Evening star., 1928-05-06
District ofColumbia
Naval Reserve

The United states Naval Reserve Bat
TALON Of the District OF Columbia,
Lieut.. Comdr. Flnney B. Smith, COM
manding. last Monday night passed
through one Of its most successful an
nual inspections since its postwar re-
organization, The organization is un-
derStood To have performed exceedingly
we'll under the eyes of the inspection
officers from the Navy Department, but
the officers and men are awaiting With
some anxiety to ascertain how they
compared with the other organizations
throughout the country,
The local naval militiamen, however.
were handicapped materially in their
emergency work aboard their new
training ship the L, s. destroyer
Abel p, Upshur. The vessel only arrived
here a couple of weeks before the in
spsction and while there is one drill
night week. nevertheless the one night
which had been selected for intensive
drilling aboard the vessel was one
on which there was q very heavy ram.
which neceSSitate6 abandoning the drill
ing. Even With this handicap. II Is said
that they performed their drills well
and IN a remarkably quick time,
Watching the ceremony ST the armory
and aboard the ship was Commissioner
Taliafeyro OF the District Of Columbia,
who hao been invited 10 be guest OF
the hattlaion for the evening by Comor.
Smith. AS the inspection takes conSid-
cradle time, no other formal exercises
were planned However, the desire was
to have al least one member Of the
Board OF District Commissioners pres
ent TO see what the local naval militia
is doing.
In addition there we're q number Of
visitors. including the fathers of many
a. the Young men, many Of whom eX-
pressed deep interest in the work and
frankly said that they 6id not realize
the excellent training their sons were
receiving as members of this organiza-
tlon. The officers point out that they
would like 10 have more Of the fathers
come down on the drill nights during
the year 70 see the work.
Only two members Of the board
ComdTs, A w Sears and r. c. Will
Hams were present for the inspection
However. Com6r Mark L. HerSey. skip
per of the training ship UpShur and in
Spector instructor Of the local battalion.
IS sn additional member of the board
The absentee member was Capt. H, E.
Nichols. who is president Of the inspec-
tion board.
The gun crews Of the battalion were
not required TO drill for the board.
which also did not require any display
in knotting and splicing of lines. The
whole inspection only required two
hours and q half. including the time
necessary 10 cover the great distance
between the srmory on Eleventh street
southeast and the ship. which is moored
al the western end of the navy ward.
Albert H Taylor. 29lo PENNSYLVANIA
avenue southeast. has been appointed q
commander in the Communications VOL
unteer Reserve for special service. il was
announced at battalion headquarters
He is now engaged on special work al
the Naval Research Laboratory at Belle
Vle. D. c.
Re-ecuipping of the armorv of the
heal battalion has been started with
the arrival here last week of 30 steel
lockers for officers and chief petty off,
GERS They Will be installed in the place
OF the Anticipated locker eouipment
that has been in use for number OF
years and has proved unsatisfactory. In
Shcrt time there VIII be obtained IS
special new lockers for the enlisted per-
sonnel it was announced.
II was said to be probable that the
e s. destroyer Abel P. Upshur will
make her maiden voyage as a training
snip OF the local Ressrvists during June
when the officers and men will be taken
down the Potomac River On q week end
VOYAGE. The fact that the vessel now
- laid up for repairs caused when the
destroyer Converse stove a hole in her
bcw while lying at her berth In the
ravy yard viii preclude any earlier
trips being made. The annual cruises
begin IN July.
The Naval Reserve Division OF the
Navv Department has sent out a notice
n the local Reserve as well as the other
Reserve organizations telling them that
four or five months training time Is
SIN available for divisions TO perfect
the two-gun crews which NAV be per-
r1itted 20 fire short-range battle prac-
t2ce on ciesfroyers and light mine layers
during the Summer. II accordance with
instructions recently issued II was
printed ont that these instructions
should be carefully studied so that off,
GERS and men NAV be familiar with what
ss eypecteo Of them 1t viii probably
be wise, the department says. TO deVel-
op. If possible. in each division one Of
two spare pointers and trainers. espe-
claIly should sul3stitutions become
necessary. Care should be taken as far
as possible 70 select experienced men or
s1l any event men who will not be gun
shy +"
The department urges that ali or
gsntzationE arrange 70 take part In
civic paraoes on Decoration day. and
warns them that they should start
training Immediately by smartening I'D
Their drill and getting uniforms and
equipment In shape.
Forty-five applications have been re-
cetved this year from enlisted men Of
the Naval Reserye who desire TO take
the competitive examination for ap-
pcintment As midshipmen 70 the Naval
Aca6ernY As not more than Is places
are available and as there are approxi-
ynasely IS or more applicants from the
Reserve than last year. the depa rtnnent
says that IL is evident that the Reserve
IS awakening 70 the value Of this oppor-
t3nltV for enlisted men 10 receive an
excellent education leading 10 commits
stoned rank IN the Navy and a sea-far-
ing career Candidates are warned that
these competitive examinations are
most eZacting and that careful inten-
siye and systematic preparation Is ab-
solufeiy essential 10 success