Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-08

Thursday night by Ensign Frank w. 81
Courtney, commanding the Sd Division,
when he outlined the proposition to the
members of his command. This division
is made up of the newly enlisted men IN
the battalion, with the exception of
few who were transferred there from
other divisions to act as instructors TO
the new men The men were enthusi-
astic about the idea and Immediately
established fund to be used in meeting
the expenses of the entertainment. A
committee was elected to handle the mat
ter for the Sd Division Ensign Sigourney
turned the matter over entirely to them.
and they selected out of their number
Chief Boatswain's Mate Ward, Electro
clan Nolte and Apprentice Seaman J. 7.
Moriarity as the committee to represent
them.
Later the plan was outlined to the other
officers of. the organization, who an
nounced their intention of presenting the
matter to members of their divisions
next Thursday night. Preceding the
dancing the affair takes the form OF an
inspection of the command by COM
mander Dempf. 1t has also been the
plan of the members of the battalion 10
have some distinguished guest to inspect
them when they have these social rune
tions Efforts are now being made to
have Commander Bassett. u. S. N, the
officer in charge of the naval. militia d.
vision of the Navy Department. as the
guest of honor March &c. He Will be IN
vited to take part in the ceremonies ana
to inspect the command.
Up until last November these social
functions were a monthly occurrence at
the battalion, but during the Christmas
period the officers who usually looked
thavrn nv
time. until they were revived last
Thursday by Ensign Sisourney. who
promised that if the enlisted men of the
battalion are willing one night a month
will be set aside for them to bring their
relatives and friends to the armory to
participate in the entertainment and to
see just what the naval militiamen are
doing.
These entertainments, it is explained.
are designed to arouse interest in the
work of the battalion, and during the
time last year when they were held
periodically they were the direct means
of increasing the number of enlistments
in the battalion
Commander Joseph A. Dempf. COM
manding the District Naval Militia. de-
clares that he is DESTROYS of increasing
the battalion to the strength allowed by
the law establishing the organization.
that is, 400 enlisted men. The number
of enlistments have increased materially
about 200. but Commander Dempf de-
clares that he wants the 400 mark
reached before the battalion goes on Its
annual cruise. He says he wants men
who will be able to take leave of absence
from their work to make the an
nual practice on some battleship of the
Atlantic reserve fleet, and that when the
organization leaves the armory this sum-
mer to start for the annual cruise he
wants the entire 400 in the ranks.
toll bxrf hc, hat
talon on the L. S. s. Sylvia, the vessel
assigned by the Navy Department for
the practice work of the local naval
militia, also are proving popular. and are
declared to be drawing card for the
battalion. The heavy ice in the river
last Sunday prevented the vessel from
going out, and Commander Dempf said
he would not make a. trip today, but be-
ginning next Sunday he hopes to take
the vessel out every Sunday for short
practice cruises down the river. When
the weather is warmer the vessel Will
start down the river Thursday nights for
practice cruises to give the mlllt1amen
confidence in themselves to navigate the
| craft along the river at night This, It
is pointed out, will serve them a good
purpose should they start out some day
and have darkness overtake them before
they can get back to their dock at the
foot of Water and o streets southwest.
There was no general assembly of the
battalion last Thursday night. Following
the roll call in their divisional quarters
the men who were not on duty at the
| various fire and gangway stations about
the armory were kept in their rooms at
the school conducted by the divisional
officers. Several were excused at time
from each division. and reported to En-
sign William r. Hoefer, ordnance Of
ficer to fire their scores In the rifle gal
lery in the drill hall. Every officer and
enlisted man of the battalion is required