Evening star., 1914-11-13

militia, pointing out that vessels OF the
type best suited for the purpose-the
gunboat type-had been in great de-
mand during the year for use in con-
nection with the foreign relations OF
the United States. 1t had been neceS-
sary, he pointed out further, to recall
a number of vessels which mad been IN
the hands of naval militia organiza-
tions.
Unable to Get Additional Ships.
For some time, he declared, he had
been trying to get an additional ship
for the District naval militia. or even
a larger ship, but he declared that the
department did not have the NeSSels.
4 number of naval militia organiZa-
tions, the assistant secretary continued.
have no ships at all. among them the
yery efficient Wisconsin naval militia
The entire battalion assembled on
the drill hall floor shortly after
o'clock, and when the assistant secre-
tary arrived Just before $50, escorted
by Lieut.. Frank W. Sigourney, aid 10
Commander Joseph A. Dempf, com
manding the battalion, he was 'piped
over the side,' while the eight side
boys saluted him.
When he reached the top of the gang
way the bugler gave the assistant sec
retary's honors of three fiourishes. the
battalion came to present arms and the
band played a march, while Mr.. Roose-
welt proceeded to the captains cabin.
where the officers of the organization
were introduced to him.
Service Medals for Two.
Later the secretary took a seat i'll the
center of the drill hall and was intro
duced to the entire battalion by Com
mander Joseph a. Dempf. Following
his address to the battalion the secre
tary. presented good conduct service
medals to Chief Quartermaster Jensen
end Seaman Graves of the United
States Navy. assigned to the L. S. s.
Sylvia, training ship of the local naval
militia. =
Following the formal ceremonies the
battalion was marched off the floor and
dancing followed. After his address
and the formal ceremonies, MIR. Roose-.
welt, accompanied by Commander
Dempf, inspected the Sylvia and the ar
mory, suggesting many ideas for the
improvement of the organization He
went over the Sylvia from stem TO
stern and from double bottoms to
bridge. He went through the officers
quarters, the enlisted mems quarters
and went down into the engine and
fire rooms. He inspected the knock
down machinery in the school of steam
engineering of the battalion and dis
played much interest in the efforts of
the local organization to reach the top
Of naval efficiency.
Attending the ceremonies of inspec-
tion was the largest crowd which has
ever at any time been in the local
naval militia armory. 1t was with
difficulty that all the visitors could get
into the drill hall to participate in the
dancing which followed the inspection.
Fully 1000 persons were in the hall.
Music by Navy Yard Band.
Music was furnished for the cere-
monies and the dance by the United
States Navy Band from the Washing
ton navy yard, Philip Meyer. leader.
The band was ordered to turn out for
the ceremonies by Capt. H. p. Jones,
commandant of the Washington yard.
When the assistant secretary last
visited the armory there were only
enough men in the organization to fill
one rank across the drill hall, but last
night, i'll order to get all of the men on
/ to the floor, it was necessary to form
columns five deep. 1t was this indica-
ton of the growth of the battalion
which the secretary commented upon in
| his speech.