Evening star., 1928-04-29
D. c. NAVAL RESERVE

An ambitious schedule has been ar
ranged for the United States Naval Re-
serve Battalion of the District OF Co
lunlhia for its annual inspection at the
hands of a board of officers of the
Regular Establishment from the Navy
Department. scheduled for tomorrow
night. The members of the organization
have been working for many weeks III
an effort TO perfect all of their drills in
the hope that they would be able to
capture one or both of the trophies
which have been presented TO the Navy
Department to be given each year To
the Reserve division and battalion max
ing the highest figure of merit at an
nual inspections.
While the schedule will be carried out,
the local ReServiStS have been handi-
capped III their preparations for their
ship drills because of the fact that they
have been without a training ship While
their former vessel was being placed OUT
of commission and their new vessel, the
United States destroyer Abel T. UpShur,
was being placed In commission. While
the UpSllur arrived here two weeks ago.
the ReServiStS were not able to DO any
drilling aboard. The first Monday night
she was here the men were given the
opportunity to roam around to familiar
37e themselves with the boat and last
Monday night 1t rained so hard that II
was impossible to hold the drills III the
open. particularly in view of the fact
that the ship is docked at consider
able distance from the armory.
When they are put through the emer-
cency drills tomorrow night 1t VIII ne
the first time that they viii have ever
been sent to their stations aboard TINS
vessel. but the officers are so confident
OF the work of the enlisted personnel
that they do not anticipate much dill
Guilty. although. naturally, they Will not
perform in the manner they could II
they had had at least two drill periods
aboard the ship.
While il is regretted by members Of
the battalion that they do not have sew
eral weeks more in which 10 prepare
for this inspection. they nevertheless
are determined TO 60 through With II
and make as high a figure as possible.
However. they expect to make hlGh
marks by the armory inspections, as
they have had much time for this, and
It is possible that the high armory m
kpection results will more than make
up for the falling of in the drills aboard
the ship.
Lieut.. Comdr. Finney Bascom Smith,
commander Of the local battalion, has
issued the fun instructions for the an
nual inspection He has directed that
all officers and men be present for mus
ter at 7:S0 o'clock tomorrow night at
the navy yard armory. The uniform
for officers and chief petty officers VIII
be service dress. sidearms and legglns.
For the enlisted personnel it will be
dress blues, white caps. leggins, oeltS
and rifles.
Upon completion of the muster di-
vision commanders will form battalion
line as follows: First Division, Sd Dl-
vision Color Company I'd Division,
Headquarters Division. all ratings III the
meSsman branch and recruits who nave
not received their uniforms
The battalion then will be prepared
for the following drills at the armory
Inspection of personnel, appearance OF
uniforms and general personal appear
alce Of the men. manual OF arms, set
ting-up under arms. infantry drill under
division commanders, loading drill, sig
nal drill. classroom instruction and
knotring and splicing. Upon the COM
pletion of these in the ar1nory. the en-
tire battalion viii be marched to the
Upshur at her berth. while the board
watches them put on the following
drills: Fire drill. collision drill. abandon
ship drill, fire and rescue drill and gun
drill
II is expected that the inspection
will keep the members OF the outfit
at the armory and aboard the ship until
after midnight. as ii takes some time
for each of the drills 10 be carried out.
The following enlisted in the battal-
ION during the week. James r. Gorrie,
1887 z street northeast. seaman, sec
ond class. assigned TO the I'd Fleet Di-
vision, and Oscar F. Harlow, 1884 Thir-
tiet1 street Mt. Rainier. Md, assigned
10 the Sd Fleet Division.
The following enlisted as student
naval avfators. with the rank OF sea-
man. second class. and have been or
dered to the United States Naval Re-
serve Air Station al Squantunl. Mass
for IS days Of training, beginning May
/: Thomas F. Henson. 734 Tenth street.
and Robert E. Hess. jr., 1852 Emerson
street northeast.
Upon completion of this duty. If they
successfully pass the preliminary tests.
the two men then viii be ordered TO
the Z. S. Naval Air Station at Pensa-
cola. Fla, where they will be given
another 60 days Of training, after which,
upon successful completion, they will be
commissioned ensigns In the air reserve.
Heretofore the second period was only
IS days. but 1t was announced that re-
Gently 1t was changed TO so days.
The training ship Of the local Reserve.
the u. S. destroyer Upshur, which was
rammed while at her dock By the de-
gfroyer Converse, viii not go 10 Nor
folk. as originally planned. TO have the
hole in her side repaired. Authority
has just been given 10 have the work
performed al the Washington Navy
Yard.
1t Is the hope that the repairs can
be made IN a short time, 80 that Sey-
eral Sunday cruises may be made
aboard the Upshur down the Potomac
River, prior 70 the beginning Of the an
n1sI cruises, 30 as 10 fsmiIiarlze all Oi
the officers and men thoroughly with
the ship before they put out 70 sea
70 join the Atlantic Scouting Fleet.
The Aviation Reserve activities have
grown 70 such q size here. II was said
that the coYnfnandaut Of the Washing
ton Navy Yard has recommended 70
the Navy Department that another aYi-
alton division be authorized. There are
said 10 be 10 many student aYiatoFs
here, a. well as aViatOFg from the De-
psrtment of Commerce who are men,
bers Of the Reserve. that they cannot
be handed by one division. The Avla-
ton Division drills a. the Air Sta
ton at Anacostia. Lieut. Ernest w
Litch, T. s. b.. has been detailed here
as assistant Instructor inspector for ayi-