Evening star., 1914-11-15

NAk in the history of the Naval
Wv Battalion of the National
Guard of the District OF Co
lumbia took place Thursday night'
when Assistant Secretary Franklin u
Roosevelt of the Navy Department Oh
fcially visited the battalion. 1t was
the second time within a year that the
assistant secretary viewed the organ
ization, and he commented at length
upon the marvellous growth in strength
shown. Taking as his basis the re-
ports which have come to the depart
ment during the year, he stamped the
! District naval militia as among the
most efficient in the country.
The assistant secretary explained to
the naval militiamen that they were a
force to be reckoned with should the
country be plunged into a war, point
ing out that the navy was already 49,
600 men short in manning the equip
ment which it already has. He dis
try's naval militia would be used in
harbor defense work in war times, and
told the officers and men that they
would be given positions of great re-
, sponSlblllty on the first line battleShips
in the event of an international un-
pleaSantnesS.
i :: x X
When the assistant secretary arrived
at the armory he was given the honors
due his office which he would have re-
ceived had he been boarding a battle
ship in the active fleet. When he
stepped on the eangway leading to the
drill hall the boatswain's made pip
ed him over the side" At the head of
the gangway We're eight sideboys, and
when he reached the top the buglers
gave three f1ourishes. the battalion
came to present arms" and the band
played march until the guest reached
the captains cabin. He was met at
the head of the gangway by Com
mander Joseph A. Dempf. who heads
the battalion, and was escorted to the
cal bin, where he met the officers of the
organization.
Mr.. Roosevelt, both in his speech and
informally afterward, commented on
the great growth of the battalions en-
listed strength. He declared he had no
idea that he would find such an in
crease over the number enrolled a
year ago. When he inspected the bat
talon last there were just enough men
to form one rank across the drill hall.
but last night there were five solid
rows, and to accommodate them it was
necessary for the rank to make
curve at the end of the hall.
Following the formal ceremonies. Mr..
Roosevelt, with Capt. Dempf, inspect
ed the armory and the U. $. S. Sylvia,
training ship of the organization. He
inspected every part of the little yes
sci, even going down ino the engine
and fire rooms, and acquainted himself
thoroughly with the needs of the local
organization. He expressed the .opin-
ion that the battalion should have
larger and better ship.
During his inspection of the armory
he made numerous suggestions to Com
mander Dempf of ways in which the
department could help the organization
and promised his support.
After the men had turned in their
arms and equipment the drill hall floor
was turned over to dancers. but so
large was the crowd that attended 1t
was impossible to get them all on the
floor, and it was necessary to send the
overflow to the lower floors. 1t was
the largest assembly ever in the bat
talion,s armory. as to both enlisted
personnel and guests.
Music for the ceremonies and the
dancing was furnished by the Wash
ington Navy Yard Band, of which
Philip Meyer is the leader. The band
contributed much to the success of the
affair.
So far as the ceremonies go, it was
declared that it was the first time the
regulations had been strictly followed
in any affair of the kind ever held in
the battalion. The officers say there
was not a hitch in the arrangements.
Much credit is due the committee OF
the enlisted men and the division COM
manders for the social feature of the
affair. They worked hard and unceas-
ingly to make this first event of the
season success. it is declared, ana
were rewarded with success. This COM
mittee was composed of Nelson Young,
G. G. Rooney, p. NJ Ward, George Rose,
w. Binnix, l. Cogan and Messrs.
O'Donohue and Flynn. with Lieut. F.
w. Siogurney, Sd Division; Ensign F.
l.. Nudge. 4th Division, and Ensign L.
V. Thompson, 1st Division, assisting.
During last week details of men We're
on duty at the armory from early IN
the morning until late at night giving
the walls of the drill hall and gang
ways much-needed coats of paint.
with Seaman Birley, Sd Division. ana
Engineer Mullens, one of the Sylvia's
shipkeepers, took the second steam
cutter and went up the Georgetown n
channel to a point above the Aqueduct
bridge, where they obtained a large
supply of autumn leaves which were
used in the decorations in the armory
Thursday night.
it is declared, the intention of the Off
GERS and men is to have similar pro-
gram either monthly or bi-monthly.
The training ship Sylvia will not
leave her dock today, but is scheduled
to make a practice cruise next Sunday.
There is declared to be much paint
ing and decorating yet to he done in
the naval militia armory, and the men
who report there today will be en-
pIoved in completing the work, far
as is possible Each division will he
required to paint the division quarters
and one-fourth of the corridor on the
lower floor If the men respond to this
| as they did during the past week 1t
will be only a small job. and will take
T, but short time to complete.
WiIbert f. Locklin of the Distric,
naval militia has just returned from
| his former home in Cleveland. Ohio
| While there he took occasion to in
spect the naval militia of Ohio. bu1
declared he was forced to give then
an unfavorable report He had criti-
cism to offer of the manner of drilling
| the organization. He did report. how
ever that they had an excellent armory
and a very fine ship. the Dorothea.
| Coxswain c. ]. Santmeyer. &c
| Division. won the competitive drill il
! the manual of arms out of a picked
drill team of twenty-four men, 81,