"balch" was commissioned into the united states navy on 26 march 1914 under the command of lieutenant commander david c. hanrahan. "balch" served briefly with the torpedo flotilla, atlantic fleet, carrying out torpedo firing practice off the virginia capes before participating in a for president woodrow wilson at new york city on 7 may. following fleet maneuvers with the submarine flotilla out of new london, connecticut, the torpedo flotilla joined the battleship squadrons in narragansett bay for maneuvers organized by the naval war college. returning to the new york navy yard that summer, "balch" was placed in reserve commission on 24 july 1914.