Evening star., 1914-04-19

the District of Columbia is scheduled
to be started this morning at 10 o'clock,
when the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia and their party will
be taken on a voyage down the Potomac
as far as Indian Head. The Sylvia is
soon to return to the Pennsylvania
naval militia at Philadelphia, and will
be replaced here by the U. S. S. Wasp.
AS guests of Commander Joseph A.
Dempf. commanding the battalion, and
the officers. those who will make the trip
will be Commissioners Newman and Sid
dons. members of their family and a
few invited friends.
Last Thursday night after drill eight
men We're picked from each of the four
divisions of the battalion to make up
the crew for this voyage, and they were
ordered to be present on board the ship
at 9 o'clock. Lieut.. Charles NJ. Smith
son. chief engineer, was ordered to have
full steam up at 10 o'clock and Com
mander Dempf said that the vessel will
leave promptly on the nour. The Off
GERS who. last Thursday announced tina t
they would be present for duty on this
trip are Commander Joseph 4. Dempf
commanding, Lieut. Charles NJ. Smith
son, chief engineer: Ensign Frank X
Sisourney, aid-de-camp 20 Commander
Dempf and commanding officer of the
third division. Ensign William r.
Hoefer, ordnance officer: Ensign Harold
Crawford. navigator, and Ensigns Paul
Y. Thompson and F. J.. Nudge, en-
eineer officers.
The Commissioners will be given fun
honors by the ships company as they
come aboard. AS the District executives
step on the gangway at the battalion s
dock at the foot of Water and o streets
southwest eight side boys will attend
the gangway, the boatswain's mate will
pipe them over the side. and the ships
bugler will sound four f1ourishes The
party will be met by the officer of the
deck and will he escorted to the com
manding officers cabin. Soon after the
vessels siren will sound three whistles,
indicating that her engines are going
astern and that she is backing into the
stream.
All yesterday afternoon affairs were
a-bustle on the battalion dock, and there
men hustled about preparing the ship
for the voyage and provisioning her BY
nightfal everything aboard was spic and
span and she was ready to start her
trip with the heads of the District and
their party aboard
The plans made by Commander Dempf
yesterday We're to steam as far as Indian
Head and there anchor while dinner was
served. One of the gangways will be
lowered and the ships cutter will be used
to carry ashore any of the party or the
crew who wish to visit the naval proving
grounds. Anchor will be weighed about
3 O'Clock and the return trip for the
city begun.
While the Commissioners and their
party are expected to enjoy themselves
on the voyage down the river, it will be
one of drills for the officers and crew
The members of the deck division. outside
of those standing regular lookout
watches, taking turn at the helm or
standing in the chains to obtain the
depth Of water, will be put through fire
drill, collision drill. battle stations and
numerous other drills familiar to sailors.
but in which they must constantly prac-
tice.
While Commander Dempfs plans to
take various other parties down the river
during the summer when the L. S. s.
Wasp arrives, he looks upon them as
pra actice cruises for the men. Not a
drill is overlooked on any of these trips
MANY of which were taken during the
winter months. when the weather was 50
bitter, cold on the river that the little
naval militia craft was the only one to
venture out. The gun crews are to be
members of the othe branches are to be
taught how to perform their duties in
various lines.
All of this work is expected to be in
tensey interesting to the Commissioners
and their party. 1t will give to them
an insight as to what the naval militia
is, and what it will be able to do should
it be called into acteel service.
* X = =
school for officers of the local naval
militia has been established by Com
mander Dempf Monday nights. Instruc-
regular service has been arranged for
and Commander Dempf hopes to have
some regular naval officer there every
Monday night. He has issued a stringent
this school. and has made it plain that
he will excuse 10 one These lectures