Evening star., 1914-05-24


IL. S. S. Sylvia, training ship Of this
organization, make two practice cruises
during the week. 1t will be the begin
ming of a policy, outlined by the COM
manding officer several weeks ago. to
train the deck officers of the battalion
to maneuver the ship in the Potomac
river at night.
The first trip is scheduled to be made
today. 1t is planned to have the vessel
leave her dock about o'clock in the
afternoon and to steam down the river,
probably as far as Indian Head, there
swing around and return to Marshall
Hall, where the anchor will be dropped.
the men drilled in handling the small
boats, and then given a short period Of
shore liberty. The plan now mapped out
provides for the ship to leave for
Washington about o'clock.
Some time later in the week Com
mander Dempf will have as his guest
aboard the Sylvia Representative Kahn
of California, who has done much for
the local militia. Although it has not
yet been definitely decided, 1t is prob
able the vessel will leave about or
II o'clock in the evening, returning
about 10 o'clock.
Reports of all Of these short cruises
have been sent to the Navy Depart
ment and are filed as part of the
records of the local organization. Since
the ship has been out of the navy yard
after her recent overhauling but one
Sunday has been missed in making
cruises. The Navy Department is
watching the local organization. and it
via for these short training cruises
that Influenced the department in
ordering that the Sylvia should re-
main in Washington until it was GER
tain that the Wasp is received here
The Isla de Luzon has been placed in
commission in reserve. pending her
possible use in Mexican waters. and in
the event that the mediation proceed
ings now under way are successful 1t
is believed that it will mean the re-
lease of the Isla de Luzon for naval
militia duty. with the consequent re-
lease of the u. S. S. Wasp for duty at
Washington. In turn the Sylvia would
be returned to Philadelphia for the
use of the naval militia there.
Accompanied by crew of cooks and
seaman an officer of the Philadelphia
naval militia called at the local naval
militia armory last Monday to take an
inventory of equipment aboard the Syl-
via, with a view to having her return to
Pennsylvania. The organization had not
been apprised of the fact that the de-
partment had determined to let the Syl
being before they left Philadelphia. How
ever. they went to the Navy Department
and were informed of the action there.
Philadelphia, it was declared. is very
anxious to obtain the return of the vessel
to that place for the use of the naval
militia. Commander Dempf was COM
mended for the clean condition Of the
ship by the Philadelphia officer, who said
the vessel was In much better condition
than it was when they had 1t.
+ *
The newly organized Sd Division of
the Naval Battalion. commanded by
Lieut.. Frank W. Sigourney has fairly
outgrown its division quarters. so fast
have recruits been coming in recently.
1t is rapidly approaching the sixty mark.
the number which each division must
have on hand by July 9. There are SO
many men in the division now that locker
room cannot be provided
This matter was taken up with Lieut..
Col A. l.. Parmerter during the week.
and he gave Instructions that the COM
manding officer of the Naval Battalion
should see that ten lockers each were
taken out of the quarters occupied by
the 1st and I'd Divisions
Lieut. Sigourney is planning to take on
the annual cruise of the battalion not
less than seventy-tive men. three-fourths
as many men as the entire battalion
took on the Alabama last year. Before
the end of the summer. he declared. he
hopes to have the limit of 100 men In
his division.
When Commander Dempf mustered the
entire battalion in the drill hall just be-
fore dismissal last Thursday night, for
the purpose of giving petty officers their
warrants of appointment and gave to
Chief Boatswain's Mate P. NJ. Ward,
I'd Divisions, his appointment as a chief
boatswain. he praised Ward In the high
est terms. He declared that he watched
Ward in his work, and had found him
to be energetic in every way as well a.