Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-20
D. c.. Naval Reserve

Armory drill training on . scale never
before known by the oficers and men
OF the list Battalion, United States
Naval Reserves, OF the District OF Co
lumbia, was started this week under the
direction of Lieut.. Samuel w. Stein
metz, commander. The Organization,
with the annual cruising season COM
plete, has started preparations tor the
next armory drill inspection, IN tte
Spring, before a board OF regular naval
ofacers, at which time 1t is hoped to
put the local outfit step nearer
the top.
The new feature Of the present drill
schedule consists in preparation for the
execution of battle problem for the
inspection has consisted largely OF
emergency drills, infantry drill and
other routine features, but the battle
problem brings in a new and interest,"
ing feature to the work and one which
will require considerable preparation
Of materiel as well as personnel.
The battalion will be put to real
test because of the fact that 1t does
not have ship, and complete prepare
tions will have to be made in the
armory. However, some work in this
direction already has been done by
Chief BoatSwains Mate Slattery under
the direction Of Lieut.. Steinmetz. 4
GleSITOycE DTlQHG DhS UCCl puhbg FAo0NN@
signal and other communication Sys-
TENS established and gun training plat
forms provided.
The inspection oficers have an
nounced that after the usual drills the
commanding oficer will be given a
simple battle problem, and they will
check up in the test to ascertain JUST
how well prepared the organization Is
for service in time of war without fur-
Their preliminary training with the regu-
lar establishment.
There Is a possibility, however, that
the DESTROYER Hamilton may be mere
several times this year, during whicn
the men will be taken on Week emu
cruises and drilled. and II 1t Is mere at
the time of the annual Inspection, the
drills NAV be carried out aboard her.
while it was indicated that tentative
rIans call for the basing Of the Hamh-
ton, destroyer Of the Training Fleet as
signed to this area, at Norfolk, there
o move said TO be on foot 10 lave tne
vessel base in this city. In the event
that this is provided, Of course, the
local Reservists will have vessel avail
able. except at such times as 1t leaves
on week ends for taking out the organl-
nations at Baltimore, Norfolk, Ricn-
Ynond and Newport News, the other cltles
in the nth naval district which nave
Reserve divisions.
Indications from local Reserve ofncers
were that their reactions we're not very
strong to have the destroyer Hamilton
here merely for the purpose OF week
end cruises. Oficers said that IN the
past they had not found 1t prontaDle 70
take the Reserv.sts out on week enos;
It was pointed out that wnen tne
DESTROYER UpShur was assigned here no
week end cruises we're made, but THIS, u
was explained, was due to the fact that
the machinery was being overnauleo'
However, it was said that when the oe-
stroyer Allen was assigned here as tram
ing ship several Sunday cruises were
made. but that the time Of getting under
way and docking took 50 long that there
was not much time for cruising.
Another dificulty, it was explained, Is
the matter Of subsistence. No provision
Is made for running messes Tor the
crew. The men are expected TO bring
their own food and conoltlons aIe nos
the same as when the vessel Is engaged
on q regular cruise. when the messes
are run in conformity with regulations.
However, it was explained that the
time Of getting under way and coming 70
dock very probably would be reduced
by the faoe that the ship has aboard .
skeleton regular crew, which would take
care az the preliminaries OF getting up
steam. etc Ofacers said that in view
Of the inspection boards statement thae
these cruises would prove profitable they
would be willing to try to make go CT
them, but of course, much would oe-
pend on the numbers In which the men
volunteered for the week end duty. Inc
belief was expressed that they would
not likely be very popular unless there
was opportunity for the men 70 geg
liberty at some point where they could
have q few hours of enjoyment. At the
time that cruises were taken on sundays
en- the Allen It was said that they ola
on the other hand, 1t was indicated
that organizations in other districts have
successfully conducted week end cruises.
But in some of these localities the men
are Jointly in the Naval Reserve ana
Naval Militia, and the States usually
provide for subsistence money out OF
State funds.
While the local organization did not
reach the top among the Naval Re-
serve battali0ng and divisions through
out the country as a result OF the marks
made by the recent inspection board, IL
was said that the outfit had shown
remarkable advance over previous years.
Lieut.. Samuel W. Stinemetz COM
mander of the battalion, said II the
organization continues ito progress as
It has during the past few years. ne
believes that in another two years it
Will TEACH I1lS IOp VI TIC 1NofaA 1NCoSA'O
examinations Of the country.
The Bureau Of Navigation has issued
TO the service q circular letter outlin-
ing the conditions under which an en-
listed man may enter the merchant ma
rine service upon expiration Of his reg
ular enlistment and still retain eligi-
bility to re-enlist in the Navy after the
expiration Of the usual limit of three
months. The provisions OF the letter
: require joining the merchant service
within three months Of expiration Of en-
listment, the man being assigned to
Class F-2 Fleet Reserve. II the man Is
unable to obtain or retain employment
in the merchant service, and has been
unemployed by the merchant service for
a total OF six months since discharge
from the Navy, he must Immediately
xe-enlist or lose his eligibility to do SO.
In this connection, it was said, the
bureau contemplateS training enlisted
men who apply for examination for
third mates or assistant engineers Ii
cenSes; this training and instruction to
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