Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-22

| of Water and o streets SOUTH
west, for practice cruise down the river.
The trip will be concluded Monday even
ing when the vessel returns from Alex
andria, Va, bringing back the whole bat
| talon, which is to participate in the pa
rade there tomorrow in connection with
the celebration of Washington's birth
day anniversary.
| Commander Joseph A. Dempf. COM
manding the battalion, commanded the
Sylvia on it's trip down the river. The
| vessel reached Marshall Hall, where the
anchor was dropped last night. At day
break according to the plans. the anchor
| will be weighed and the vessel will steam
down the river some distance putting
about in time to reach Marshall Hall
again shortly after nightfall. where it
well anchor until tomorrow morning,
when it will get under way in time to
reach Its dock by 10 o'clock.
Again at u o'clock. with the entire bat
talon of nearly 200 men aboard, the
vessel will steam for Alexandria, where
the men will be landed for the parade,
at the conclusion of which they will be
returned to Washington aboard the Syl-
via.
In view of the fact that the U. s. S.
Mayflower left Friday for Mexico, and
will not be at Alexandria during the
Washfngton's birthday ceremonies for
the purpose of firing the presidential sa-
lutte of twenty-one guns. that duty has
been assigned to the Naval Militia yacht
Sylvia. Hurried orders We're issued by
the Navy Department Friday to the Nor
folk navy yard to ship Immediately sixty
rounds Of ammunition for the one
FOUNDER guns aboard the Sylvia. The
ammunition arrived Saturday morning on
the Norfolk boat. and will be loaded
aboard the Sylvia when that vessel re-
turns to Washington tomorrow. after its
practice cruise down the river. The Of
ticers and enlisted men of the Naval Bat
TALON are gratified over the designation
of them to fire the salute.
Owing to the limited sleeping accommO-
dations aboard the Sylvia, Commander
Dempf was compelled to limit the num-
Der who make the cruises which extend
| over night. For the cruise on which the
vessel started last night he picked five
eight men from the engineers force.
While down the river Commander Dempf
expects to give these men much valuable
training in life aboard Uncle Sans naval
vessels. In the engine and fire rooms the
men will be taught all about the workings
of naval machinery and how to fire
boilers on naval ships. Every detail will
be explained by the engineer officers. The
various emergencies which are likely to
arise in an engine room will be pointed
out to the men, and they will be taught
how to avoid them and how to take care
of them if they do occur.
Above decks the sailor men will be
taught how to stand lookout" watch,
how to stand at watch at the helm, how
to heave the lead, the instrument used
to ascertain the depth of water for COM
parison with the notes on the charts
how to point the guns, etc. There are
many details for them to learn
Some of the men of the newly organ
lied third division, commanded by En-
sign Frank W. Sigourney, were taken on
the cruise for the first time, and they
J will get their first taste of the sailor
mans bed, a hammock hung on hooks
fastened to the cross beams of the yes
| sell These hammocks are made of strong
canvas and have a mattress the same as
an ordinary bed. They rock with the
| ship. The jackies who have slept in
them and who know declare they are as
! comfortable as any bed.
| These new men OF the third division, it
| is said will find many things of interest
to them on the cruise. All of the young
| men will be given chance to learn the
various details of the ships routine. in
an effort to make the battalion ono of
| the most efficient naval organizations in
/ the country.
| The following orders have been issued
by Commander Dempf:
THE Naval Battalion will assemble at
| its armory Monday, the 23d instant, at II
| o'clock am. for the purpose of partici-
| pating in the ceremonies at Alexandria,
Va, in celebration of Washington's BIRTH
| day.
THE battalion will go to Alexandria on
i the Sylvia.
| THE probabilities are that we will be
the only naval organization in the pa
rade and as it Is known that the naval
militia of this city will be there. we must
make a good showing, and if every man
| has any pride at all in his division he
will be present. in order that a good
showing may be made.
| I'm case of cold weather pea jackets
will be furnished and every man must be
present not later than IL o'clock in order
| to draw his coat.
| This is the first time since the annual
| cruise that the battalion has had q
chance to show its increased strength,
and it is hoped that You will be present.
| This is an ordered duty from head
| quarters and unless you are present it
| will mean a summary court, as the mill
| tia officials will call us to account for
| any small attendance, SO present yourself
| as stated, for every man not present on
| this duty will have it count against him,
| and If his interest is not enough now. he
| will not be taken on the cruise this sum-
| mer.
Remember Monday February %. 1914.
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