Evening star., 1915-03-07
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Will close March 19, under Or
ders issued last Thursday
night by Commander Joseph A. Dempf,
commanding the organization. Com
mander Dempf announced this decision
to the members of the command at
general quarters. and explained that
only men who had served time in the
regular service would be enlisted after
March 10.
The reason for his decision. Com
mander Dempf explained, was that he
desired to take only experienced men
on the annual cruise with the battle
ship fleet next July.
The Navy Department during the
week announced that the local naval
militia would cruise aboard one Of the
ships of the Atlantic fleet from July 3
to Is, cruise of fifteen days. These
fifteen days will be aboard the ship, and
the extra day and night taken in going
from Washington to Hampton roads.
where. the local sailors will board the
battleshtp, will not count as part of
the cruise.
Although the place to where the local
naval militiamen will take their prac-
tice cruise has not been announced by
the department, Commander Dempf de-
clared that the organization would go
to Havana, Cuba. At the conclusion of
the last cruise to Bermuda, Commander
Dempf filed an official request with
the department that the local organi-
zation this year be permitted to cruise
to Havana, Cuba, where brief liberty
would be granted.
The decision of Comma nder Dempf
was reached after consultation with his
executive officer. Lieut.. Frank w.
Navy Department.
When the announcement was made
last June that the local naval militia
was going to Bermuda there was a
rush of recruits who desired to take
advantage of the cruise There was
much confusion in outfitting the new
men. and. further, they were unused to
the duties aboard a man-o'-war
The new men who are enlisted up un-
II! March 10 will have three months in
which to get lot of seaman expert
ence and to learn the parts of the ship.
so that they will know a little OF the
naval duties when they go aboard a
battleship.
The training ship of the battalion,
which is now in drydock at the Nor
folk navy yard undergoing a thorough
overhauling. Is expected back to Wash
1ngton within the next two or three
weeks. and then Lieut.. Sigourney will
map out regular schedule of short
cruises to train the new men Of the
organization. In addition to the regu-
lar Sunday cruises, which have been a
feature of the organization since Com
mander Dempf took hold, it Is probable
that Lieut.. Sigourney's schedule also
viii provide for a number of short
cruises Thursday nights.
No better drill could be given the
men. 1t is explained. during the early
spring and summer months than to
have them report at the armory about
o'clock in the evening, when steam
could be gotten up aboard the ship and
cruise of several hours made, re-
turning to the dock at about 10 or
II o'clock. It is pointed out that 1t
would be much better than the armory
instruction, which the men are forced
to take every Thursday night, and in
addition would give the local citizen
sailormen confidence in themselves to
handle a ship in pilot waters at night.
1t would also serve as a great draw
ing card for the young men of the
city.
OF course. during these short night
brief liberty ashore at one of the
pleasure resorts. After the officers get
used to handling the ship it Is prob
able that the enthusiasm of the men
will increase to such an extent that
two or three such trips will be made
during the week.
Aside from sending out the large
training ship on frequent short cruises,
both Commander Dempf and Lieut.
Sigourney are going to encourage the
other officers and the men to make use
every night. BY taking out these boats
the men will quickly become familiar
with handling them under all condi-
tions.