The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-07-30
The Naval Reserves

| L rum t rldhhllI, III Slhlo' NIL y ~.
Parker sends to the Virginia-Pilot
| the ubioined communication:
"On the front page of your issue
of today, under the heading Naval
Personnel Totals 100000, you give
tabulated statement of the number
in the different branches of the navy.
Il (and l think many others of
your readers) am very hazy about
| the distinctions between these classes
in the navy and I would be very glad
| if you would (editorially preferably
explain in your columns these dis
| tinctions.
| "1) What is the work of MEM
| bers of Naval Reserves, and what is
the difference between Naval Reser-
YES and National Naval Reserves,
| both of which are included in your
tabulated list?
"(2) Are Naval Reserves engag-
ed in active service in the Navy, draw
| ing regular pay from the Govern
I
are enlisted for future service, with
out either duties or pay until called
at some indefinite time in the future
| into active service, or are holding
some civilian job under the Navy De-
partment?
! "(3) Where a registrant under
| 5ro ff 10 ic a,,Iicta1 in ho
Reserves, does that entitle him to
classification in Glass SD b.. his To-
cal board, and hence exempt him
from service until he is called as a
member of the National Reserves"
The term National Naval Reserves
is, strictly speaking, misnomer.
The official designation is National
Naval Volunteers. These comprise
the various Naval Militia units which
were in existence at the time of
Americas entrance into the Euro
pean conflict and which then bore the
same relation to the Navy as did the
National Guard to the Army When
mustered into the Federal service,
after this country had declared a
state of war to exist with Germany,
they were incorporated into the regu-
| lar Naval establishment just as the
National Guard was incorporated in
to the regular Army establishment.
The Naval Reserves, the official
designation of which is United States
| Naval Reserve Force, were organized
after the outbreak of the war for the
purpose of home or coast defense. At
the outstart enlistments, with terri
torial limitations as to service, were
permitted. Soon, however, this prac-
tice was discontinued and enlist
ments had to be made for general
service. Not only this, but those
who had enrolled under the limited
territorial provision were requested
to waive their rights under that pro-
vision and to volunteer FOR general
service To that appeal, as we un-
derstand it, the response was prac-
tically universal Today the men in
the Naval Reserve Force are all
amenabIe to any kind of service, any
where, at home or abroad, to which
the Navy Department may see fit to
assign them. In fact, Naval Reser-
yes, officers and enlisted men, are
now serving on battleships, cruisers,
transports, colliers, supply ships and
in every other branch of the Naval
service.
| Answering the third question OF
our correspondent, Naval Reserve en-
listments can not be made condition
ed upon civilian duty or deferred
call; but have to be made, as enlist
ments in all other branches of mill
tary service, subject to such assign
ments as the judgment of the De-
partment or the conditions obtaining
may dictate. Of course, numerous
members of the Naval Reserve are
doing civilian or shore duty, just as
are members of the regular Naval
Establishment. This, however, is
not a matter of choice with then, but
of discretion with the Department
Certain duties of this kind are ma
tural and necessary incidents to
proper administration of Naval af-
fairs. Likewise number of men en-
listed in the Naval Reserve have been
put on the waiting list until their
services are needed for the manning
of the battle-craft which arescon-
stantly being turned out by American
yards or of the ships which are
steadily and rapidly being added tc
the transport fleet. These men, ,wher
and where subject to draft, are given
/ the deferred classification of SD. II
so classifying them, the Government
is simply making provision for meet
ing certain future needs when anC
as they arise. The Naval Reserves
constitute an essential part of the
naval establishment, and those en-
listed therein are performing ser
vice no less important than if they
were enrolled in the Navy proper.
/ --O--