Evening star., 1914-12-20

District of Columbia for the
record il has made during the
wear lusy CLOSING was given by Com
.paueter Joscp!, y. Dempi. commanding
the organization. III an address deliv-
cred i1Ist before the dismissal Thurs
.iay night.
n, r..vitv eel the years history of
ti... i,atta1iou. i'm the course of which
f,.. declared that the battalion now has
IN /. @sG men of the hest material IN
tn. city Of Washington. men of high
standing vino nave given their time
to i.,-,ter thu, personnel OF the naval
.nilitis. service in WASHINGTON Since
t. foolz command Commander Dcmpf
declared that more than ninety men
had been discharged for various rea-
sons v-hirn brought the organization
..ry low in numbers He pointed out
That the recruiting had been better
,iurJp- th, year Just closing. ana that
~ raped To see the limit of 100 enlist
,.d 141c4 i'm the battalion before many
,lonthS IN thc new year had PASSED by
Members of this organization are TO
4.,. Praised for giving their time ~
learning something about the service
100 one OF its many branches. giving
fhrir time 10 preparing themselves 10
b,. ready to help the country IN time
ii international troubles, Said COM
.traud,r Dcmpf. All Of YOU have read
poy, the nations OF Europe nave oe-
l,,r.Ird upou their naval reserves IN
iiu,s. of war and such would he the
dependence put upon the naval mi MI
!ifisi Of the United States ShoulH the
,.,,tintrv lie called into war
',,ut~Ioic of the training receive"
vnirh Will put you in a position To take
your station beside any regular should
you lie commanded 10 answer 'ht Gun
trvs cstII. it is healthy work ooiie anu
training received here on drill nights.
II takes one out of the daily Srlnd, anu
f1At - always heaIthful-
II j. a patriotic spirit. ] feei, that
inspires the young men of TINS orSahl-
zario,l 10 give of their time to learn
M something of the ways of the serv-
i,.,. mat spirit which caused your 1ore-
fathers to answer the countrys call IN
former wars.
with Your help the year has been a
rtost successful one for the naval mill
ria of the District of Columbia. Whlcn
has been growing rapidly both in effl-
t.i,nc7- and Numerically We have not
zone unnoticed by those VINO nave peeh
assisting in directing our course
We have been visited by the com
,rl,,r.d-r-in-ciief of the naval and mill
i.try forces of the United states ana
liter nigh officials. President Wilson
Marshall. secretary Daniels OF the
Navy Depart ment. Assistant secretary
I;noS.velt. who has been here twice.
ami is TO Ice one of our regular VISITORS
and Lieut.. Col. y. l.. Parmerter. u = A.
adjutaut general. District of Columbia
Militia Later We hope to have with
Us Brig Gen. George II. Harries. com
handing the District OF Columbia MILL
TIA.
1T is the enlisted men TO whom l. as
commanding officer. and the other Of
ficers of the organization, owe much
for the success of the organization
during the year just coming TO II ciose.
aud il * TO the enlisted men TO whom
= will look to help MS in building up
The organization i'll strength and efh-
,-iency during the year soon to begin.
Commander DeInpf wished the officers
md men Merry Christmas and q
IIappy New Year. After Commander
Dlnepfs address. the men gave three
!earty cheers and a tiger for the com
handing officer proposed by Lieut.
Frank w Sigourney. executive officer
az the org;. niZation.
All drills of the battalion We're sus-
ended following dismissal last Thurs
day night and they Will not be re
sumed until Thursday, January =, 1919.
In preparation for entering upon the
christmas holidays the members of the
divisions were required to roll up their
.-luthes properly and put them IN their
tnckcrS. and such clothing as was not
.'iean was ordered washed by the men
and returned on the first drill night
.,fter the holidays.
owing TO the approach OF the hoii-
days last Thursdays drill period was
ut short. and the men were dismissed
shortly after = o'clock
The 1914 edition OF the Blue ckeIs'
Manual United States Navy, was re-
.-eived at the armory during the week,
and one copy was issued to each en-
listed man present at drill last Thurs
day night. The men We're instructed to
-
that they Will be able TO answer some
.f the questions in IT soon after
fhe drills are resumed next year.
II is understood to be the plan of
Comma nder Dempf and Lieut.. Sigour-
rey. executive officer. To map out a
progressive course OF instruction Gov
ering the subjects in the manual. the
whole looking to marked improve
,IeuJ III the efficiency of the organi-
zatiou.
The new book, more than twice as
iarge the former edition, is the most
rompre hensiye instruction book of its
kind ever prepared for the enlisted
men OF the navy. There is hardly
subject that is not thoroughly covered
uy the book. which contains nearly u
thousand page As expressed by u
member OF the naval militia who has
Neea III the regulars. u provides
means for the navy enlisted personnel
20 learn much :tbout the service that
'ormcrfE could be obtained only by
The hook IS divided into five parts. tie
.rst entitled The subjects Which Every
Man ou t.oari Snip Should Knew and
.-overiu2 r,1oi. things discipline.
Yards n, -.-rI'l.'.-. description of gsir!-
A.Lts- - Sii.B>. clothing regulations.
f.rSt s,d, swimming and athletics Part
II ei.tItied The Supjects " hici Or
sltnary S..,,-an Should Know. ana Gov
rs small 10, L. .>nc1s. s-;Inanship. the
,-oit:pas<. log ,ud bad. duties ot look
outs. electricity and landing force opera
lions. a. we'll "a signals Part is about
TIN Subjects Which the Higher Ratings
uf lie Se;lut;ia Branch Should Know"
f=li;Lg o! s"ci tui.!gs Is pertain 10 the
duties oil gun captains. turret captains
md other higher ratings Parts and =
deal with specal subjects Tor petty
,i'ce-s and special ratings
Beginning with lie New Year. Lieut..
Er:.IE ". Sigourney, Executive officer Of
fh- Organization plans ia establish Il
progressive system OF training for APP
prentice Seaneu, such as y followed at
10 b.c naval training stations when 4
e!.liS"S H. the service. The tent:-
I'VE program nos been trapped out and
if IS proposed 10 perfect il during the
Christmas holidays. 50 10 have 1t
ady 10y the beginning OF the second lap
"r ugc dt.i season
tn. %aEaI Battalion basket ball team.
Which il&S never been defeated since il
vas OT..dn.zed. Is scheduled for a game
tomorrow night al the Center Market
ArnorE- according 10 AN announcement