Evening star., 1914-04-05

Wasp, and they are making plans for a
number of trips her during the sum-
mer Besides taking the regular Sunday
cruises, Commander Dempf declared that
he proposed to have the vessel make two
or three night trips during each week,
in order that her officers and men may
get confidence in themselves to move the
vessel at night
Commander Dempf has not yet indi-
Gated whom he will pick to constitute
the board of officers who will go to New
York to make inventory of the property
aboard the Wasp. but it is probable that
the board will be constituted of one en-
gineer officer and two deck officers.
1t was learned this week that 1t will
not be necessary for Commander DeInpf
to have his officers and men take the
Sylvia back to Philadelphia The naval
militia organization in that city will send
for the vessel. Commander Dempf was
requested this week to set a date when
he can conveniently release the Sylvia
to the Philadelphia organization.
Owing to the fact that the repair work
on the vessel. which is now at the Wash
ington navy yard, could not be complet-
ed in time, the Sylvia will not leave today
for a practice cruise down the river
with the third division aboard. The en-
gine work on the ship is practically COM
plete. and 1eel blocks to fit the Sylvia are
being fitted on the marine railway at
the yard SO that the vessel be hauled
out and the annual inspection of her sea
valves made
1t is expected that the vessel will be
ready for sea duty by the end of the cur
rent week. but owing to the fact that
next Sunday is Easter, the third division
will not make its proposed cruise on that
date. Sunday. April -, has been set by
Ensign Frank w. Sigourney, command
ing the third division, the time when
the vessel will make the. cruise with his
division aboard. 1t is probable that the
date for turning the vessel over to the
Pennsylvania contingent will be set
soon after this cruise. During the week
of the 10Th it is probable that the Sylvia
will leave for Philadelphia.
x
Plans for a reorganization of the Naval
Battalion have been outlined in a tenta-
tive draft of the organic act of the local
naval militia to make the present act
conform to the naval militia law enact
ed by Congress last February. The pro
posed new law was prepared by Com
mander Dempf and Ensign Frank w.
Sigourney, aid-de-camp to the comma and
ing officer, and has been submitted to the
judge advocate general of the National
Guard of the District of Columbia for re-
view. AS outlined the law is considered
an ideal one for naval militia.
1t carries several of the provisions
which We're approved at the recent con-
tion of the United States in this city,
such as paragraphs setting the mini
mum number of divisions, etc. Under
the reorganization provided for in the
two less officers than 1t has at the
present time. However. as the local or
ganizati ton has not now its full quota
Of officers 1t will not be necessary to
muster any out If the proposed bill
should become law.
Although it is realized that Congress
is crowded with business at this time
Commander Dempf yesterday expressed
become law before the battalion starts
for its annual cruise on battleship
next July.
The proposed law provides for
change in the name from the Naval
Battalion Of the National Guard of the
District of Columbia to Naval Militia,
District Of Columbia. Instead of four
divisions, as now organized there would
be- under the new law, three divisions,
a company of marines and a band. 1t
does away with the staff positions of
navigator and signal, ordnance and
equipment officer, with the ranks of
lieutenant, thus enabling the command
ing officer to fill these positions by de-
tails from the line, as he is doing at
the present time.
The new law would retain the COM
mander, the executive officer, with the
rank of lieutenant commander, the sur
geon and paymaster. each with the rank
of lieutenant. In addition, there would
be provision for an assistant surgeon
with the rank of lieutenant, junior grade
Warrant officers also would be pro-
vided for under the new law. The local
naval militia has never had authority
for the appointment of men to this grade
between the chief petty officers and the
commissioned grade. 1t would provide
for one boatswain, one gunner. two ma
chinists and one paymaster's clerk, all
warrant officers.
Each division would have the same
number Of officers as provided under the
present law. That Is, one lieutenant,
one lieutenant, junior grade, and two
ensigns, while the marine company
would consist Of not less than fifty men,
one captain, one first lieutenant and one
second lieutenant. It also provides that
a division shall consist of not less than
forty petty officers and enlisted men.
AS for the band, under the new law
there would be provision for one chief
musician and fifteen musicians. rated as
first, second and third class. 1t would
also provide that when these men turn