Evening star., 1933-10-29
D. C.. Naval Reserve

Both the Fleet and Communications
branches Of the Reserves held open
house Friday as a part Of the celebra-
don OF Navy day at the Washington
Navy Yard. Members of the 1st Bat
talon were at the Armory for the re-
ception Of visitors and displayed knot
ting. splicing and signaling The
apparatus used by the Reserves in drill
ing also were on display. The organ
iZation has a section Of the Armory
fitted up similar to the bridge of de-
stroyer and these proved attractive to
the visitors.
The Communications section showed
the radio apparatus and gave demon
StrationS OF artificial lightning and
ultra short-wave radio. They also had
an electric typewriter for the reception
OF weather reports, etc.
Rear Admiral H. v. Butler, command
ant of the Washington Navy Yard, yes
terday conducted his quarterly inspec-
ton of the Aviation Division, Squadron
VN-6R at the Naval Air Station at
AnacoStia. After inspecting the per-
sonnel, planes, hangar, shop and other
buildings assigned to the Reserve unit
Admiral Butler went aloft with the
Aviation Division commander to witness
division maneuvers in the air.
Evidence that the Navy Department is
going to insist that officers enrolled in
the Volunteer Reserve make some effort
to learn about their jobs. and that the
handing out Of commissions is not Just
a perfunctory operation. is contained in
the latest Reserve bulletin issued by the
Navy Department.
In the past it has been considered
unnecessary by many Volunteer Reserve
officers to take any steps to faninarize
themselves with naval work. as the VOL
unteer branch is made up largely of
specialists in particular lines which are
considered likely to be needed by the
Navy in time of war.
Recently when Lieut.. Comdr. Benson.
o. S. N, inspector instructor of the local
fleet battalion Eere, made efforts to con-
tact Reserve officers in this area with
a view to providing a program for the
training OF the volunteers there was
some show of resentment. However, it
is apparent that the local Navy officer
was a few steps ahead of the depart
ment in his effort to have the volunteers
take some interest in the Navy or sur
render their commissions so that their
places could be filled with persons who
would be interested
1t is pointed out in the bulletin Just
issued that special service officer to
be eligible for promotion when the feet
chcer next senior to him becomes due
for promotion must have served four
years in grade and made such marked
progress in his professional attainments
as would justify his commission in the
higher grade and have evinced a Suffi-
clent amount OF interest In Naval Re-
serve matters
The bulletin further states that in
order to fulfill the above requirements
a special service officer must have on
file in his jacket letters from time to
time showing the professional progress
he has made ard the interest he has
taken in Naval Reserve matters
The attention of Naval Reserve Off
GERS of the specialist classes" says the
bulletin. lis called to the policy of the
bureau In regard to their promotion re-
qulrementS. The bureau suggests that
Tor these officers so situated as to be
unable to engage actively in naval affairs
1t would be an excellent thing to enroll
letter Of satisfactory completion of a
course In the record Of an officer Is an
indication of that officers interest in
The bureau is constantly receiving
letters of appreciation from Naval Re-
serve officers for the benefit they have
derived from these sources. A para
graph from one of these letters is here
with quoted: Many thanks for assist
ance in the course. have learned more
about Navy regulations in the past
three months than did in nine years
active service in the Navy"
1t IS apparent from these statements
that the Navy Department is going to
look more and more to the volunteers
to prepare themselves for possible
service. Most of those who have been
enrolled in this class are men in special
nnes, such as newspaper men, lawyers,
scientists, with little or no knowledge of
tne Navy. 1t Is imperative, it is
pointed out, that these officers be given
some training at this time, otherwise
they would have to take time out after
being called into service in order to re-
ceive this training.
At the local Armory Comdr. Benson Is
trying to arrange a series of lectures
and meetings at which the Volunteer
Reserve officers can assemble. It Is
planned to have the lectures delivered
by outstanding naval officers and to deal
with naval subjects.
1t is also planned to provide for tours
OF various naval activities in and
around Washington. Several weeks ago
Comdr. Benson conducted a detail of
officers to the Naval Experimental Sta
ton at Annapolis, after which the Off
GERS of the Reserve were guests at a
foot ball game at the Academy. It is
also planned to have a tour made of the !
Naval Research Laboratory, the Naval
Gun Factory and the Naval Observatory
here.
The Navy Department has announced |
that the rules covering the gunnery !
practices TO be conducted by the Naval
Reservists during 1884 will contain q !
change in the method of computing the |
division merit for shoTt-ranSe battle /