Evening star., 1921-10-11
RESERVE OFFICERS
PLAN NEW ATTACK
Maintain Certain Retirement
Funds Should Be Met by
Regular Navy.

ssS8Ab0a SUoVys
Charging Of the cost of maintaining
one branch of the Navy's retirement
system against the reserve funds is
to be one point Of attack of the re-
servists, it became known at q meet
ing of the District Naval Reserve Of
ficers' Association last night. More
than one-third of the cost Of main
tanning the reserves Is due, 1t was
pointed out, to the pay of retired en-
listed men in subclasses c and D Of
class 1 of the reserves.
The association last night adopted
the report of the legislative commit
Balch Blood. which recommended that
the association attempt to meet the
Navy Department on some ground
which would bring about the main
tenance of a strong reserve force on
equitable grounds.
I'VE recommend" said the commit
tee report. that all reservists main
tain status allowed by law, regula-
tion and order, and work with the
regularly constituted authorities and
otfcials in the re-establishing and
building up. in constructive way. a
naval reserve, which, with the en-
phasis of limitation of armaments,
seems bound to become in increas-
ing measure. an important element of
national security. We feel that the
paramount solution must be construc-
tive result brought about by sympa-
thetic, concerted action OF the two
great agents most concerned, the ac-
tive executive force Of the Navy and
Of ha
naval reserve"
Increase Of Reserves.
Commander Blood expressed the
opinion that with the movement for
Limitation of armament there proba-
bly, would be gradual reduction of
the active forces, with a consequent
increase in the reserve units. With
this in mind, he said. the reserve
force would be a constantly increas-
ing factor in this country, he be-
lieved.
The local Reserve Officers Associa-
ton will be represented at a meeting
of the executive committee of the ma
tional association here October "a to
discuss the recent action of the de-
partment by Commander A. B. Glenn
ents, commander of the local reserve
force.
Capt. James P. Parker of Boston,
president of the association, has
called a meeting OF the executive
committee for that date. Capt. Par
ker pointed out that the departments
disenrolling order created a crisis in
the reserve force, but urged that all
districts take all possible action "to
keep the active reserve force from
disintegrating pending the adoption
by the association of some definite
line of policy"
Disenrollment of reserve officers
has brought up the question as to
whether it does not set a precedent
for the discharge of regular officers
whenever the President wills. Re
serve officers commissions read the
same as those of the Regular Navy,
and contain the phrase that they
continue in force at the pleasure of
the President of the United States
for the time being" Commander
Blood pointed out that il the reserves
could be disenrolled at will in such a
manner. then the regular officers
could be discharged also.
Belongs to Navy.
Ensign Frank G. Stewart pointed
out subclaSSes G. and u of the fleet
reserve. which classes were not af-
men of the regular Navy retierd after
sixteen and twenty years service, re-
spectiyely. The cost of this force
takes $2.500,000 a year from the fund
for maintenance of the reserve. he
pointed out, whereas it should come
as a retirement charge against the
regular Navy. If this load was trans
planted from the shoulders of the re-
serve to the regular Navy retirement
charge, where it properly should be,
he said, then it would not have been
necessary to resort to the disenroll-
ment order.
President Harding has received a
number of protests against the olsen
rollment order, and has written a let
ter covering the situation to Hugh
Harley of Philadelphia, in part, as
follows:
The time seems to me to be oppor-
tune to express to you and your ship
mates in the naval reserve the hope
that you will regard this action of
the Navy Department merely as an
administrative act. brought about by
conditions beyond it's control and one
that amounts in reality to a reor-
ganizati0n, q process that is going on
all the time in both military services.
"The necessity for q reorganization
of the naval reserves was recognized
at an early date in this administra-
ton, and steps were taken to formu-
late a we'll considered policy for the
future, based upon experience gained
In the world war.
Compliments to Ships.
Such a policy, if adopted, must
provide for supplying trained or par
TALLY trained men to fill the compile
ments of auxiliary ships in time of
national emergency, thus obviating
the necessity for withdrawing men
from the battle fleet.
1.-The sudden separation of such a
large number of officers and men
from the Navy has necessarily created
situation that will require q GER
tain amount Of time for the reorgani-
cation of the naval reserves under
conditions as they actually exist.
Meanwhile the Navy Department is
engaged in drawing up. and will seek
to have enacted, a bill to cover the
entire subject"
WILL BRING SHIP HERE,