Evening star., 1922-03-13
NAVY YYEOMANETTES
TAKEN IN RESERVES
Association Votes to Wei
come Woman War Workers
With Open Arms.

Women who served in the United
States Navy during tho war as yeo-
men (f) were decided asset, and
they will be received with open
ar ms in the proposed new naval re-
serve legislation which is being con-
sidered today at the annual conven-
tion of the Naval Reserve Oficers
Association of the United States.
Thousands of women were enrolled
in the Naval Reserve and filled posi-
tions at various shore stations dur
ing the war, but since. have been
disenrolled. The association was con-
sidering the proposed law. a section
Of which said that the reserve shall
be composed OF citizens of the United
States" Efforts were made to have
inserted the word male" before
citizens" which would have exclud-
ed the yeomen (D.
Rear Admiral Latimer, Judge ad-
vocate general Of the Navy. said that
these women had rendered very val
liable services during the past war
and they should not be excluded. Ihe
association approved.
In explaining the proposed iaw:l
which was prepared by board OF
NOR explained that the board mas
gone exhaustively into every detail
and. had decided that in framing the
new legislation all old legislation
should be wiped completely off the
slate He asserted that under tne
reserve is operating, the contro.4eI
general of the United States can 90
almost anything he wants.
High Rank Discussed.
The matter of high ranking officers
in the Naval Reserve stirred up con-
siderable discussion. Commander w.
B. Waite of New York city pointed
out that the Naval Reserve should
be allowed high rank just the same
as is done in the National Guard. and
said that it was unfair for board
of naval officers. in considering a
new law, to start with the premise
that there were no officers In the
Naval Reserve qualified to fill high
ranks afioat during a war. He pointed
out that Capt. Eyers of Chicago, a
reserve officer, commanded a battle
ship division during the war, and
pointed to other instances,
If these officers could perform the
duties under lower rank, they GER
tainly were qualified, he believed. to
fulfill them under a nag rank. 1t
was unfair, he continued, for board
of the Navy to say that any Naval
Reserve officer, no matter what his
experience or what his talent, was
not QudllneQ 10 nll nag RANK eltueE
in time of peace or during war.
Something to Work For.
Capt A. B. Frye, New York city,
pointed out that the bill should rec
ognize the ambition of American
youth to get ahead, and should pro-
vide these promotions as something
to work for. To make the reserve
attractive. young men should have
pointed out to them the opportunity
| of reaching high rank.
Aside from a reading Of the pay bill
for naval reservists recently intro
duced in Congress, and on which no
action was taken, the convention took
, up practically the entire morning
| session with the consideration of the
proposed reserve bill and the amend
| ments of the associations committee
| which has been giving the matter
consideration.
| The afternoon session will be given
up to a completion of the considera-
! ton of the measure. The convention
| will conclude with a banquet at the
New willard tonight, at which Sec
| retary Denby of the Navy Depart
| ment is to be the principal speaker.