Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-28

Naval Reserve. In this connection, 1t
was said 1t Is necessary to have at
tended a minimum of 81 drills during
the period from June l to the third
Wednesday in April, the latter the date
of examination, to maintain efficiency
and be eligible Attendance at drill and
membership in the Naval Reserve need
not necessarily, 1T has been ruled, be
in the class FL status.
The Naval Reserve of the country Is
allowed 25 appointments year to the
United States Naval Academy, and
while some of the organizations have
several men seeking the appointments.
It was said that not since the law was
passed fixing the quota has 1t been
entirely filled Commandments OF the
various naval districts under whose
Jurisdiction the various Naval Reserve
organizations come, it was pointed out,
have been frequently urged to encourage
more members of the Reserve to take
advantage of this opportunity to enter
the United States Naval Academy.
While annual training of the Naval
Reserve members is confined almost en-
tirely to members of the so-called Fleet
Reserve and such members of the volun-
teers as can be provided with places on
the ships assigned, 1t was indicated that
some means of training for the Mer-
chant Marine Reserve, made up largely
of officers and men serving aboard n1er-
chant ships of the United States, vessels
which are usually. taken over by the
Government in time of war for troop
transports and supply ships.
1t was indicated that the financial
conditions prevented a carrying out OF
the departments proposal this year, but
- nrfv 10 lie
hoped that in another year 1t will be
possible to obtain an appropriation
which will permit the department to
carry out its plan and that regular
yearly training for members OF this
branch can be inaugurated.
The qualifications which merchant
marine officer will have to fulfill have
already been prepared, and the plan is
ready to be put into effect as soon as
the money is Forthcoming.
The department has said that great
many shipping companies refuse to have
officers on their ships who do not be-
long to the Merchant Marine Reserve,
and the department frequently receives
letters from merchant officers request
ing that physical defects be waived in
order that they may be enrolled, for If
not they will be discharged from the
company.
IL was SAlQ tIlAJ tIlc ucpdI ICdl-
lies what this means, and takes very
broad view of the physical defects; for
it Is realized that many of these men
who have followed the sea all their
lives have been unable to get proper
medical attention for certain ailments
which really do not prevent them from
carrying on their duties but which
would prevent entry in the Regular
Navy.
The merchant marine, 1t was pointed
out Is an enormous asset to the country,
and the Navy Department takes great
interest in its progress and desires to
do everything In its power toward build
ing 1t up and utilizing its personnel in
time Of national emergency.
Sixteen Reserve organizations from
various points along the Atlantic Coast
from Portland, Me- to Atlanta, and in
GLIDING two on the Gulf Coast, will
participate in the second cruises of the
Summer aboard the eight destroyers of
the Atlantic Training Fleet.
One division of the destroyers, includ-
ing the Hamilton, with the District of
Columbia and Baltimore outfits aboard,
will go to Bermuda. The other ships to
go there at the same time will be the
destroyers Evans, Philip and Fairfax.
They will carry the 21st and 22d New
York City Division, the 9Th and 10th
Divisions from Rochester, N. Y; the 5th
Division from Erie, and the 7th Division
from Camden, N. j.
The others of the is divisions will be
taken to Halifax and Nassau.