Evening star., 1934-09-23
RESERVE ARM0Ry !
IS HELD NEED HERE|
Tentative Plans Drawn for
Structure for Citizen
Sailors.

With the period approaching when
the lst Battalion. United States Naval
Reserves of the District of Columbia,
must pass through another annual in
spection, officers of the battalion are
again turning their direction toward
the need Of adequate armory facilities
here for the local citizen sailors.
While no plan, so far as could be
learned, has been formulated for pre-
senting the matter to Congress, 1t is
probable that some definite action will
be taken as soon as all details of the
program are completed.
The local ReServists, for many years,
have been quartered in an old store
building in that part of the reserva-
ton which was taken into the Navy
Yard during the war The structure
has a lean-to constructed around two
sides of the brick building and pOr-
ton of this serves as drill hall for
Infantry and general ship WORK, while
that part in the Il" has been fitted
up similar to a bridge of destroyer
and with a gun platform where the
divisions may hold their ship and gun
drills. The drill hall is rapidly be-
coming crowded, as machine shop
has been set up there for the inStruc-
ton of members of the engineer gang.
Even a portion of the cellar of the
building is used for engine and fire
room instruction, and the men have
made excellent work of fitting it up
to simulate shipboard conditions.
Several years ago a movement was
instituted to have suitable armory
provided for the Reserve sailors, and
a tentative site was selected on the
water front where the divisions could
have small boats and tackle at hand
for outdoor drilling during good
weather. However, these plans were
not pushed at the time, and the Gov
ernments economic troubles resulted
in laying them aside for time. How
ever, each drill night convinces the
officers and men that they are serious
" handicapped in the performance Of
their drill work which is designed to
fit them for sea duty in time Of a
national emergency.
For a short time subsequent to the
World War when the Reserves we're
being organized into divisions in their
various localities, the local force was
assigned to the old Naval Battalion
Armory at Water and o streets SOUTH
west. This building was erected long
prior to the World War for the ma
val branch of the National Guard. II
is located on the Washington Channel
and has a dock adjacent to the
armory, where the training ship was
tied up when not on cruising duty.
During the time that the Reserve had
it, thousands of dollars were spent
on it in interior improvement and in
rebuilding the dock.
However. when the Coast Artillery
was organized here and there was no
armory building available for this out
fit. the National Guard requested the
Reserve to vacate, and the move then
was made to the Washington Navy
Yard, where the outfit has been To-
Gated ever since. OF course, if Con-
gress or the Public Works Administra-
ton should provide funds for the
construction of suitable armory
here for the land troops it is likely
that the National Guard officials
would be glad to again permit the
Naval Reserve to use this building,
provided the Reserves did not in the
meantime obtain their own building
on the water front of the Anacostia
River in the Washington Navy Yard.
When the annual inspections are
held, not more than one of the three
divisions composing the local battalion
can be put through its drill at time,
and it is necessary for the others to
stand around and wait their turns
The drill hall is not large enough for
an entire battalion to be paraded in
Infantry formation, and with the
present size of the divisions, it is even
difficult for them to maneuver salts
factorily for the inspection board.
During various times in the course
Of the armory drill here, the Navy
Department sends destroyers here on
which the men are allowed to drill to
keep up with the knowledge which is
impaired to them dring their annual
cruises, but the armory is located so
far from the quay where the ships are
tied up that much valuable drill time
is lost in marching to and from the
ships. With the provision of an
armory on the water front this time
would be saved, and much more drill
time on the ships could be obtained.
The commanding officer of the Avia-
tion Division has requested the trans
fer to aviation duty of William D.
Buzzard. hospital apprentice, second
class.
Ensign Harry R. Turkel has been
ordered promoted to the rank of lieu
tenant, Junior grade.
The Navy Department has author
lied Charles R. Cundiff to appear for
examination for commission as an en-
sign in the engineering branch of the
Reserve. 1t was said at the Naval Re-
serve headquarters here that Cundiff
is former midshipman.
The Aviation Division left here yes
terday aboard the training launch as
signed to the local Fleet Reserve for a
week end training cruise down the
Potomac River. The boat is sched-
uled to return this evening.
James E. Gray, water tender, sec
ond class, has been ordered trans