Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-04-16

Preparations for the annual train
ing cruises of the Naval Reserve are
being made by members of the LIST
Battalion here. With the inspections
out of the way the next big event
in the training year Of the reservists
is trip at sea aboard destroyer, and
unless Congress again cuts out funds
recommended for the cruises they will
be held after the first Of July
They will make their cruises aboard
the United States destroyer Hamilton,
which has been assigned to take out the
units Of this area, including those at
Baltimore, as well as those in the
Hampton Roads area. It Is not known
at this time just where the vessel will
go, but it Is expected that some good
liberty port will be picked out. Some
time ago a recommendation was made
on behalf of the reservists that they
not be taken to the New England
waters. as it was said that the pre-
dominance of fogs there many times
holds back the training schedule.
Should the cruises be held as tenta-
lively planned, it will be the first time
in two years that the officers and
men will have had shipboard training
as units. There have been a few cases
where the Navy Department has pro-
vided places aboard ships of the reg
ular fleet on some particular voyage
but these have been without pay, and
the number allowed to go has been
limited.
However, it was pointed out that the
most good is received by the organiza-
tons being sent out as units aboard
particular vessel. as then the makeup
of the whole division can be tested
Under the plans for service of the local
men in time of war, they would form
the nucleus of destroyer crew, so
1t will be seen that the real test of
their training work can only come by
unit cruise aboard one Of the regular
vessels.
For the past two years the officers
and men have had very little shipboard
training. as the department has found
1t necessary to send vessels elsewhere
and not carry out the plan of the train
ing squadron to have one of the de-
stroyers visit here for two or three
months each year so that the regular
weekly drills could be held aboard a
boat. The only boat training which has
been available to the men has been that
aboard the launch which was provided
and on which limited number have
taken week end trips down the Po-
that even this does not furnish an op-
portunity to make real test of the
organization set-up.
However, with the Improvement of
the weather, it is expected that the
boat will be used considerably on week
end trips, one of which is expected to
be voyage. to Norfolk to exchange
the present boat for one which is being
fitted out at the Norfolk Navy Yard,
and which will be a much better YES
sci than the one now here.
The Naval Reserve Inspection Board,
of which Capt. Alexander Sharp, U. S.
NJ. is president, will conduct an in
Spection Of the Naval Reserve unit at
Hampton Roads, Va, next Saturday.
The members of the board who will
make this trip are, in addition to Capt
Sharp, Lieut.. w. G. Tomlinson. from
the Navy Department, and Lieut.. B. j.
Shin. attached to the Headquarters,
5th Naval District.
Lieut.. (Junior Grade) A. M. Fergu-
son Is in command of the VN-7RD5
Division at Hampton Roads.
A radio message was sent tn all men,