Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-23
D. c. NAVAL RESERVE

The construction and operation Of a
modern torpedo was explained to
members of the United States Naval
Reserve OF this district in a lecture at
drill last Monday night by. Lieut..
Comdr. Ffnney Rascom Smith, COM
manding the local battalion. His al
dress was the beginning of a series
which he and other officers will give
to the Reservists to acquaint them
with the methods of construction and
operation of modern war machinery
used by the Navy,
The Naval Reserve Oficers' Associ-
alton met Thursday night to discuss
the instructions 1t will give to it's
representatives at the annual conven-
ton of the Naval Reserve Officers AS
ISOLATION of the District of Columbia,
which is to meet here January 81.
Lieut.. Harry j. Nichols, executive Of
fcer OF the local battalion, is the di-
rector and delegate, while Lieut..
0unior grade) Daisley is the alternate.
1t is probable that one of the mat
ters that will be brought Up will be
the possibility OF promotions of en-
listed men to commissions in the Re
serve. At the present time there is
no opportunity and the local Reserve
officers say that they have officer ma
terial which should be recognized. and
they consider II the function of the
Reserve to so train the enlisted per-
sonnet that they may become excellent
officer material. They say they have
several fine examples of young men
of the city who have entered the Re
serve and after FIVE years of training
have made excellent naval material
and would make good officer material.
Unless something is done TO provide
promotion for these men there is a
fear that they will be lost to the
service.
Some other important matters con-
corning personnel will be brought up
by the local officers. particularly tho
battalion heads. who have given some
years Of study to the question and are
| qualified TO talk from experience. 1t
| is the hope that the national conven-
ton will back them in their move TO
get the best material recognized.
The Engineer gangs of the several
divisions of the local battalion are the
| only ones now receiving instruction
on the L. S. destroyer Allen. their
! training ship, locked at the Washing
ton Navy Yard. Lieut.. Lockhart, chief
engineer. after completing a theoreti-
cal course in engineering in armory
| lectures, has now instituted some
practical work. Each drill night he
| takes the engineers into the engine
room of the destroyer and shows them
how to handle the varied machinery
or which destroyer is made.
The deck gangs Of the division are
being confined to armory instruction
| at this period, but they, too. will be
taken aboard the Allen and familiar
lied with the ship. so that when the
organizations go out on their annual
| cruises they will know practically all
OF the details Of their mutitudinous
| duties. The armory work now con-
sists OF Infantry. signal and gun drills.
Lieut.. Dunbar, U. S. N, executive
officer of the Allen. lectured to the
members Monday night on the details
| of long-range battle practice for de-
| stroyers. Heretofore on the annual
cruises the Reservists have not been
| given battle practice, but it Is the
hope this year that the department
will authorize the Reservists to en-
gage in battle practice, and it Is be-
| lieved that the postwar Reserve now
is ready for this feature of naval
training.
Fireman (frst-class) Christian S.
Lantz and Seaman second class) John
Edward Stone have been ordered to
duty as shipkeepers aboard the U. S.
destroyer Allen.
Lieut.. Alan Jefferies Chenery, 372s
N street, has been commissioned in
the Naval Reserve as a lieutenant,
while Orrin j. Whitney, 6446 Georgia
avenue northwest, has been commits
stoned an ensign.
Chief Boatswain Willis B. Hazleton,
formerly attached to the local Re
serve, now is in Constantinople,
Turkey.
In order to put In the number OF
drills required by the Navy Depart
ment, the local organization is hold
ing drills Monday and Thursday
nights.
| per was later served at a cafe. Among
those present were Arthur S. Brown