Evening star., 1932-02-07

Headquarters Division of the lst Bat
talon, United States Naval Reserves,
of the District of Columbia, might be
forced into the volunteer branch as
result of the Navy Departments order
abolishing all such divisions, new or
ders have been received which, it is
believed. will save these men to the
Fleet Reserve.
In the place of the present Headquar-
ters Division, which is to die ottlclally
on March 81, there will be set up the
following day battalion commander S
staff. This, it was indicated, will con-
sist of one line officer, not Of COM
mand rank, who will act as battalion
adjutant, a supply officer and two medi-
cal officers In addition there will be
allowed two petty officers in the first
pay grade and two in the second pay
grade. These would include a yeoman
for the adjutant and yeoman or store
keeper as aide to the staff paymaSter.
In the second pay grade would be al
lowed a pharmacist mate for each medi-
cal officer
Some of the men who were in the
Headquarters Division already have
ben transferred to the line Fleet Divi-
sions There still remain to be trans
ferred or absorbed in some manner a
chief signaman and chief water ten
der, both in the first pay grade, and
an electricians mate, first class, and
officers cook, first class, both in the
second pay grade.
Just how these men with different
rates would be saved has not been de-
cided by the battalion officers, so far
as could be learned However, it is be-
lieved that it is possible to make some
transfers which might save the veteran
sailors now in the Headquarters Dtyi-
sion.
The officer to be assigned as adjutant
probably would be taken from one of
the line divisions. This new arrange
ment will result in taking some OF the
detail work off the shoulders Of the
commanding officer, although it is prob
able that one of the division officers
will be assigned to duty as executive
officer, so that the organization could
function as a ship unit. At present the
Headquarters Division is commanded by
the executive officer.
However the new departmental or
derS were received with considerable in
tereSt at the battalion, where the Off
GERS have been wondering for some time
what could be done with the men now
awaiting transfer, and it is probable
worked out for all concerned.
The Naval Reserve Inspection Board,
of which Capt. John DoWneS, U. S.
Navy, is president. will conduct inspec-
tions of Naval Reserve units in the
following places this week:
New Rochelle, N. Y, tomorrow;
WhiteStone Landing, N. Y. Tuesday;
Perth Amboy, N. j., Wednesday, and
Tompkinsville, N. Y, Thursday.
The inspections will be conducted by
the following members Of the board:
Capt Alexander Sharp, Jr; Comdr. R.
w. White, and Comdr. C. T. OSburn
from the Navy Department, and Lieut.
H. L. Naff, attached to the headquar-
ters. Sd Naval District.
William D. Buzzerd of College Park,
Nd, was enlisted as hospital appren-
tice, second class, and assigned to the
lst Fleet Division.
Intensive drill work now is being
done by the officers and men Of the
local battalion in preparation for the
annual inspection. There only remain
three drill nights before this important
annual event when a board Of officers
from the Navy Department will visit
the local organization to check up on
its progress during the past year and to
determine its state of efficiency for &C
tive duty with the feet in the event Of
the occurrence of national emer-
gency
February % also falls on Monday
this year Monday is the regular drill
night and it is probable now that the
drill will be put off until the following
day for on Washington's birthday the
battalion will be on duty practically the
entire day in going to Alexandria, par
ticipating in the parade incident to the
George Washington Bicentennial cere-
monies and returning to Washington.
The destroyer Hamilton, on which
they now are drilling in preparation for
the inspection. also will be at AleXan
dria for these ceremonies. Although no
ofhcial orders have yet been received
for the vessel to return to Washington.
it is said to be unoficially understood
that the ship will come back to the
navy yard and remain until after the
annual inspection on February 29,
when she will proceed to carry out her
original orders, proceeding to the
Hampton Roads area for the training
of Reserve organizations in that vi
cinity.
The communication Reserve unit
which was in charge of the operation
of the Reserve station at the armory
here last week was composed Of w j.
Swenson, radioman, first class; w. S.
williams, j. M. Gates, jr, and r. w.
Murtberg.
The requirements for the rating of
radio communication Reservists will be
revised and made more rigid for first
enlistments, it was announced In
message received here during the ma
tional radio drill last week.
1t was announced by Lieut.. G. A.
Briggs, commanding the local com
munication Reserve, that new District
of Columbia network will be organized
at the next meeting of the organlZa-
ton. He says that the importance of
these local drills was emphasized in a
message from the Navy Department,
transmitted during the last national
radio drill, which read as follows:
The great importance Of developing
district and section radio network is
apparent. Maximum training for max
imum number of Reservists is desired.
Each district should develop its own
roDiSlV nr9ctl-