Evening star., 1928-09-23
D. c. NAVAL RESERVES

With the return to Washington of a
number Of officers of the United States
Naval Reserve Battalion of the District
OF Columbia who have been on vaca-
ton, following their annual cruises,
Lieut.. Comdr. Finney Bascom Smith,
commanding the organization, called
conference last Monday at the navy
yard armory, when the battalion was
turned over to the chief petty officers
for the purpose Of carrying out the drill
schedule.
The most important subject of the
conference was the plans for holding
examinations of enlisted men who were
recommended for promotion to the next
higher grades as a result of proficiency
displayed by them during the annual
cruises. It was decided by the officers
that the examinations this year, instead
OF being oral as heretofore will be writ
ten. Officers explained that this will
permit of the examination of all of the
men at one time, where as in the oral
examinations it has been possible only
to call one man at time before the
board, with the result that only few
could be examined each drill night.
This resulted In dragging the work
through the drill year at q time wh,n
the officers are needed to carry on ths
drills
Orders have been issued by Comdr
Smith for the preparation of the ex-
animation papers, covering military SUBJ
JectS, and on night in the near future
those enlisted men who have been rec
commended for promotion will be called
before the board and given their tests
1t is estimated that there will be about
40 men to be examined, the exact num-
Der not being known here because the
division commanders have not submit
ted their names.
The board which will conduct the ex-
aminations, which was appointed by
Comdr Smith, will be as follows: Lieut.
w. c. Lockhart, Headquarters Division;
Lieut.. 0unior grade) Fewell, 1st d.
vision; Lieut.. Gunior grade) D. w.
Daisley, Sd Division; Lieut.. (junior
grade) Hudson, I'd Division, and Ensign
3. w. Coleman, 1st Division.
The United States Naval Reserve Of
,icers' Association of the District of Co.
lumbia held a meeting at the Reserve
armory last week to consider plans for
participation of the local unit in the
national convention of the association
and also to plan for the annual dinner
OF the organization.
1t was announced that it will be held
In about three weeks, and efforts will be
made to have all Naval Reserve officers
local unit. Comdr. Mark L. Hersey, u.
S. Navy, commander of the destroye,
Abel P. Upshur, training ship, and in
spector and instructor of the local Or
ganiZation, it was announced, will be the
guest Of honor.
The training ship Upshur will be
used throughout the Winter for the
training of personnel of the battalion
1Hv 7 Ir
Harry j. Nichols, executive officer OF
the battalion. 1t is planned to take
one fleet division aboard the vessel
each drill night for instruction, while
the other two divisions will be kept in
the armory for other work. which car
be carried out without going aboard
ship. The absence of one division also
will give more room for the other two
divisions in the shore building. How
ever, the officers have found it DOS.
sible to get two additional claSSrooms
In the building by the careful placing
of the new lockers recently purchased
for the men. They have served to re.
lieve very crowded condition.
Edward B. Blade. chief machinist!
mate, re-enlisted in the 1st Fleet Di
vision last week. He lives at 1854
fenth street. Blade has been a mem
Naval Reserve since 1905, serving con
Es:0R;s.y. He served IN the Nav
throughout the Void War, having en-
tere;1 when the former naval battalion
here was called to active duty upol
the declaration of war.
Francis G. Neubeck, fireman. thir
class, lst Fleet Division, has been dis
charged, upon his own request, in orde
to enter the United States Coast Guar
Academy.
Arthur K. Olsen, 6517 Eighth stree
enlisted in the Reserve as a seaman
second class, and was assigned to tn
I'd Fleet Division.
Byron T. Stanner, seaman, frs
class, and Robert w. Stanner, fireman
third class brothers and members c
the 1sC Fleet Division, were discharge
10 permit them to enlist in the Unite
States Coast Guard
Harry K. Taylor, chief boatswain
mate, 461 P street, was retired, upo
completion of 80 years service in tn
Regular establishment and in the Re
serve He served in the former fC
20 years. the remainder of the tin
being III the Reserve.