Evening star., 1924-07-13

1t is pointed out from the destroyer
viewpoint that at present junior OFF,
GERS are detailed to destroyers after
they have been one year on d battle
snip or other larger vessel, and upon
reporting for duty on destroyer the
orncer In question is usually made
the mead of a ships department. As
mead OF the depa rtmant he is charged
with the operation and custody OF
thousands of dollars worth of more
or less delicate and complicated ma
terial Keeping this up to a high
state of efficiency with enlisted per-
sonnel of little experience requires
the utmost of his energy and ability.
ana should he not possess either OF
these qualities the efficiency of the
fleet will be lowered. The duties of
the other officers on board the de-
stroyer are such that they can give
but little time to his supervision and
instruction, and the result is that he
must direct the activities of his de-
paltment practically single handed.
On the larger vessel his RESPONSE
bilities are comparatively few, and
junior officers possessing marked
ability, resourcefulness, and having a
sense Of responsibility are not always
selected by the commanding officer Of
the larger ship to be transferred to
the destroyer, due to the fact that
the separation would weaken the
large vessel. In commenting upon
this situation, the qualifications OF
two ensigns received aboard a GER
tain vessel during the past nine
months is cited, as follows:
The first of these officers received
came from a battIeship. He was on
her six months in the fire control dl-
vision. In port he stood junior offi-
Ger of the deck watch on the forward
starboard gangWay, used by the cap
tain and admiral. At sea he stood
watch below decks to see that rou-
tine below decks was observed and that
the crew remained in uniform below
decks He at no time stood watch on
the bridge when the vessel was under
way From this duty he was ordered
to duty aboard this vessel"
The ensign above cited had been
out of the Naval Academy only one
year, but had had no training in deck
or engineering duties or in watch
standing at sea, while the second en-
sign was out of the academy but
eight months, and during his duty On
the battleship was junior division ON.
Ger of a broadside division. In port
he stood watch as junior officer of
the deck. while at sea he was Junior
officer of the watch. 1t is apparent
from the two cases clted-aho thefe
are scores of others similar TO mem
that there is great need for the IN.
tensive training Of ensigns on ooard
battleships with the primary object
in view Of releasing them for impor-
tant duties elsewhere.
During the fiscal year 1925 1t Is be-
ing planned by the Navy Department
to provide training for a total or
1856 naval reservists, which number
includes both officers and enlisted
men enrolled in the fifteen naval ois-
tricts and the District of Columbia
At the present time cruises OF naval
reserve are in progress in the hrst,
ninth thirteenth and fourteenth dis-
tricts and the District of Columbia
The following indicates the mum Der
Of naval reserviSts who can be given
training during this period: Class :.
1855 officers and 5000 enlisted msn
class g. 81 officers. enlisted men noFc
class 3 $50 officers and so men. and
class s, 400 officers and 1000 men.
With the completion of expert
mental practices during the latter
part of June, all target practices for
ships Of the battleship divisions and
destroyer squadrons of the battle
feet were completed for the gunnery
year l923-24. As the battle fleet hac
an extended winter cruise. only
short time was devoted toward COM
pIeting the spring target practice
Three officers and ten enlisted men
from the battle feet camera party
have been detailed to take course
Of instruction at the Famous Players
Lasky Corporation, in HOLLYWOOD
Calf. They will be given special in
struction in handling motion picture
cameras and in the development OF
films
Rear Admiral Charles F. Hughes.
Z. S. N, recently relieved from duty
at the Naval War College has been
assigned to the chief OF naval opera
tions, and will be in charge Of feet
training. Admiral Hughes will also
| have under his supervision target
| practice and other features in the
| operation of the feet
Capt E. H Carpenter, e. S. N. has
reported at the Navy Department.
relieving Capt. Richard H Leigh. L.
| s. ", as assistant chief, bureau OF
| navigation. Before reporting for
! duty at the War College Capt. Leigh
will take a short leave.
Lieut.. Commander Webb C. Hayes.
U. S N. reported for duty as aide to
the chief or the bureau of navigation.
He is the grandson of former Presi-
dent Hayes. and relieves Lieut. De
Witt Carr, L. S. n, who goes to the
| Mayfiower.
The field exercises program or the
east coast expeditionary force of the
Marine Corps, which will be held this
| year on the civil war battlefield of
Antietam, will be prepared by Brig.
Gen. Dion Williams, who is the com
| mandinig officer of this force. Ac-
| cordinC to the tentative program, tho
marines will leave Quantico August
90 and will be transported TO Wash
| ington by boat. marching to the bat
tlefield from Washington via Fred
erick: Md. September Is and Il. 1Se2'
| the Union forces. under Gen. McClel-
i Ian, and the Confederates, under the
| command of Gen. Lee, fought their
battle at Antietan, and, according TO
| the plans now being worked out for
! the approaching war games of the
marines, the September maneuvers
| will he a re-enactment of the civil
| war Antietam operations, with only
one change, and that is in the repro
duction of this battle modern methods
! and weapons will be used.
The strength of the enlisted per-
| sonne1 of the Marine Corps June 80
was 1916. which is slightly below
the authorized strength of 1850. In
| view of the fact that the physical
and mental requirements OF the corps
are 50 severe, the authorities at Ma :
| rine Corps headquarters are grained
over the splendid showing made dur
ing the past year by the recruiting
section.
Aluminium Dust.
AN accident near Furth demon
strated the dangerous properties