be at the naval mi
litia armory at s:45 Thursday night.
In view Of the fact that the Naya
Battalion Band now is undergoing a re.
organization, the members of the regular
navy band at the Washington Navy YarG
volunteered their services for the even.
Ing to help out in the entertainment. OF.
ficers of the Naval Militia yesterday
said they We're very grateful to the mem.
bers of the Navy Yard Band for offering
their services
The question of having the inspection
and dance was put up to the men las,
Thursday night by Commander Dempf
He mustered them in the drill hall and
asked if they wanted to give a dance next
Thursday night, when Vice President
Marshall will be there. Each man who
was in favor of the proposition was in
structed to step to the front. The whole
battalion marched clear across the drill
hall. Commander Dempf then gave or
ders to his Junior officers to make prep.
arations for the affair.
The visit OF the Vice President will add
another to the list OF high government
officials who have honored the battalion
with their presence. Those who have
inspected the command are President
| Wilson, Secretary Daniels and Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt of the Navy Depart
inent, and Commissioners Newman and
| Siddons of the District of Columbia.
THESE functions have proved popular and
! have served TO increase the enlistments
in the command materially.
Invitations have been prepared and
each officer and enlisted man has been
given a limited number Officers OF the
navy and army and National Guard OF
the District of Columbia and govern
ment officials also have been invited to
be present upon the occasion of the visit
of the Vice President. 1t is expected that
the usual competitive drill will be held
| next Thursday night. with a board OF
National Guard officers as judges. and
| that the usual prizes will be distributed
| TO the three men who stand up the long
est
When the Vice President arrives at the
armory he will be given all Of the honors
which would be given him should he
board a United States battleship. Side.
| boys will be lined up at the head of the
gangway. the bugler will give the re
| quired number OF fourishes and the
boatswain's mates whistle will pipe him
over the side
1t is also proposed to show moving
pictures OF the activities Of the loca
! Naval Militia both ashore and afioat The
| film, which was taken about month
| ago, when the battalion took one Of its
| regular Sunday practice cruises down the
| river. will be displayed on the screen. II
shows the men working aboard the
| Sylvia, the yacht assigned to the mil
| ttiamen; they are shown at fire drill
| collision quarters and launching q life
| boat to rescue a man overheard. In
! addition. a film showing the march OF
| the naval militiamen in the parade IL
| Alexandria on the occasion of Washing
| tons birthday will be added.
| The lighting system in the drill hal
will be changed to some extent to per
| init of some new features in moonlight
| dancing" Vari-colored lights will b.
| arranged among the flag decorations, ant
will be flashed as the dancers flshwall
about the drill hall.
| Practically all OF the arrangements O.
the occasion were made by Commands
\ Dempf and his aid-de-camp. Ensign
Sigourney. The third division OF tn,
| battalion, however. had It's own com
mittee of enlisted men. which looked
after certain arrangements.
| + r.
| The good effect os the naval militia Law