Evening star., 1915-04-10
Department Officials Seek to
Establish Force to Assist In
National Defense.
CIRCULAR SENT TO ALL
ELIGIBLE US. CITIZENS
Advantages of Enlistment Set Forth
by Rear Admiral Blue Of Bu-
reau Of Navigation.

Earnest efforts are being made by
the officials of the Navy Department
for the creation of an efficient naval
reserve to assist in the national de-
fense. in accordance with the terms
of the act of Congress approved
March last. Rear Admiral Victor
Blue, chief of the bureau Of navigation,
has prepared circular letter for Is
sue to every citizen of the United States
eligible for service In the reserve.
together with q copy of the act of
Congress.
This act" says Admiral Blue, con
tains features of much interest and i'm
portance to you, and deserves careful
reading. 1t was intended not only TO
create naval reserve of honorably
discharged experienced men. but also
to increase the efficiency of the regular
service by offering substantial induce
ments to experienced men now in the
navy to remain for longer periods and
to ex-navy men in civil life to re-enter
the navy, and, by so doing, have their
previous service counted in determin-
ing the amount of graded pay they Will
receive when they join the reserve at
some future date. This feature de-
serves your careful consideration as
well as prompt conclusion in the mat
ter, as the navy quota is now almost
full, and enlistments will soon nave to
be suspended in order not to exceed
the number allowed by law. wait
ing list to fill vacancies they occur
will have to be esta ablished at IN early
date. The bureau naturally prefers TO
fill vacancies by enlisting ex-service
men rather than recruits, and there
fore offers you this opportunity.
Advantages Are Cited.
"Consider first whether you wish to
re-enlist in the navy and have your
previous service counted for graded
pay when you join the reserve at some
future time. If you have been out of
the navy less than eight years and are
less than thirty-flve years of age and
physically sound you are eligible to re-
enlist in the regular service. If YOU
decide not to re-enter the regular serv-
ice, consider the advantages you will
have by joining the naval reserve and
having your name an honor roll of
the country, virtually esta blished by an
act of Congress, because the law allows
only honorably discharged men to join
the reserve.
reserve In every community where
there are two or more members. They
Will be requird to report at a designat-
ed place in their own community once
eacn quarter Tor muster and inspection
and to sign pay roll. Failure to SO re-
port will cause forfeiture of pay
Calling them into active service on
board ship for drills and exercises is
optional with the department When
SO called they will receive travel and
subsistence and full pay of their rat
ings. 1t is the intention, in this re-
gard, to ascertain and suit the con-
venience Of the men as far as practi-
cable as to the titme of such active
|
naval militia Due consideration will
be given to the occupation of the man
and its requirement Of his services.
Read carefully the act and note the
following:
1. You must be a citizen of the
United States.
2 Your last discharge must have
been honorable to enable you to join
the reserve.
Service to Count in Pay.
3. If you decide to join the reserve
within four months from date of dis
charge your pay will be $50 per an
mum if you have served four years In
the navy or for minority enlistment;
$50 If you have served eight years, and
s100 if you have served twelve years
4. If you serve sixteen or twenty years
in the navy you can be virtually retired
on one-third or one-half pay.
5. If you re-enlist in the navy your
previous service will count to give you
these advantages.
AS you know, men usually get to be
chief petty officers before they have
sixteen or twenty years service. and
their pay in the reserve would run
from S35 to $50 or more per month.
6. If you join the reserve after four
months and within eight years from
date of discharge your pay will be slc
per annum, ahd you will get an outfit
of uniform when first called into active
service. You can, however, Increase this
pay as serving another enlistment in
the navy, and then enlisting in the re-
serve within four months from date of
expiration of such enlistment. In this
connection remember that all your pre-
vious naval service counts in figuring
out the pay you will receive.
Z. Men in the reserve will be given
distinctive badge or button indicating
their membership in the reserv. as
well as their honorable service in the
navy.
s. When called into active service
you will get the full pay of your rat
ing as well as travel allowance and
subsistence.
After careful considera ton of this
matter, act promptly. Go to a receiv-
ing ship or recruiting station and re-
enlist in the navy or enlist in the re-
serve. At any rate, fill out the in
closed card and mail to the bureau in
order that place may be saved for
you in the quota allowed by law.
If you know the wherea bouts of 9th
er eX-Servlce men the bureau would
thank you to communicate with them
on this subject or send their addresses.
It is important to all concerned that
they should know the opportunities
which Congress has so literally pro-
vided for them.
PLANS TO RAISE MILLION.