Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-06

THE Naval Reserve Officers Asso-
citation OF the District of Columbia
will hold a meeting at the Navy YARD
arrnory tomorrow night to hear the
report of Lieut.. Harry ]. Nichols,
delegate to the meeting of the nation
al association which was held here
this week.
The local contingent was well rep
resented at the national meeting,
many of the officers attending ana
taking part in the proceedings, al
though not accredited as delegates; II
Is the opinion of Lieut.. Nichols that
much progress viii be made during
the year in the advancement of the
naval reserve as a formidable second
line for the Navy, as a result OF the
conferences.
The L. S. S. Allen, training ship OF
the local battalion, is expected 10 20
to either Norfolk or New York navy
ward within a short time for her annu-
al overhaul and repair period prepara-
tory to beginning the annual Summer
cruises with the scouting fleet with
members of the local reserve force
aboard. The dates for these cruises
have not yet been announced by the
Navy Department.
The Reseryists are looking forward
with a great deal Of interest this year
10 the possibility of holding target
practice while on their cruises Since
the war these people have not been
required to fire the big guns, put
have confined their duties practically
to ship operating and maneuvering,
with a, spell of training now and then
with the silent guns. However, this
wear ii is understood that the depart
ment is working out plans for holding
target practice to round out the tram
ing of the reservists.
During the course of conferences
held at the Navy Department between
its officials and reserve officers called
here for the specific purpose, some
specific problems We're laid down Tor
study to determine what recommends
tians might be brought forth to better
the training of the Reserves. These
problems included the interchange
ability of fleet reserve and volunteer
reserve. particularly the question as
to whether officers of the Volunteer
Reserve should be transferred to the
Fleet Reserve in the rank held by
them at the time of transfer. This
IS now prohibited by law.
II such a plan is considered desirable
the officers are asked 10 suggest
plan for doing this without destroy
ing the lineal list, and if this cannot
be done, then to answer the qnes-
ton as TO whether the lineai pro
motion list, recently established by
law, should be abandoned.
The question of command in the
reserve will be given serious consld-
GRAFTON, particularly as 10 whether
the military principle of command IN
peacetime organization should be sub
ordinated to other conditions. In
other words, If a commanding officer
of a. unit, by virtue of his seniority,
is not qualified for the command of an
organization, should he be displaced
nv the next in rank, or If the next In
rank Is also unqualified, keep on down
the list until the proper officer IS
found II this plan is approved, then
the officers are asked to find the
answer to the question as 10 what
should be done for the insists. as to
whether they should be transferred
10 the volunteer reserve or retained in
a subordinate billet. IL was pointed
out that to retain such misfits iii the
organization would be so much dead
wood who would be taking the place
Of valuable material seeking to enter.
The officers are particularly asked
10 find the answer to the question OF
filling the officer personnel ranks,
either by the promotion of qualified
enlisted men, or by appointment from