Evening star., 1930-12-07
D. G.. Naval Reserve

Although denied some Of the facilities
for eficient training by the transfer
from washington Of the U. s. De-
stroyer Abel p. Upshur, officers Of the
lst Battalion, United States Naval Re-
serves Of the District Of Columbia, are
planning to make the best of the situa-
ton by fitting I'D the armory as much
like a sea-going ship as possible. It Is
proposed to acquire as much equipment
as possible and use the ship keepers
formerly attached to the UpShur in the
installation work.
In this connection, It is understood
that q detail of 10 enlisted men In the
ship-keeper gang at the local battalion
will be sent to Philadelphia for the
purpose of obtaining equipment from
the destroyers in reserve in the back
basin at the League Island Navy Yard
and having 1t transferred to Washing
ton. Destroyer equipment Is being
sought, 1t was said. because of the fact
that in the event Of war the local Re-
servists would be assigned to q vessel
Of the destroyer type. In addition to
the 10 men from Washington, 1t was
stoned officer, the latter probably from
the Philadelphia Reserve, would be as
signed to prepare equipmeet for ship
ment to other Reserve organizations
along the East Coast which do not
have the advantage of q training ship.
It was indicated that the idea for
equipping the armory in such a man.
ner originated with the local Reserve,
and 1t is understood that 1t has the
approval Of the local naval authorities.
The work of fitting up the armory had
started here before the move was in
augurated to get equipment from the
destroyers, as dummy fire plugs were
installed throughout the armory for the
purpose of giving the enlisted person.
mel training in emergency fire drills.
One of the most important pieces Of
equipment to be acquired here Is a
naval gun. However, as the local Navy
Yard Is a gun factory, this piece will
be obtained here and fixed up in the
armory. Owing to the fact that the
drill-han floor Is not Of sufficient
strength to support the gun, It will be
placed in another part of the armory.
Also, one of the old 3-inch type will
have to be used instead Of the 4-inch
type on destroyers, because Of the
weight Of the latter gun.
The gun training Is considered rather
important in the training Of Reserv-
lists because each year, while on the
annual cruises, each Of the divisions
has to furnish couple Of gun crews
While the destroyer was here this was
done on the vessel. Without q gun,
the training Of pointers, trainers and
sight settlers would have to be con-
fined principally to a few days prior
to target practice while the men are at
sea taking their annual periods Of sea
training.
It Is planned, 1t was said, to construct
bridge in the armory which Is to be
be hf11c 1x~iA a.
possible to make 1t. There will be
voice tubes, engine-room telegraphs,
blinker-light systems for night signal
ing and yardarm for flag signaling.
It Is also proposed to put in q steering
wheel with compass on q movable
platform, so that while helmsmen are
being trained in the proper way to
steer ship the platform and compass
will be turned, showing the different
courses. AS one officer remarked, If
some way could be found to have this
platform roll and pitch the practice
would be made most realistic.
Prior to the receipt Of the special
equipment from Philadelphia, the ship
keepers have been kept busy renovat-
ing and Frightening up the building and
making installations incidental to the
new plans.
In connection with the installation
OF the gun, 1t Is planned to install q
modified fire-control system, so that the
fire Of the guns may be directed in a
similar manner to the methods used
on the regular ships when q vessel is
in action.
Both officers and men are said to be
enthusiastic over the plans, and 1t was
indicated that, while the ship will be
missed, 1t Is believed that the proposed
installations viii make the drilling more
interesting and will help materially in
encouraging the men to attend drills
regularly. It has been the plan for
some time in the local Reserve to 50
change the drills and instruction that
1t does not become monotonous.
Ofhcers of the battalion held a meet
ing last Monday night, at which plans
for the equipment Of the armory were
discussed in detail, and Lieut.. Samuel