Evening star., 1933-06-25
D. c.. Naval Reserve

Naval Reservists faced a brighter
Summer from a training standpoint
! when word was received not only that
the annual cruises we're in prospect
but there prcbabE would be "a drills
during the next fiscal year.
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy Hen
~ Latrobe Roosevelt announced dur
ing the week that the Navy Depart
| ment hoped to obtain from the budget
sufficient funds to hold the annual
cruises and for "a drills. This an
| nouncement was in line with an un-
derstanding that has prevailed in the
Reserve since the orders were issued
| suspending the sea cruising schedules
| and the drills that if the National
Guard was allowed money for encamp-
mentS. then the Reservists would re-
Ceive sufficient funds for similar train
ing
Since the Assistant Secretary made
his announcement at the Navy De-
paltment dispatches have been re-
ceived at the Reserve headquarters
in the Washington Navy Yard instruct
ing tine officers to make all necessary
preparations for the cruises, tenta-
lively scheduled to begin on July Is.
No details have been received as to
just what dates the cruises will be
held Some doubt was expressed as to
whether the July Is date applied to
the local Reservists particularly, as the
message was sent to the commandants
of all naval districts.
The destroyer Hamilton, the vessel
Of the Atlantic Training Squadron
assigned to this area. now is in the
vicinity of Norfolk, and it Is probable
that orders will be issued to her in a
short time telling when to pick up the
local Reservists. l. has been the prac-
tice in the past to take aboard the ship
on each cruise division of the local
battalion and one from the Baltimore.
Nd. Reserves. This requires three sep
arate cruise5 to be made by the ship.
There appeared to be a feeling that
this practice would be carried out this
F! year
There is one thing that is known.
and that is only that Fleet ReServists
will be taken on the training cruises,
| and no substitution will be allowed
Of volunteers. In the past it has been
the practice to fill vacancies among
| the Fleet Reservists by men OF the vol
| unteer group who desired to take train
| ing. These latter are not required to
take annual training cruises, but the
department always receives many re-
quests from this group. The order
| barring substitution of volunteers for
absentee Fleet Reservists. it is believed,
will prevent members of the local COM
munication reserves from taking any
cruises this year. 1t also was pointed
! out that voluntary aviation ReserVlsts
would also be prevented from taxing
cruises this year with pay.
The order directing the local Reserve
officers to make preparations for the
| cruises came as distinct surprise, al
though, following the order suspending
the cruises and drills, they took some
hope out of the fact that the Army
was going right ahead making prepa-
rations for the annual training en-
campments. Preparations had been
made to get the best training possible
| by fixing up the armory with much
ship paraphernalia and also prepara-
tions for getting the most out OF the
! launch which has been assigned here
for training purposes.
AS soon as the Navy Department
completes the training cruise schedules
and the dates are announced the local
Reseryists will be instructed to make
plans for time off from their civilian
Jobs in order to participate in these
cruises. In view Of the fact that the
cruises were suspended last year on
account Of the need for governmental
economy, it is expected that there will
be nearly a 100 per cent attendance
on the cruises.
Except for short periods when the
destroyer Hamilton was here for sew
eral weeks the local Reservists have