Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-15

Before a board of Regular naval Off
GERS headed by Capt G.. A. B,akely, U.
S. Navy. the lst Battalion, United States
Naval Reserves Of the, District Of Co
| lumbia, Monday night passed through
its annual inspection to determine its
present state of efficiency for service in
the Regular establishment in time of
national emergency.
For more than three hours last Mon
day night the officers and men of the
local battalion drilled in Infantry, at
the guns, and showed the agility with
which they could answer to alarms call
ing them to battle stations, fire, collision
and abandon ship. Glass room instruc-
ton methods were shown and the rec
ords examined, and now tile officers and
men are waiting anXiouSly to determine
just how the Regulars sized them up.
1t will be several months before the
final report is received to show the
local citizen sailormen Just how they
stand in comparison with the other
Naval Reserve battalions and divisions
throughout he country.
While the local battalion had very
little time for special training prior to
the inspection, it is understood that the
officers and men of the organization put
up an excellent showing. While the
final comparison is made from the re-
ports of inspections throughout the
country the battalion and division re-
ceiving the highest figure of merit, re-
spectiyely, will be awarded trophies do
noted for the purpose by the United
States Naval Reserve officers Associa-
ton.
In previous years, 1t was said by off,
GERS, local divisions have finished higher
in general naval efficiency than other
organizations in the country, but have
NGI %r e-Nre
Of the high penalty put on large turn
over in personnel. An effort was made
at the recent annual convention of the
Naval Reserve Officers Association to
have this changed, but 50 far as could
be learned nothing has as vet been
done about the matter by the depart
ment
1t was the contention of the local
officers that personnel turnover is a
matter wholly beyond their control.
pointing out that members of the Re-
serve are engaged in civil employment
and frequently move to other cities be-
cause their business requires it. They
further said that the rating should be
entirely on the efficiency of the bat
talon as shown by the inspection, as
1t will be the efficiency and not the
personnel turnover which will count
mostly aboard ship should the organi-
cations be called into active service in
time of emergency.
The other members of the board
which made the inspection here were
Comdr. r. A. White and Comdr. c. c.
Slayton. The board also was assisted
by Lieut.. Dayton, inspector-instructor
of the local battalion,
The board on Thursday went to
Baltimore, Nd to inspect the 1st Bat
talon there, which is headed by Capt
c. F. Macklin. The divisions compos-
ing this organization always take their
annual cruises jointly with the local
outfits aboard the destroyer assigned to
| this area.
With the inspection out of the way
| the members of the battalion now will
| devote their attention to getting ready
| for the annual cruises which start in
June of this year, and will be taken to
| Bermuda. They will be aboard the de-
| stroyer Hamilton, attached to the new
| ~ organized training fleet The ship
now is in the Chesapeake Bay, engaged
| in experimental work, but probably will
/ shortly go to the Norfolk Navy Yard
| for her annual overhaul and then will
report here to take the local sailormen
aboard for training.
Three officers of the local Reserve
aviation division have been ordered to
report before naval examining board
at the Washington Navy Yard on to-
| morrow to take tests to determine their
qualifications for promotion to the rank
of lieutenant, junior grade. They are
Ensigns Marcellus B. johnson, Lloyd
" Berkner, Robert L. Earle and Rod
ney c. Southworth.
James M. Ober signalman. third
class, has been ordered transferred
from the Volunteer to the Fleet Reserve
and assigned to the First Fleet Division.
The following have been ordered