Evening star., 1927-04-10
d. c.. Naval Reserve

Some first.hand information on the
conditions prevailing i'm the Chinese
war area and the activities of the
Navy there was given the officers and
men OF the United States Naval Re-
serve of the District of Columbia at
their assembly in the Navy Yard
Armory last week. Lieut.. Comdr.
"A. Z. Smith, who has just returned
from China, lectured TO the officers
and men. and told them of the service
in Chinese waters.
The lecfG-s was well received and
created no little interest, as the local
Reservists are closely watching the
conditions in the East because of the
possibilities. In the event of
mobilization, the local Reservists would
be assigned to a West Coast destroyer
for active duty, and all Of their train
ing is directed toward giving them full
knowledge of destroyer duty, because
OF the fact that they will be assigned
to this type of vessel.
While last drill night was TO be
general inspection, according to the
drill schedule, this was suspended in
order TO hold a general muster for the
purpose Of allowing the men 10 listen
to the address of Condr. Smith. Fol
lowing the talk the men were re.
leased from further drill for athletics,
The graded. progressive method of
instruction for the members of the
local Reserve in accordance with plans
worked out by Lieut.. Comdr. Flnney
Bascom Smith. commanding the bat
talon. and Lieut.. Harry ]. Nichols,
executive officer, in consultation with
the division commanders. was put
into effect last drill night. The di-
vision officers have been given a gen
eraI plan of work. and each is to for
mulate a particular plan for his di-
vision, which is to be carried out in
accordance with the general scheme.
The plan is devised to keep the inter.
est of the men, arranged so that the
older men viii not have to go over
the same ground when recruits are
brought in. There will be something
new for each group or class on each
drill night, and the system is to be
used as basis for promotions, as men
viii not be sent to the next higher
grade or subject until they have passed
examinations in the lower ones. Those
attending regu ariy the classes estab.
hshed and shoI4iak the greatest inter.
est as evidenced in their examinations
VIII be the ones selected for promo.
reserve is on active duty for it's annual
sea training aboard the DESTROYER dur
ing the coming Summer.
The officers who have been working
or the plan express the belief that it
viii result in developing a bigger and
more efficient reserve for prompt serv-
Ice IN time of war than has ever been
devised before for training the re-
serves.
The y. s. S. Allen, destroyer train
ing ship of the local reserves. has re.
turned to her berth at the Washington
Navy Yard. after several weeks at the
Norfolk Navy Yard, where she has
been undergoing extensive repairs
and overhaul, preparatory to taking
her assignment with the Atlantic
scouting fleet for maneuvers during
the coming Summer with the reserves
of this city and Baltimore aboard. The
vessel has been modernized in every
way, it was said. to fit up to the
standards for the latest type destroy.
ers and to enable her to function
with the fleet during the coming Sum-
ner
Lieut.. Comdr. Alfred S. Wolfe. u.
g. N. in command of the vessel, OBJ
served the local reservists at drill last
Monday night.
1t is proposed by the reserve off.
GERS to begin conducting drills aboard
the vessel in a week or two, instead
of at the armory, because 1t is be-
iieyed that the men will receive bet
ter instruction and have the lessons
more firmly impressed in their minds
il they are taken aboard the vessel.
With this training they will be able
to sl1ake-down quickly when they go