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

bers OF the local communication re-
serve as follows:
During the three recent emergen-
cies, namely, earthquake, flood and
Akron disasters, members of the Vol
unteer Communication Reserve per-
formed voluntary duty of the highest
type. The Navy Department greatly
appreciates the fine spirit shown and
Willingness to serve under any and all
conditions"
Rear Admiral F. r. Lackey, COM
mandant of the New York Naval Mill
tia, discussing progress In the Naval
Reserve said that for some years past
the lack of a definite mission for the
Naval Militia has resulted in q great
diversity in the drill schedules of the
various Naval Militia units. However.
he added that with a definite mission
determined upon by the Navy Depart
ment and an adherence to this definite
policy, 1t Is felt that considerable
progress has been made in accomplish
ing this mission.
1T has been my observation" he
said, that in some few cases the off,
GERS Of the Naval Militia have not al
together looked with favor on the plan
OF training recommended by the Navy
Department, and I am frank to say
that in a few cases it is believed that
some OF the commanding officers of
units have not given their full support
in carrying out the mission assigned
The educational courses now being
furnished the enlisted men by the Navy
Department, he continued, are believed
to be the most thorough and complete
courses of their kind which have ever
been devised. He pointed out that they
contain splendid educational features
which are of inestimable value to the
enlisted men both from the standpoint
OF naval efficiency and additional gen.
eral knowledge, which is unquestiorably
Of value to them in their civilian occu-
pations.
He also added that the various CORE
spondence courses now being Of
fered to the officers of the Naval Re-
serve have also been of great benefit
to the officer personnel He said that
1t was source of great satisfaction to
note the exceptionally high marks
which have been assigned to many Of
the officers for their work on these
courses. He expressed the hope that
the interest displayed in this respect
will be continued through the year End
that an equally high standard of cffi-
cheney will be maintained by the off,
GERS.
Admiral Lackey also said that while
the present plan of the Navy Depart
ment with reference to the relation
ship of the Naval Reserve and Naval
Militia has apparently been unsatis-
factory in some respects, it is felt that
II there are any weaknesses in the pres
ent system they can best be corrected
by affording the Navy Department the
fullest cooperation under the present
plan in expectation that such weak
nesses as now exist under this arrange
ment will be rectified more promptly
through cooperation rather than
through opposition to the departments
policy.
The hope was expressed that despite
the present era of economy and re-
trenchment, that Congress can be pre-
vailed upon to appropriate sufhcient
funds during the fiscal year to provide
Tor the usual Summer periods of train
Ing and to maintain the present sched-
ule of 40 drills with pay and Is DAYS
OF training duty. He believed that this
Is highly essential to the success and
ehclency of the Naval Reserve.