Evening star., 1915-11-14

Battalion of the National
Guard Of the District of Columbia. the
officers and men of the organization
set to work to put it in place. Ihe
chest arrived Thursday, and the work
Of installation began Friday.
Several days will be required to COM
plete the work, and the officers ana
men are today working on the ne"
piece of machinery. in order that the
vessel may be ready to start her reg
ular winter cruises next Sunday.
During the week, or just as soon as
the piece of machinery is Installed, the
vessel will be given dock trial under
the direction of Lieut.. Gunior grade)
F. L. Nudge. engineer officer OF the
battalion, and next Sunday she Will pe
taken out on a short trial run down
the river. 1t will be the first trip OF
the vessel for about six months.
With the installation of the steam
chest, it is believed that the SYLVIA
can make regular cruises without the
periodic 1ay-ups for repairs Whlch
have been necessary heretofore.
Plans are being made by Commander
Joseph A. Dempf, commanding the
Naval Battalion. for cruises each sun
day during the winter when the river
is open to navigation. During the WIN
ter months last year the sylvia was
the men obtained much practice: The
cruises served to harden them to the
sailor life.
1t is proposed. according to officers
of the battalion, to make a cruise OF
several days duration beginning early
Thanksgiving day and to steam up and
down the Potomac for three days. II
is probable that the vessel will not an
chor during the entire cruise, except
to take on fresh water when na,nes sns reach-
Every effort will be made to utilize
every minute during the. practice
cruises for training the militfamen. ac-
cording to Commander Dempf. because
the men have missed great deal OF
time IN applying their armory instruc-
ton because of the fact that the ship
was tied up at the dock and out of
commission.
The members of the organization re-
ceiyed their long overdue pay checks
Thursday night. this money being the
Districts addition to their regular navy
pay. In the first drill period the cloth
ing of the sailors was checked up, and
those men who had clothing missing
were denied their checks.
There was a short infantry drill.
under the direction Of Ensign Wilbert
E. Locklin, the greater part of the
night being taken up. however, In pay
Ing the men.
Commander Demprs recruiting cam
paign is beginning to bear fruit, a
number of men having shipped in the
naval organization Thursday night. 1t
| Is pointed out that shere are num-
Der of vacancies in the ratings for
petty officers. and young men who de-
sire to be promoted should enlist now
and begin to study.
The examinations for promotion OF
seamen for petty officers in the various
branches are now being made to, con-
form to the requirements as laid down
/ in a recent order of the Navy De-
partment. and 1t will require quite a
| little study on tbs part Of those men
who aspire to these ratings.
| Commander pempf said that he was
anxious to recruit the organization up
| to it's full strength. The men are al
| lowed the use of the small boats for
practice purposes. and are to be taken
| out each Sunday for trip on the U. s.
s. Sylvia, the battalion's training ship
1 Last Sunday a number of the enlisted
men under the command of Ensign
launches assigned to the battalion for
a practice cruise. during which the
( men were instructed In the methods OF
handling small boats under steam.
| Commanders Stratton and Durston
former commandin officers of the
armory Thursday night.