Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-11

THOSE pEOEulucHL III BLl& AuNlTS OF Tile
national body profess ignorance Of the
but there probably will be many naval
reserve problems to be considered. The
annual election of officers is to be held
and the convention usually closes with
an annual banquet attended by promi-
nent ofncerS of the Navy and officials
of the Navy Department.
It was learned authoritatively this
week that the annual conference of
Reserve officers on active DUTY would
not be held this year. Capt. ]. A.
Scofield, former head of the local Re-
serve battalion, and now on active duty
in the Reserve Division In the Navy
Department. pointed out that the bu-
reau felt that these conferences have
been held annually for several years
in the past and that controversial sub
jects which were born out of the new
Naval Reserve act had been pretty well
threshed out, and this, together with
the fact that there was a rigid econ
omy program in effect, caused the de-
cision to abandon the conference this
year.
Representatives of the bureau always
attend the convention and, IL Is prob
able, will take an active part in the
discussions which occur on the floor
there, and give to the Reservists the
departments viewpoint of any prob
lens presented.
Problems Of personnel, involving the
promotion of enlisted men and Of
f1cers, and the promotion Of enlisted
men from the ranks TO commissions
have been pretty well gone over and
many rulings have been made which
in most cases are satisfactory to the
Reserve.
The following enlistments In the
local battalion were reported during
the week: Frederick H. Thomas, III
Massachusetts, avenue northeast, sea-
man, second class. and william Z.
Smith, jr., $50 G street northeast. sea-
man, second class, assigned to the
Sd Fleet Division.
Fred H. Hendricks, chief ship fltter,
one of the crew Of ship keepers for
merly attached to the destroyer Abel
P. UpShur, has been relieved from
active duty at his own request
While the local Reserve Battalion ID
planning to inaugurate q special train
ing force for radio communication
work, reports to the department have
indicated that in the past there has
been lack Of this training throughout
the country, and to that END the de-
partment has urged better co-opera-
ton between the feet branches and
the communication Reserve. 1t was
the general opinion expressed TO the
department that, due to the lack Of
competent instructors and lack Of
radio apparatus, FL and vi radio
men have not been properly instructed
It was pointed out that feet divisions
average about one FL radioman pei
| division, which, 1t was declared, u
about all that could be expected, since
the regulations only permit each meet
| division to carry 20 men in the -four
upper pay grades. The opinion also
was expressed that little has been &C
complished in the past in the way o.
| training radiomen IN aviation d1.
visions Aviation officers have received
radio instruction at aviation bases.
The bureau offlcialS reported tina
| they fully appreciated the difncultie
in the way of inStructing radiomen II
| the average fleet division and expressed
the belief that the solution Of this prob
| lem lies in the direction OF securing
closer working arrangements between
the feet and volunteer communicable
reserve, such as is now being planned D!
the local battalion. The bureau salt
that wherever possible the commanding
officers of the fleet division should oh
tain the services of q qualified commu
nications reserve officer for the pur
pose of instructing radio personnel.
/ In several districts, it was said, radi
equipment has been purchased and in
stalled in Naval Reserve armories. /
was pointed out that where this hat
been done excellent results have beel
obtained.
The belief was expressed that the fol
lowing steps would tend to increase CO
operation between the feet and Yolun
teer communication reserves:
The joint use Of communication re
serve equipment, frequencies and per
sonnet; the Joint use of feet reserv
armories and equipment; the Joint US
of reserve medical officers and the asso
citation Of a communications reserve ON
Ger with each feet division for the pur.
! pose Of 1nstructing feet reserve person.
mel.