Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08

Preparations for the annual inspec-
tion of the First Battalion, United
States Naval Reserves of the District OF
Columbia, began in earnest last Aon-
day night, under the direction Of Lieut..
Samuel w. Stinemetz, commander of
the organization. Lieut.. Stinemetz
pointed out that while strenuous drill
schedule had been put into effect for
the remainder of the month, there will
not be time enough for the preliminary
inspection, which had been planned for
the purpose of checking up on the bat
talion's accomplishments some time
prior to the arrival of the board. How
ever, the board, which is composed of
regular officers detailed by the Navy
Department and which is inspecting Re-
serve battalions and divisions through
out the country, decided to come to this
city earlier than heretofore.
1t has been the practice in the past
for the battalion to be put through a
preliminary inspection by the Inspector
instructor, for the purpose of picking
any flaws which might be corrected
prior to the time the inspection board
was scheduled to arrive. However, it is
believed that the organization is in bet
ter shape this year for an inspection
than it Mas ever been before, despite the
fact that 1t has been handicapped to
from the city of the United States De-
| stroyer Abel P. UpShur, its training
ship.
The inspection preparatory program
started on Monday night with a bat
talon infantry drill and series of en-
Urgency drills. Tomorrow night the va
rious divisions will take separate train
ing. The First Fleet Division will have
emergency drills, the second division
will drill at the new gun recently in
stalled in the armory, the engineer force
will be given engine and fire room in
struction, while the Third Fleet Division
will have infantry drill, bag inspection,
! first aid and knots and spices.
This will be alternated on February
16 by the First Division having infantry
| drill, bag inspection, first aid and knots
and spices. The Second Division will
have emergency drills, while the deck
| force of the Third Division will have
gun drill, and the engine room force
technical instruction.
On account of the Washington Birth
day holiday the drill in the fourth week
will be held on February "a, when the
First Division deck force will have gun
training and the engine room force
technical instruction. The Second Di-
vision will have infantry and bag in
spection and the Third Division emer-
| gency drills.
On March the entire battalion will
| be put through an inspection rehearsal
| by Lieut.. Stinemetz, under the guidance
of Lieut.. B. j. Dayton, u. S. N, inspec-
tor-instructor Every effort will be
made at this time to point out every
possible defect so that the officers and
men may avoid making the same errors
when the inspection board arrives the
! following Monday night.
On the first drill night following the
| inspection, March 16, critique of the
! inspection will be conducted, although
the of1cial report will not be available
at that time. However, it is expected
that the officers will have some infor-
nation as to the degree of efficiency OF
the battalion, as viewed by the inspec-
tors.
Upon completion of this important
feature of the year, the battalion will
settle down to its drill routine in prep
aration for the annual cruises.
In connection with the coming in
spection, Lieut.. Stinemetz said that he
wanted to impress upon every enlisted
man the importance of attending every
drill between now and the completion
of the inspection. He pointed out that
the time was so short that it would take
every minute of the time to make the
necessary preparations.
Lieut.. Stinemetz further said thai
every man owes it to the battalion tx
be present at period. and that his sup.
port was needed now more than any
other time. He asserted that if mer
cannot attend drill at this period il
order to help the organization get &
high efficiency report, they were not de.
serving of being kept on the rolls. Thu
attendance list will be closely checked
during the several weeks prior to in,
spection, and he indicated that con-
tinued absences without valid excuse!
would form the basis of separation.
from the service on the ground OF fail
ure TO maintain efficiency.
Following the announcement of thu
coming inspection date to the battalion
|. last Monday night, he said, the men in
dicated that they would seriously maxi
every effort to put the organization
close to the top of the list. The cominl
, inspection also was discussed at |