Evening star., 1915-03-14

is UelnS devoted 10
preparations for the annual inspec-
| tions to take place the night of April
! l. Lieut.. Harrison knauss, L. S NJ
commanding the L. s. S. Sylph, station
| ed at the Washington navy yard. who
| has been assigned to the District naval
\ militia as inspector instructor. will
make the inspection on behalf of the
Navy Department to determine whether
the local organization meets the re-
quirements of the department and is
| eligible to participate in the federal
allotment of funds
ne number of men who are present
the night of the inspection determines
me me amount OF money which will be al
iotted TO the local naval militia by tha
federal government Rapid sfridas
nave Deen made by the organization
uurIhs the year in enlistments, and the
strength probably will be the night Of
the inspection 100 per cent rreater
than the showing made at the insnec
tfon last year
=, Last thursday night the division Of
hcers We're required, under the terms
OF orders issued by Lieut. F. W. Sig
ibuLlIe. ionll executive officer. to inspect the
lockers OF the men in the division and
10 nave them take home all duty
Siothes and return them next Thurs
day clean.
ooiiiihander Dempf next Thursday
nlght VIII make an inspection ~ all
the lockers of the enlisted men ~ a.
termlne whether any work is necea
sarS 10 better prepare the oreaniza
.ioh 10 pass the annual inspection sBy
ene tlHhe or the inspection the u. s s
70, va, III lralnlng ship of the organiza-
tloi' VIII have returned from the Nor
lh rolh navy yard. where she has heen
Iof the past month undergoing a thor
oush overhauling. The men are worE
za.io zas on .he small boats of the organi-
pass inspection by April /. ~
acquisitions have been sent in hv
COMMANDER Dempf. asking for addi
'iohai equipment. in order that the or
smh,Iation en ,S may be fully supplied with
The acquisitions call for addit,nnai
ciothlng and rifies-enough to eo,,in
ehe present strength and to provide for
~ per cent increase, as required by
orders OF the Navy Department.
~. s.'hough preparations were made
idst thursday night by Commander
Dempf for detail Of men to go to
the Norfolk navy yard leaving Wash
lngton next Friday night, to form rbe
crew which will return the Sylvia to
her berth here, it is the Expressed hone
of Lieut.. Sigourney that Secretarv
Daniels viii make known before Fri
DAY his decision to whether he will
assign the torpedo boat Bailey To-
washington as a practice ship.
~ mas been represented to Secretary
Daniels that an early decision will
mean saving to the government I'd
the Washington naval militiamen 90 toI
Norfolk and bring the Sylvia here n
VIII mean additional expenditure of
FUNDS to return the ship and go to
Norfolk to bring up one OF the torpedo
boats now there in drydock. Secretary
Daniels has been urged to make known
his decision before Friday
commander Dempf plans to leave
ashington Friday night on the Nor
folk and Washington steamer with the
Sylvia's crew. arriving at Norfolk the
following morning. Breakfast will be
eaten aboard the L. s. S. Franklin
training ship at the yard. good part
OF Saturday will be taken up in pur-
chasing supplies for the ship for the
trip TO Washington, and it is the plan
TO start in time to reach Washington
by Sunday afternoon.
The first of the small boats to be n,t
overheard will be the steam launca
known as the second steamer" This
boat is now in drydock at the Wash
ington navy yard. having her hull
painted. This probably will be finished
during the week, il is declared and be-
fore next Sunday il is expected to have
the vessels berthed alongside the bat
q streets southwest
AS result of the announcement that
no more men Will be enlisted in the
local naval militia after Thursday
night. there was a rush of applicants
last Thursday night. and the Medical
Corps of the organization. headed by
Lieut.. f. II. Morhart. was kept busy.
Only experienced men will be taken
on the battleship cruise this year,
which will be for fifteen days, begin
ming July 3. The cruise probably will
be to Havana, Cuba. The only excep-
tion TO the rule not to enlist after
Thursday night will be in the case of
men whu have served one or more full
enlistments in the navy.
The Naval Battalion within the next
week is to receive a four-inch gun for
Installation in the armory at the foot
OF Water and o streets southwest, to
be used in training the gun crews who
will participate in target practice
aboard one of the battleships of the
Atlantic fleet at Gardeners bay next
July.
Notice has been received that the gun
will be shipped in a few days from the
Washington navy yard.