Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-04

! been received here of the probable time
Of the arrival of the training vessel.
Officers and men of the local bat
talon now are looking forward to the
annual inspection, and are making
plans to do as much as possible to raise
their ratings this year when the Naval
| Inspection B2ard arrives They have
several months in which to prepare for
this important annual task, and much
Of the work of installing equipment is
for the purpose of fitting out the armory
so that ships drills can be staged for
! the board in the event that the de-
/ stroyer happens to be at Hampton
Beads at the time.
The following enlisted in the local
| battalion during the week and were
assigned to divisions: Frank r. Cess
| ford, $500 Eighteenth street northeast,
| fireman, third class, I'd Fleet Division;
Melvin E. Cross, 32l4 Brothers place
| southeast, seaman, second class, LIST
Fleet Division; william E. Bender, Jr.,
335 G street northeast, seaman, second
class, Sd Fleet Division; Benjamin H.
| Hall, 204 G street northeast, seaman.
second class, Sd Fleet Division, and
Bernard StasulIi, 625 Fifteenth street
! northeast, seaman, second class, Sd
Fleet Division.
There were reports current that the
annual meeting here Of the naval and
Naval Reserve officers On active duty
with Reserve organizations might be
suspended this year. probably due to
the lack Of funds, as it requires con-
siderable amount to call these officers
to Washington. These conferences have
been held annually in January for q
number of years, usually at the time OF
the annual convention of the United
States Naval Reserve Ofncers' Associa-
ton. The conferences have been con-
sidered rather important as bringing
the officers dealing with the Reserve in
the field in close contact with those at
the Navy Department charged with the
duty of directing +he affairs Of eslis
branch of the service. Last year, in
addition to those ordered here for the
conference; a large number attended at
their own expense.
In speaking CT the conference in his
annual report Admiral Upham said that
it provided an opportunity for an in
terchange Of ideas between the admin
istrative officers in the bureau and
those stationed in the field; it pro
vided contact between officers Of the
Regular Navy and those of the Reserve.
number of very important questions
were discussed, and the bureau believes
that the small expenditure involved was
more than justified by the return to the
Government, owing to a greater dis
senination Of information and the re-
duction of difficulties Of administering
the Reserve. Reserve officers greatly
appreciate the privilege and opportu-
nifty of presenting their point of view,
he said.
Difficulties in the way Of providing
for the promotion of special service
officers of the Reserve was one of the
important questions given consideration
at the conference, and it was the con-
cluSion of the department that it is not
possible to define definitely the civilian
qualifications for promotion, but rather
they would have to be passed on in
each individual case.
1t was pointed out that the Bureau of
Navigation is unable to require special
service officers to perform training duty
as a prerequisite to their promotion,
since they are specifically exempted
from this duty by law. However, upon
their own request they will be given a
period of training duty for this pur-
pose. with pay If funds are available
or without pay if no funds are available.