Evening star., 1932-04-10

tests at an early date, IL was SAID
Lieut.. Everett D. Kern and Lieut..
James o. Porter, it was announced at
the local Reserve headquarters, have
rendered their designations.
Notices have been sent out by the
Navy Department to officers Of the
Volunteer Naval Reserve who have
failed to qualify by taking professional
examinations for which they have been
ordered notifying them that they viii
be discharged from the Reserve unless
they have been qualified by July /.
While it is pointed out that such dis
charges are honorable ones, it is said
that the department points out that the
officers may tender their designations II
they desire, and If they do not intend to
qualify by taking the required profess
sional examinations.
It was reported that notices have been
sent out to II Volunteer Reserve
officers in this city.
The local battalion, under command
of Lieut.. Harold E. Richardson, partici-
pated in the Army day parade here
Wednesday. AS in the Bicentennial
parade in Alexandria on George Wash
ington's birthday anniversary, the local
ReservistS were complimented on their
appearance during the march.
Ensign George D. Sullivan, attached
to the Sd Fleet Division, it was an
nounced, will take his examination to
determine his qualification for promo
ton this month.
With the Federal fiscal problems in
such a condition that it seems improb-
q naf hn PncpTHA o.
ceive any increase in funds for the next
fiscal year. the discussion has again
been revived of encouraging the organ
ization of naval militia units in the
States. Some States already have or
ganized such units in which the men,
bers of the Reserves are also members
of the Naval Militia. The purpose OF
this dual organization, it was pointed
out, is TO have an organization on
which the State could legally expend its
funds. 1t enables the combined Naval
Reserve-Naval Militia units to have
more funds for operations and training,
1t was added.
The question came up at the last
conference between Naval Reserve and
naval officials here, at which the sug-
geStion was made that the Navy De-
partment should give all possible aid
to Naval Militia officials to obtain ade-
quate State appropriations and training
facilities. The comment Of the Federal
officials at that time on the proposal
was that 1t was felt that the United
States Government is not in a posi-
ton to encourage the States to make
appropriations for their Naval Militia
since the Naval Militias, as such, are
not to be used by the Federal Govern
ment. However, 1t was added that in
cases where the States do, of their own
volition, make such appropriations, and
Naval Militia armory facilities are
made available for the use of the Ma
val Reserve, such arnories are natu-
rally acceptable to the Federal Gov
ernment.
While many of the States, it was
pointed out, are also suffering from
shortages in income, it was suggested
that If the Reserves are TO suffer by rea-
son OF the Federal Government failing
to provide for the full training neces-
sary, it might be possible for some Of
the States to make such provision.
The suggestion has been made that a
Naval Militia be formed here, but the
matter never has been pressed either
with the officials or before Congress
Prior to the World War the Naval
militia here was part of the National
Guard, and as such had an armory of
It's own. This armory now is used for
the 26Oth Coast Artillery, one of the
units Of the local National Guard. 1t
Is located at Water and o streets south
west, on the Washington Channel, and
was built especially to meet the needs
OF the Naval Militia for training pur-
poses. 1t has long dock, to which
the training ship used to be moored,
and the officers and men used it regu-
larly on their drill nights.
Under the system now in vogue here.
the Naval Reserve Is quartered in an
old building on the edge of the WASH
lngton Navy Yard, which formerly was
used as a private store. While it is in
adequate for the training of the Re-
serves, nevertheless the officers and men
nave ttted 1t out to make the best of
it. A ward room has been Constructed
and a radio room built. The drill hall
is nothing more than a lean-to added
to the building, but it is hardly large
enough to drill a division No battalion
Infantry drills can be held in it. Dur
ing good weather the battalion can be
drilled in the Navy Yard streets, but in
bad weather, with the exception of one
division, the instruction has to be con-
fined to that which may be obtained in
the class rooms.
Plans have been drawn for a new
armory to be built especially to suit the
needs Of the Reserves and to be erected
on site in the Washington Navy Yard,
but owing to the present economic con-
dition Of the country, they have not
been pressed before Congress.
The Navy Department has expressed
the opinion that it Is not necessary for
area commanders of the Naval Reserve
to be on active duty with pay. 1t was
pointed out that many States are now
being administered satisfactorily by off,
GERS not on active duty, under appro-
pirate duty status. At any rate, it was
pointed out that if a Reserve officer
was placed on active duty in any dis
trict as area commander, he should not
be of a rank greater than lieutenant
commander. At the present time there
are several officers on duty of higher
rank.
Should such officers be relieved, 1t
was pointed out, the Navy would be able
to save considerable money in salaries,
which would be turned to other pur-
poses for the training Of the Naval Re-
serve as a whole.
Regarding Reserve officers on active
duty, it was pointed out that the Navy
Department considers that too much
weight is being placed on active duty in
command of training ships. 1t added
that the main duties of such officers
come under recruiting, organizing and
inspection Of the Naval Reserve. Any
reduction in the regular establishment,
it was pointed out, should be met
with consequent increase in the
Naval Reserve. The necessity of
maintaining a strong. well trained sea
defense force, it was added, is impera-
tive, and If the regular establishment
Is reduced. 1t was said, then it be-
comes more necessary to increase the
strength Of the Naval Reserve. so that
ofncers and men Of this branch would
be ready to take their places aboard
TOURS.