Evening star., 1915-01-31
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- CHOOLS which have been or
ganized in the Naval Battalion
of the National Guard of the
~ District of Columbia are grad
ual1y broadening their work.
and the belief is expressed by Com
inander Joseph A. Dempf, commanding
the organization, that by the time the
organization sta rts on its annual cruise
aboard battleship next summer 1t
Will be one of the most efficient organi-
cations of the country
After taking the men through the
seaman branch and teaching them
thoroughly in all the, matters pertain
Ing to that part Of the service. the
classes will be divided up SO that the
rating will be given a chance to con-
finc their studies to that
The school system has served as a
drawing card for good class of
young men. and every drill night
brings numbers who express the de-
sire to become members of the organi-
zation. One hour each drill night Is
given over to the schools, and the re-
structions.
The electrical equipment of the three
FOUNDER gun installed in the armory
several months ago has arrived. and
the division commanders have been in
structed to organize their gun crews in
order that practice may be held. and
the teamwork Of the crews perfected
SO that the gunnery work will bring
them to first place in their target prac-
tice aboard one of the battleships this
year.
Another matter which will serve to
raise the efficiency of the organization
during its annual cruise this year, 1t
is declared, is the fact that no recruits
who have not had more than two
months armory instruction and practi-
cal experience aboard the U. S. S. Syl-
via. training ship assigned to the or
ganization, will be permitted to make
the voyage.
Shortly after the announcement was
made last year that the organization
was to go to Bermuda on its annual
cruise, recruits swarmed to the bat
talon, with the result that large
number of so-called green men were
saken aboard battleship. to get their
irst real taste of the navy. The e&-
perience proved that this was bad for
the organiza tion.
However. the Navy Department de-
layed its announcement of the time
and place for the cruise last year SO
long that the organization had little
time to make preparations. considering
the fact that there is a week between
drills 1t is the expressed hope OF the
officers that the announcement of the
time and place Of the cruise VIII be
made far enough ahead this year to
enable the members of the battalion.
all of whom are In civil employment,
to make arrangements for their leave.
Requests already have been made on
the Navy Department that the local
naval militia be permitted to cruise
aboard one of the ships of the Allan
tic fleet this year to Havana, Cuba.
While enlistments will be continued
right up to the time of leaving Wash
ington to embark on one of the battle-
ships, 1t is made plain by Commander
to go who have not had at least two
months experience. and preferably
three months. Those men who enlist
within the two-month period will
required to stay at home.
There is much disappointment among
the officers and enlisted men Of the To-
cal naval militia over the failure or
Congress to provide funds for the
cruising of the naval militia organiza-
tions Of the country to the Panama
Pacific exposition. Elaborate plans for
the embarkation of the militia had
been made. but have fallen down
through the failure Of Congress to ap-
propriate the necessary funds.
While the Navy Department has found
some funds with which to send eighty
officers and eighty-two enlisted men.
the conditions under which they Will go
are 80 unfayora BILE that it is proba BILE
that few of them will take advantage
of 1t.
The senior officer of each organiza-
ton only will receive pay. The local
organization will be permitted to send
four officers and eight enlisted men.
The pay of the one officer will be for
one month. and the enlisted men only
win be subsisted. If it is found that
the ship will not be able to return to
the point of embarkation. which Is eX-
pected to be Hampton roads, within one
month. then the officers and men WIZ
be put ashore wherever the vessel
happens to be. whether 1t be on lone
" island in the midpacitic or at some
wild point on the coast of Mexico They
and pay their own expenses In addi-
tion they must pay their mess bills
while aboard the battleship.
Even if it is found necessary to di-
vert the ship to other service while
militia officers and men will be put
ashore to find their way back.
The whole affair. it is declared. is SO
unattractive to naval militia officers
and men that it is probable. owing to
the conditions surrounding it, that few
will desire to take advantage of 1t.
The crew which is to take the L. S.
5. Sylvia, training ship loaned to the
local naval militia by the navy. to the
Norfolk navy yard is soon to be picked
by the division officers. Only three
men from each division will be allowed
to go. While the voyage will take
three days, there will be much valuable
experience to be gained by the officers
II will be the longest cruise ever
taken by the Sylvia under the direction
Of naval militia officers of the District
of Columbia. and the first time she has
been taken In the bay by them.
Manv of the men Of the divisions are |
lamoring to get on the list of men |
assigned to make the cruise, but it is
the declaration of the division COM !
manders that only the men with the
best attendance and efficiency records |
will be allowed to make the trip.
The Naval Militia Athletic Associa- |
ton held its first dance last Thursday |
night, and several hundred couples
were present The purpose of the dance |
was to raise funds for the athletic |!
enuinment of the organization. as it |