Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-04

the National Guard In these locali-
ties equipment and training facilities
were found to be excellent. In many
OF the other localities. where the or
gaDiZatiOn was solely q Naval Reserve
one, the contrast was found to he
most marked, the armory being a
rented drill hall, often unsuitable, and
equipment inadequate. and in some in
stances almost entirely lacking. There
appears to have been in the past little
or no method or plan in the issue of
equipment To the Naval Reserve. The
establishment OF a standard allowance
for Naval Reserve units. recently
issued by the Bureau Of Navigation
Of the Navy Department, should, the
| board says, do much toward improv-
| ing the situation in regard to equip
ment. Steps have already been taken
to remedy the drill hall situation in
I several OF these localities where the
facilities are cOnspicuOusly poor.
While the boards report made pub
lie did not name these places, it is
known that the local Reserve is one
of these. II is located in an old build
ing at the Washington Navy Yard
several blocks away from it's training
ship, the United States destroyer Allen.
The building has only small stoves for
heat and many times last Winter il
was necessary to cut short OF abandon
drills because of this condition.
The board reports the transition
| from the old Naval Reserve force
| to the new Naval Reserve and the de
velopment of the latter is progressing
very satisfactorily. From the number
Of new men in MANS. of the Organiza-
tiOnS, In some cases approximately rs
per cent Of the total, il would appear
that prior to the reorganization the
Reserve in many places was but n
skeleton organization. the permanent
part of the organization being CON-
posed for the most part of officers
and petty officers, and vacancies in
complement being filled with new
| men. as rule. just prior TO the cruis-
ing season. Many of these men. on
rolling solely for the cruise, were
often Immediately entirely lost sight
of. Under the old law there was no
practical way of getting rid of men
who had ceased to take an interest in
the organization, or who came to life
only long enough 10 make the train
ing cruise. This system could not pro-
duCe an efficient Reserve organization.
the board reported
Virtually all of this dead wood. the
report continues, has now been weed
ed out; recruiting has been good. and
though there We're a few locations
where marked deficiencies were noted
generally the enlisted strength of the
divisions approXimutes 10 the quotas
allowed.
The distribution Of men In pay
grades, however. varies greatly in the
| different divisions. Some are greatly
! in excess in the two higher grades.
! while others have deficiencies in these
| grades. Nearly all divisions are de.
| ficient in the third and fourth grades
/ that is. in petty officers Of the second
and third ClasS-and in most divisions
| there was marked deficiency in en-
| cheering ratings. Until the excess
| number Of higher pay grade ratings
! now existing as an Inheritance from
| the old organization. IS reduced no.
| tably in the ratings of chief petty
| officers, the we'll rounded Development
! of the units concerned will be serious
| ly handicapped. for until this reduc-
| ton has been ACCOMPLISHED there can
| be little or no prospect of advance
| qent to any ratings 10 the conse-
! quent detriment Of the morale of that
| organization.
! The adjustment of the officer per
| sonnet to provide for the assignment
| or the proper quota of fleet Reserve
| officers TO fleet divisions had been pro
| crossing slowly. Some of the units
! nave already developed balanced
complement, but there still remain In
many localities feet Reserve officers
| greatly in excess of the requirements
| while in other localities there exists
| not only deficiency of fleet officers
| but a lack OF appropriate material
| The board said that while not pre-
| tending to make a material inspection
| OF the Naval Reserve vessels, these
vessels were all inspected as to their
general condition and as to their suita.
bility and adaptability for training
purposes The board was pleased to
note their general cleanliness and ex-
celleEt upkeep.