The Washington times., 1920-07-18
EAGER FOR DRILLS.

EAGER FOR DRILLS.
The first meeting OF the reorganized
force will be held tomorrow night. at
the Naval Militia Armotry. Water and
o streets southwest when the new
officers will assume command and
plans for future growth will be dis
cussed.
In an effort TO stimulate interest In
the reorganization, Commander Glenn
ents has sent out an snpeal to every
! member TO give support to the naval
militia.
Members Of the force. most OF whom
have been on yeomsn duty In the
Navy Department. are looking for
ward eagerly to the drills and train
ing, which were cut short by Con-
gress when II directed that the places
OF the yeom~n-"Fs" be taken by the
men OF the reserves forces.
Commander Clements, who is as
sistant to Admiral Benson on tho
Shipping Board, has been working for
several months on the program for
the District force, with the result
! that the reorganization plans have
Just been approved by the com.
nandsnt OF the navy yard.
The big Naval Militia Armory has
been turned over to tho District or
hall will resound with the tread OF
marching feet four times week
Commander Clements will sanounc ;
| the new officers of the orga niIation
at the meeting tomorrow might
few still are to be appointed.
The purpose OF the organization
| will be two.fold as battalion OF
| three divisions, thu sUb-chssers'
crows being the nucleus OF each di-
| vision. and as n school Of instruction
under Commander Clements.
During the war. Commander Glenn
~nts. who IL graduate OF the L. =.
Naval Academy, was ono of the most
enthusiastic supporters OF the Naval
Reserve Force, as q result OF his du-
ties In training thousands OF youn-s
civilians as officers in the wartime
navy. In reorganizing the District
Naval Reservc, Commander Clements
has followed as closely as possible
the organizo tion which has been test
ed successfully at the u. S. naval
training stations and the Naval
Academy.
COMMANDER EXPLAINS PLAN.
His letter to the commandant OF
the navy yard, enclosing the pre-
liminary draft of organization for in
structions. reads I'm part az follows:
"Thc majority of the enlisted men
and many of the officers of the Dis
trict have had little or no sea serv-
ice. They enrolled and volunteered
for general service. but were used
on shore, and, as they were mainly
In Class 4, they were promoted and
given ratings and rank IN accord
ance with tn" quality OF their duties
and responsibilities, but without re-
gard to the qualifications for such
ratings and rank in tho United states
navy--all OF which Is in strict ac-
cordancc with the letter and spirit
Of the law.
These members need training
camp and training camp school in
struction and are not now ready to
take up the simplest sea duties OF
the rate or rank in the regular navy.
There are among them many who
are In the yeoman branch who should
and would qualify for the seaman
branch II given an opportunity.
These members served faithfully.
and their promotions show their serv-
Ices met with the approval OF their
commanding offlcers--they should
be given every encouragement and
opportunity to qualify for remaining
In the Naval Reserve force, and tho
fact that they were required on shore
during the war and got no opportu-
nifty To gain the experience at sen
for which they volunteered should
not be allowed to in any degree pref.
udice their standing In the Naval
Reserve force so long az they show
deaire to acquire the necessary
qunlIncnt tIons.
These are just the kind of young
Americans we need In the Naval re-
serve. We have enough class and
Clsss : men to Instruct, and think