Evening star., 1931-04-12
d. c.. Naval Reserve

One of the most active branches of
the local Naval Reserve is that charged
with maintaining communications. The
members of these units are So-called
volunteers and are composed largely
of amateur radio operators. While
they do not receive any pay, nor are
they required to attend regular drills
they have been so organized here, un-
der the direction of Lieut.. c. A. Briggs
that they were able to perform ef-
fective work in maintaining communi-
cations between this city and Mica
ragua during the recent disturbances
there.
During the earthquake the local
Naval Reserve operators not only re-
ceived messages transmitted by the op-
orators on the scene of the catas-
trophe, but they acted as control sta
tions to silence stations that might be
interfering with the reception of mes
SageS locally.
Lieut.. Briggs says that the dis
turbance brought V-3 Reservists into
immediate action to establish direct
contact with the Nicaraguan stations
or to protect contacts made by others.
He announced that contact with Mica
raguan Station NN7XJ was mace by
NJ. F. Darsey. radioman, second class,
on April and was maintained for
two hours. During that time 20 mes
sageS were handled. One for local de-
livery notified a woman her husband
was safe. Lieut.. Briggs said that this
first news she had received was ac-
knowledged with profound thanks.
w. j. Swensen, radioman, first class,
who was standing split watch April
on the national Naval Reserve drill
and Nicaraguan stations at his trans
mitter, W3PN heard MIMIC calling.
He responded, making contact.
half hour later Lieut.. c. A. Briggs
completed his Naval Reserve drill at
W3CAB, which had been operating at
NED, and started guard watch on
MIMIC and W3PN.
Lieut.. Briggs said that the operator
at MIMIC was heard, stating that MS
transmitter was in danger of being in
terrupted by bandits Reception at
W3PN being difficult, phone connec-
ton was established between W3CAB
and W3PN and the Nicaraguan op-
orator told to send messages in strings
of five. B. E Stahl. chief radioman. at
W3CAB for radio drill. acted as recelv-
ing operator. and the reception was
made at that station and. the trans
mission at W3PN. This arrangement,
he continued, expedited traffic and 56
messages were handled in the next Two
hours On closing, the Nicaraguan
operator informed the local men that
bandits were reported coming from the
hills in groups to loot the ruined city:
Amateur stations owned by Naval
Reservists in the District of Columbia
which are standing watch on Nicara-
guam stations include W3APJ, W3BAT.
W3CAB, W3PN. B. E. Stahl, chief
radioman, W3APJ. made contact with
Costa Rica station TI2SQ. which served
as a safeguard should further disturb
ances occur.
The duties of the guard stations in
clude the calling of interfering sta
tions and clearing them, the intercept
ing of traffic, particularly when diff
culties are apparent; the noting OF all
conditions of interest, the making OF
efforts to re-establiSh contact when 1t
has become broken and the handling
of all possible traffic If contact is ac-
complished.
The local Communications Reservists
have been holding their weekly drills on
Monday. which is the same time that
the local fleet Reserve assemblies. IN
der ordinary conditions, with the feet
organization at its limit of strength
the makeshift armory in the Navy
Yard is crowded, and the conditions
are said TO have been further aggra-
waited by the other organization using
the armory on the same night.
Lieut.. Samuel w. Stinemetz. COM
manoer Of the feet battalion, said that
efforts would be made to have another
night assigned to the communications
men.
With the increase in local Reserve
activities, the need for a larger build
ing for an armory is becoming more
apparent. The building now used by
the Reserves is an old commercial
builiing, acquired as part OF the ad-
ditiCn to the Navy Yard during the war
rTl7-,- ra,-{11 -
is nothing more than lean-to placed
on the outside of the brick structure
When the four feet divisions get on
the fopr at an assembly, there Is no
room available for maneuvers. and the
activities have to be divided up.
The following enlisted during the
past week william s. Albrecht, 1913
T street, and Walter w. Tolson, Sl8
street southeast, both as f1remen, third
class. They were assigned to the 1st
Fleet Division.
Barton z. stahl, 1901 K street, en-
listed as a chief radioman in the Com
munications Naval Reserve.
TIE mess attendants held their an
nual ball at the armory Friday night
Samuel w. Simpson, radioman, first
class, and Robert !. KelSo, seaman,
first class, who were members Of the
shipkeepers' force OF the destroyer Abel
p Upshur, formerly Reserve training
ship here, have been relieved Of active
duty upon their own requests.
The Sd Fleet Division, commanded
by Lieut. Charles H Williams, has been
designated by Lieut. Stinemetz as the
color company for the current quarter
as a result of its having maintained
the highest attendance of enlisted per-
WHERE TO MOTOR AND DINE.
Drive out to BEAUTIFUL
SINGING PINES TEA H0IJSE