Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-11
d. c.. Naval Reserve

While the officers of the LIST Battalion
United States Naval Reserves of the
District OF Columbia, have not yet re-
ceived any notice of the time when the
board of officers from the Navy Depart
ment will make it's annual inspection
OF the OUTFIT, nevertheless plans are be-
ing pushed for equipping the armcry
and making other preparations for the
installations which will be used by the
organization IN going through the va
rtouS drills required by the board
Although considerably cramped by
the small amount of space in the
armory and handicapped by the fact
that much of the equipment requires a
large amount of room, nevertheless the
Shipkeeper's gang, under the direction
Of Chief Boatswain'S Mate Slattery, Is
making the installations in the best
way possible. However, it was pointed
out that the commanding officer of the
battalion always received six weeks
prior notice Of the exact date on which
the inspection board will arrive.
While the organization will be equip
ped with material for carrying out the
various drills, 1t Is possible that the
destroyer Hamilton, assigned to this
area for training purposes, may be here
at any time. However it was learned
last week that the vessel, prior to start
ing its Naval Reserve duty, will be en-
gagged in experimental work in the lower
Chesapeake Bay. The nature of these
tests could not be learned, but 1t was
understood that they will involve equip
ment for the materiel bureaus of the
Navy Department. This destroyer is to
divide its time between the local or
ganization and other Reserve units in
the 5th Naval District Area, particu-
larly those in the vicinity of Hampton
Roads, but not including the Baltimore
Reserve, which still has the Eagle No.
Sc for training purposes.
When the vessel arrives here, 1t Is
said, the officers and men will make the
best of the ship for training purposes,
and 1t was indicated that the later she
arrives the more benefit the local Re-
Sery1stS will get out of her, because of
the fact that they cannot use it for drill
purposes during the severe Winter
nights, but can make considerable use
OF her in the Spring. The Hamilton Is
a part OF the newly organized Atlantic
Training Squadron of the Navy and
during the Summer months this vessel,
with others in the squadron, will be
used for the purpose of taking the
citizen sailors on their annual tours of
sea duty for training.
The Inspection Board has, however,
started its annual inspections in other
parts OF the country. The Navy De-
paTtment announced that the board is
composed of Capt. c. A. Blakely and
Comdr. G. G. Slayton from the Navy
Department. While inspecting in the
sixth naval district it will be assisted
by Lieut. C. r. Price, attached to the
headquarters of that district, and while
in the eighth naval district will be aided
by Lieut.. w. F. Riggs, jr., of that area.
Three inspections, Atlanta, Ga; Bir-
mingham, Ala, and New Orleans, La,
were conducted last week, it was an
nounced Lieut.. H. F. Dobbs Is in COM
mand of the LIST Battalion at Atlanta,
and the following officers command the
divisions Of the 1st Battalion: Head
quarters Division, Lieut.. H. F. Dobbs
1St Division, Lieut. w. c. Wroe; 2nd
Division, Lieut.. M. r. Sanders.
Lieut. Gunior grade) G. w. Bains Is
in command of the 3rd Division at
Birmingham. Lieut. Comdr. G. w j.
Neville is in command of the 1St Bat
talon at New Orleans, and the follow
Ing officers command the division
Headquarters, Lieut.. Comdr. j. B.
Lin0he; 1st Division, Lieut.. (junior
grade) c, F., Chase; End Division, Lieut..
Junior grade) W.. j. Harrison; 9Th Di-
vision, Lieut.. Junior grade) s. L. Drum.
The annual convention of the United
States Naval Reserve Officers .Associa-
ton will be held here at the Willard
Hotel on January II, it was announced
Naval Reserve officers from all parts OF
the country are expected to be in at
tendance, although it was said to be
probable that the attendance might not
be as large this year as IN the past as
the officers will have to bear their own
expenses. Heretofore, many Of the ON
GERS attending the convention have been
Reserve officers who were serving indefi-
mite periods OF active duty with their
organizations and the Navy Department
brought them here at the expense OF
the Government, not for the convention,
but for an annual conference for the
purpose of threshing out, first hand
administrative matters which have
occurred during the wear