Evening star., 1932-11-13

Having made successful use with
the training boat recently assigned here
for the Ist Battalion, United States
Naval Reserve of the District of Co
lumbia, the Navy Department has is
sued orders for another and larger YES
sci to be sent here for use by the
officers and men.
The new boat, which, 1t was said, Is
now being fitted out at the Norfolk
Navy Yard, will be larger, and have
more accommodations for the officers
and men, who use it for week end
cruises on the Potomac River Accord
ing to Lieut.. Hinckley, U. S. N, in
spector- instructor of the local battalion,
the vessel will have space for crew
of 10 forward and will have a ward
room for two officers 1t also will have
facilities for the preparation Of meals
built in.
TIE first boat sent here, after the de-
stroyer was ordered away, was not fully
equipped for the most comfort for the
crew, but the officers and men did not
let that feature interfere with their
enthusiasm for week end trips in order
to get the most out of their training.
They prepare their meals on thespresent
vessel on portable camp stove. The
officers and men report that they have
received most valuable training out Of
the vessel. 1t goes out every week end,
and there is always waiting list Of men
desiring to get in on the trips.
1t was pointed out that it really has
been more valuable than a destroyer.
While it formerly was almost impossible
to obtain sufficient volunteers on week
ends to man the destroyer assigned
here, officers now find little difficulty
in getting the men to take the present
boat out each week. 1t was because of
this great display of interest in the
small facilities provided that moved the
department to acknowledge 1t by send
ing a larger and better equipped vessel
for the purpose.
Each Saturday afternoon a crew Of
officers and men report at the navy
yard, and after loading aboard stores
for the trip, go down the Potomac River.
During the voyage down and back the
men are training in navigation and sea-
manship and particularly the handling
Of boats in pilot waters.
1t was explained that with even such
a small vessel the men can put into
practice much of the theoretical in
stTuction which they receive every Mon
dag night at their regular drill In the
armory.
1t is not yet definitely known at the
armory when the new vessel will arrive
here, but it was pointed out that full
use will be made of the present vessel
until the substitute does arrive.
Officers and men of the Naval Re-
serve will be given an opportunity to
take two months cruise aboard the
battleship Wyoming, it was announced
at the local Reserve headquarters last
week
According to present plans the bat
tleship will leave Philadelphia, Pa, on
January and is scheduled to return to
New York on March 7. During the in
terium the vessel will steam for Guam
tanamo, Cuba, to fire her regular target
practice, in which the Reserves also will
participate, and later will visit ports
on the Gulf of Mexico.
The local Reserve battalion has been
authorized to send one officer and five
men on the cruise and volunteers are
being sought. If any officer accepts the
invitation he will have to pay his rail-
road fare and other expenses between
Philadelphia and New York, and in ad-
dition his mess bill aboard the ship.
He will not receive any pay or allow
ances for the voyage. Enlisted men,
while not receiving pay, will be sub
sisted, it was announced.
Lieut.. (Junior Grade) r. F. Redden,
Reserve Dental Corps, has received per-
mission to affiliate with the 1st Bat
talon. He will be assigned to the duty
OF completing the dental records of the
members of the local battalion.
Ensign P. E. Kerst also has received
permission to affiliate with the Fleet
Reserve here. He will be assigned to
duty as assistant to the battalion engi-
neer officer, Lieut.. Comdr. Lockhart.
Shiro TSurusaki, officers steward,
first class, has been ordered placed on
the retired list upon completion of 80
years service, 20 IN the Regular estab-
lshment and 10 in the Reserves
Tsurusaki was aboard the United States
transport Henderson at the time the
late President Harding made his trip
aboard 1t on the West Coast.
The United States Naval Reserve In
spection Board will visit organizations
in the New England States during the
current week, it was announced at the
Navy Department. The board will visit
New Bedford, Mass, on Monday: Fall
River, Mass, on Tuesday; Newport,
r. l., on Wednesday; Providence, r. l.,
on Thursday and Ossining, N. Y, on
Friday.
Capt. Alexander Sharpe, q. 8. N,
president of the group, will be assisted
in the inspections at New Bedford. Fan