Evening star., 1914-04-12

SO consolidated will be granted honor
able discharge from the organization.
Announcement to this effect was made
Thursday night by Commander Dempf.
following the annual inspection by Maj.
Leroy Heron, inspector general. y. 6.
D. c. The statements he made on the
drillhall floor at that time were en-
bodied in orders later, and served on
the officers. Although recruits have
been coming into the organization in
numbers, it is expected that the ulti-
matum issued by Commander Dempf
will result in renewed efforts on the
part of the division officers to obtain
recruits for their commands.
Every effort is to be made, according
to Commander Dempf to popularize the
naval militia and to make it interest
ing for the young men of the city. pro-
viding a means whereby they can get
a naval training which would be valu-
a BILE in time of war. When the Z. 5. 5.
Wasp arrives here from New York. in
addition to the Sunday trips which the
vessel will make to lower river points
the commanding officer Of the battalion
proposes to make two or three night
trips during the week, when the men
will be able to obtain instruction ana
at the same time have the work broken
.
some river resort
The annual cruise on naval ship is
soon to take place. and 1T is expected
that it will cover about fourteen days
this year
Although recruits will be received into
the naval militia until the day the organ
ization leaves Washington to board tue
ship for its annual cruise. Commander
Derrpf declared last week that only those
who enlist before June Is will be per-
mitted to go to sea with the organization
because a great deal of preliminary
training is necessary. 1t Will take all OF
the time between June 10 and the date
for the cruise. which is expected to be
set for some time about the middle OF
July, to give the men instruction which
will enable them to- perform their duty
properly aboard ship.
There we're few absentees when the
bugler sounded the assembly THURSDAY
night. Mai. Heron. accompanied by
Sergt Harry Meyer. L. S. A.. promptly
at : o'clock began the inspection, first
viewing the staff officers OF the organza-
ton and then proceeding to the divisions.
examining the uniforms and equipment
of the men. Later he looked over the
officers and division quarters. and in
spected the lockers of the men. When
the inspection was completed four side
while Chief Boatswain's Mate Ward. Sd
Division piped the inspecting omcer over
the side.
Commander Dempf then had the bat
After explaining that he regarded the
annual inspection as the close of the drill
year and the beginning Of another. he
told the officers and men what he would
expect Of them the ensuing year. He
said. in part:
Il want to congratulate the officers and
members of this battalion on the show
ing they have made during the inspec-
tion and to thank them for their support
during the year which has resulted in
some progress. However. l want to say
at this time that with the beginning OF
this drill year I desire every officer and
man to give to this battalion the time
! that the law requires. I have had this
from the men. but by some not OF the en-
listed personnel have been held back.
/ wish that to end right here tonight. and
from now on 1 want nothing but duty
from all members Of this battalion.
Those who do not and will not work
for the benefit Of the organization and
help to build 1t up instead OF trying to
its efficiency, are better on the outside:
The battalion will require a great deal OF
work during the year, and each man VIII
be expected to do his part: The omcers
the support of the men. and the men In
turn must be made content. If there Is
any man in the battalion who Is not
satisfied with the division to which he
has been assigned. he .is at liberty to
have a transfer to some other division
where he would like conditions more. l
want the men to be satisfied, and the
other difficulties will work out them
selves. I will not compel any enlisted
man to stay in a division where he is not
satisfied. for that would work against the
battalion, as that man would not feel
like giving his best.
Commander Dempf then took each
division and called upon the enlisted
men who wanted transfers to make
known that fact by stepping out of the
ranks. Several of the men took ad-
vantage of the opportunity to go to other
divisions
1t is expected that the U. S. S. Wasp.
the vessel to be permanently assigned to
Washington as the practice boat OF the
local naval militia. will be here soon
after May 1. Orders were issued last
week sending her to the Brooklyn navy
yard to be inspected by regular, naval
officers there to determine whether she
Is in condition to make the ocean voyage
from New York to Washington. If any
repairs are needed, they will be made
at the New York yard. it is declared,
and when the vessel arrives here she
will be IN first class condition.
Whether any repairs are actually need
ed is not known at the Navy Depart
nent and the order for the vessel to
proceed to the New York yard is merely
a precautionary measure. 1t is possible
that as soon as the officers at the New
York yard have made a survey OF the
vessel they will report it all ready for