The Washington herald., 1914-07-07
naval BATTALION
RIDESDRY WAVES
It's -Good-by, Little Girl, /" in
Capital and Hello Kid"
at Norfolk.
AT LEWES, DEL, TO-DAY
After the Rest of the citizen-Ssilor,
Get Aboard. LIS the Bermudas
Next.
AT LEWES, DEL, TO-DAY
By IRWIN BARBOUR.

tstaf correspondsnt With The District sasal Bat.
talion-l
Old Point Comfort. Va, July 6-Ifs
life en- the ocean wave for the next
two weeks for the District Naval Bat.
talon. Boarding the battleship Rhode
Island this morning immediately upon
their arrival here, the District cftiz4n-
jacktars sailed this forenoon for Lswez.
Del, where reserves Of the Pennsylvania
and New Jersey navel militia VIII be
taken aboard, then the Rhode IslAr1
will point its PROV for Bermuda where
the men win be granted shore leave.
The Capital sailors found the North
Caroline reserves already on the Rhode
Island when they reached the ship. The
Tarheels had arrived late yesterday.
Dusty Route on Potomac.
II was dusty night on the. old, also
historic, Potomac last night. The dry
spell started as soon as the militiamen
set foot on board the Northland. which
conveyed them to Old Point Commander
Joseph A Dempf had given strict orders
that no liqdbr be sold to men in the uni
form Of the naval militia. SO they had
to content themselves with singing. which
they did to the offense to every one on
the boat. The principal thing they sang
as might be expected was How Dry
Am" But that goes for every one In
this mans, meaning our Uncle Sans
navy.
There were lots Of pretty girls on
the boat, and of course, the dashing
citizen sailors were the cynosure Of
ccquettish eyes. BY the time they had
split few barber shop chords, tie boat
and all 1t contained was theirs.
The writing desk did yeoman service.
Il A.
pens and ink all night, the boys chronicle
ing their experiences on the FIRST night
out for the sweethearts whose kisses at
the dock were still worn on their lips.
Sweethearts at Every Port.
There were considerable sweethearts
there too. The Norfolk wharf looked like
a vanity show. It's just a way with
sailors They have swetheartB in every
port. Tomorrow upon the arrival at
Lewes about 800 OF the Rhode Islands
blueJackets will be given two weeks
shore leave, and the naval militiamen
practically will man the ship.
So crowded was the boat on the way
down because OF the number Of militia
men aboard a number Of the District tars
had to sleep on blankets in the main
saloon.
The boys sIung their hammocks on the
Rhode Island today and tonight ffty
or so of them, the recruits, will exper-
fence their first night in q hammock.
The veterans say 1t will be a sight worth
going miles tn see.
We expect to arrive in Bermuda Friday.
Two days of shore liberty will be given
for taking in the sights OF the British
Isle. When We get back again TO old
Washington We will have covered more
than 200 miles on water. and win nave
ah - -
Uncle Sans battleships OF the first line.
Militiamen will navigate the Rhode Is
land, fire her boilers, run her engines.
and most important and exciting Of all.
will fire her big and little guns at target
practice in Tangier- Sound. The scores
they will make in this practice will de-
termine whether they will take the naval
militia gunnery trophy and wear the let
ter ''E" on their sleeves for one year to
let every beholder know that they are
marked for excellence in gunnery.
Inspection Proves o. X.
Lieut.. H. Delano. U. s. N, inspected
the Washington Naval Battalion under
the requirements OF the new militia law
and reported to the Navy Department
in a way that Is taken as highly pleas
ing to the battalion officers. 1t was the
first inspection under the new law and
was to determine whether the local or
ganization was armed. trained. uniform
ed, and equipped for duty in case Of war.
A copy of the report was received at
the headquarters of the local National
Guard yesterday with q letter from Sec
retary Daniels signifying that the Dis
trict militia Is considered by the Navy
Department as fulfilling all requirements
and entitled to Federal assistance under
the conditions Of the naval act
Commander Dempf, who Is specially
complimented in the report for the dis
cipline and general efficiency of the
was elated over the report and
the commendation received.