Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-02
D. c.. Naval Reserve

Before a large audience of friends
and former members, the First Bat
talon, United States Naval Reserves
of the District of Columbia, went
through its annual inspection last
Monday night for the board of regu
lar Navy officers appointed by the
Navy Department. There was an I'M
precedented turnout of the officers and
men of the command, which was very
pleasing to the commanding officer,
Lieut.. Comdr Finney BaScom Smith,
who for weeks has been putting the
organization through series of in
tensive drills in preparation for the
annual event.
Those who observed the drilling of
the organization expressed themselves
as much pleased with the result of the
training, and the belief was expressed
that when the final comparison is
made the local unit will find itself
high among the list of organizations
of the country, many of which have
completed these annual inspections.
The attendance on inspection night
was so large that the men were cramp-
ed for room in the small drill hall
some difficulty that they carried out
some of the drill orders of the in
Spection officers, particularly those
which required the battalion to spread
out over the floor. While the drill
quarters were quite satisfactory when
the organization was formed follow
ing the World War, nevertheless it has
grown so much that the quarters now
are much too small. But even in the
face of this difficulty, trained observers
said that the organization performed
particularly well.
Every phase Of the training was
closely watched by the inspection
board members. There was a period of
infantry drill by divisions, as the hall
was not large enough for the entire
battalion to go through the evolutions.
Following this there were physical drill
with arms, gun-loading drill, seaman
ship and signaling demonstrations, as
well as class instruction work.
Upon completion of the infantry
drill, the division officers directed the
classes TO form, and each man went
to the particular group TO which he
was assigned, and the instruction was
under the direction of the petty Of
ficers.
After the armory work had been in
spected, the entire battalion was
marched to the ship, where it was put
through a series Of emergency drills
and despite the darkness there was no
confusion. Promptly upon signal every
man went to his station.
AS this is one Of the last of the
organizations to be inspected, it is
probable that the results of all the
inspections will soon be forthcoming
and the local reservistS are watching
for it with much interest. 1t was said
that the crew had much more time
for training this year than last and
the results showed up remarkably well
on last Monday night. Last year they
did not have a ship to train on. but
this year the Upshur has been at her
dock much of the time and the re-
SerVistS made good use of it.
The 1st Fleet Division. commanded
by Lieut. Harold <. Richardson, hac
So men present; the I'd Division, COM
manded by Lieut. (Junior Grade j
F.. Moore, had as men; the Sd Fleet
Division, commanded by Lieut. Samue
w. Stinemetz, 54 men, and the Head.
quarters unit, commanded by Lieut.
Comdr Harry j. Nichols, executive of.
ficer, had men.
The inspection board was composed
of Capt. Charles A. Blakeley, Comdr
r. C. Williams and Lieut.. Comdr A
w. Rieger.
During the first part of the inspec
ton, Rear Admiral A. L. Willard
commandant of the Washington Nav.
Yard, and his aide, Lieut.. Comdr. w
D. Kilduff, were in attendance.
Lieut.. Comdr Richard S. Field, VIII
has assumed command of the Unite
States destroyer Abel P. Upshur. train
ing ship of the local battalion, and VIII
also has been assigned as inspector-in
structor Of the organization, was pres