Evening star., 1914-03-01
in line. The battalion during the parade.

in line. The battalion during the parade,
was in command of Commander Dempf.
A gun crew for the purpose of firing the
presidential salute was left aboard the
Sylvia when the two divisions embarked.
Shortly after 2;30 in the afternoon, Ensign
William r. Hoefer. ordnance officer,
sighted the Sylph battling with the snow
storm. He gave the command and the
one FOUNDER gun on the Sylvia doomed
forth, and spoke at five-second intervals
until the twenty-one guns had been fired.
The day was bitter cold, a heavy snow
was falling and strong wind blowing, all
of which served to make marching in pa
rade difficult. However, not an officer
or man in the battalion was laid up on
account of the experience. Like their
National Guard brethren, the naval mi
lita officers also declined to partake OF
the buffet luncheon arranged by the re-
ception committee at Alexandria, because
their men were not provided with either
coffee or sandwiches.
The Sylvia returned to her dock about
6 o'clock Monday evening after a hard
battle through the storm at half speed
During the trip it was SO difficult to see
through the binding snowstorm that it
was necessary to stop several times to
locate definitely the fog horns Of other
vessels.
The naval militiamen who made the full
three-day cruise declared that they en-
joyed themselves during the trip. and the
proved interesting to the newly enlisted
members of the Sd Division.
= y !. !:
Preparati tions are being made by Com
mander Dempf to have the Sylvia leave
her dock next Sunday for another of the
weekly cruises down the river. The ves-
sci will leave her dock at $50 and will re-
turn about or 3 o'clock in the afternoon
IN plenty Of time to let the militiamen
Keep any appointments which they may
have made. While Commander Dempf
declared that much valuable training
could be obtained on their cruises, how
ever short. the time may be, he pointed
out that he intends to take the men into
consideration and make 1t as easy for
them as possible.
These Sunday cruises were inaugurated
by Commander Dempf some time ago,
and only about two Sundays have been
missed since this policy was started. All
kinds of drills which the naval militia
men may find on the big battleships Of
Uncle Sans navy are taught them on the
Sylvia when that vessel makes these
trips. There are fire drills. abandon ship
drills, collision drills and battle drills
Besides. the men are taught how to stand
n watch at the helm, how to stand a
lookout watch, how to stand by the
chains" the platform projecting over the
side of the ship where the sailormen
stand to ascertain the depth of the water
over which the ship is steaming.
I; K :: =
In mapping out systematic plans for
drills and instructions at the Naval Bat
talon. Commander Dempf has but one
idea in mind, and that is efficiency"
and this he declares he sees with a big
"E." He is trying to make the work
Of the battalion interesting to young men
by making it an educational institution.
in a way, and in this work he will have
the support of the division of militia
affairs of the Navy Department This
division also is working out plan for a
systematic course of instruction for
naval militia organizations in general.
Commander Dempf Is trying to arrange
the plans SO that he will obtain the
greatest results in the limited time which
the naval militiamen have to give to this
duty. The schools will have to be run
in conjunction with the drills and the
regular Thursday drill night will have
to be divided. he says, in some way so
that part of the evening may be devoted
to routine drills, while during the re.
mainder the men may be turned over
to the officers who will be in charge
of the several schools which he proposes
to establish.
The wireless outfit will be set up in
short time, and this will begin the school
in wireless telegraphy. Commander
Dempf said that he knows of q compe-