Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-03
D. c.. Naval Reserve

he characterized a lot of yellow Cow
ards" who were trying to undermine
the Navy. He urged the reservists to
take every step possible to combat the,
propaganda Of these destructionists :.
He pointed out that the Navy in
time of peace had contributed much to.
science and development and detailed
some of the work In this line which
was being done at the Naval Research
Laboratory, at Bellevue, D. c.. He told
the reservists that he stood ready and
willing to help them at any time they
needed assistance.
The celebration was. in charge of
Lieut.. Samuel w. Stinenetz, executive
off1cer of the battalion, who was acting
commander in the absence of Lieut..
Comdr. Finney Bascom Smith, who was
called out of the city. After putting
the battalion through series OF drills
with arms, the organizatio was divided
up into groups, each putting on some
speciality, including communication by
the various methods of signaling rsed
in the Navy. There was gun-loadlng
drill, which was given touch of real
ism when a rifle supsrmounted on the
machine was fired al each loading Of
a shell. .
The celebration closed with two box
ing bouts between members Of the bat
talon and boxers from the City Club.
The following enlisted last week
william w. Gift, go street north
the Sd Fleet Division John J. Governs,
$50 M street southeast, seaman, first
class. Sd Fleet Division, and Franklin
NJ Harper, $40 Twenty-S.coad street,
seaman, second class, Sd Fleet division.
o -.
lists mate. has been retired after IS
years of service in the regular estab-
lishment and the Reserve.
Five officers of the Local battalion ere
scheduled to appear to morrow before
a statutory examining board for the
purpose of taking tests to determine
their qualifications for promotion to the
next higher grade.
The high turnover in the Naval Re-
serve Is blamed for inability to get
much real progress In the development
of the organization, according to re-
port to the Navy Department by board
of inspection officers The board re-
ported that for 1925 IL found that the
loss of FL men for all feet divisions
was 43.5 per cent, not including eXpira-
ton of enliStments. With so many new
men entering and leaving the Reserve
each year, the board says, there can be
but little real progress made IN mobili-
cation efficiency. Observations made
since the first of the year do not midi
cate any appreciable decrease in the
loss of men.
It declared that the majority Of the
divisions are unbalanced as to ratings.
The report declared that many divi-
sions carry approximately the proper
proportion of fremen, but seldom, how
ever, are these f1remen men whose civil
occupation and experience fit them as
candidates for skilled ratings. In the
limited time available it is clearly i'm
practicable to give these inexperienced
men the extensive course of instruction
that would be necessary to train them
for higher ratings in the Reserve. Di-
vision commanders in general report
that they cannot obtain experienced
men, men with skilled trades, because
they do not care to enter as firemen. 1t
Is believed that consideration should be
given to securing men whose trade FITS
them for engineer ratings, even though
the appropriation would require reduc-
ing the total number of men allowed
in division and taking these men
into the Reserve in higher pay grade.
The practice Of taking an absolutely
green individual, who, according to
probable turnover in the future, will
be in the Reserve but a couple of years
or so. and of endeavoring to train him.
for the skilled positions on board ship
was considered by the board Of regu-,
lar officers not to be justif1able.
It also pointed out the undesirability
of retaining men of certain grades who
did not receive any training in their
ratings at the weekly drills, and whose
places could be filled quickly on mo-,
biliEation from unframed help. It spoke
particularly Of ships cooks and mess
attendants. Although it said that the
carrying of men in these ratings was not
contrary to Reserve regulations, it con-
sidered 1t undesirable to pay drill
money year after year to ratings which
are readily available on mobilization.
The board reported that it spent con-
siderable time ascertaining the train
ing received by members of the Re-
serve on the training cruise. Roughly,
10 days of seven hours each more than
equals the average time spent in arm
cries by the Reserve organization dur
ing the year. The Importance of well
considered and thoroughly systematic
training on the cruise was pointed to
as obvious. The board found great
variation in the benefit received by
these who cruised. Those who have
had war experience or service in the
regular service appeared to have been
considerably benefited on the cruise
The non-rated men of the division,
while naturally absorbing a certain
amount OF seagoing knowledge and ex-
perience, do not appear to have made
the progress that could be hoped for,
the board reported.
The board reported that throughout
the year it has observed the compost
ton and function of the headquarters
divisions. 1t appeared to the members
tnat these divisions seldom. If ever, are
of any real value to the organizations,
either for training or for mobilization
purposes. and often contain much dead
wood individuals now attached to
headquarters divisions. who are essen
tial to the organization for mobilization
or training, would be more useful if at
tached to various divisions of the
battalion, the board said. and added
that it believed that the ahnltshipc. AZ