Evening star., 1934-08-05

L. fori. United States Naval Re-
serves Of the District Of Column
Al bia, are expected 10 be included
In the complement Of the
United States airplane carrier Ranger
when that latest addition to the
United States Fleet heads out Of the
Chesapeake cspes and turns south
ward for q shake-down cruise TO
South America.
The officers have not yet been Sc
iected, as the arrangements at this
time are tentative However. II Is
known that they win be aboard the
vessel for a period OF O month, after
which they win be returned 70 their
stations here. II Is probable that
there viii be a number OF applica-
tions to take this voyage, which viii
provide valuable training for the Of
fieera selected.
The entire battalion Ia planning It's
annual cruise this year aboard the
destroyers Babbitt and Badger. which
will come here within a week or two
10 start the training voyages on Au-
gust IS. If the opportunity for the
South American trip comes within
the cruise dates, there is q possibility
that some Of the officers who had
planned TO take the two-week voyage
might forego this in order to take
advantage Of the trip 70 South Amer
lea aboard the new ship.
Preparations now are being made
by the local battalion for the regu-
lar cruises, the first the organization
has had for two years. However, up
20 this time the department has not
made known TO the officers and men
here Just where the ships will 60 for
their training cruise, but there ap-
pears to be possibility that they will
90 TO New England waters. How
ever, Reseryists for long time have
been opposed 10 the cruises In these
waters, because OF the prevalence of
30 many foggy days, when the vessels
cannot operate. They have pointed
out from time TO time that much more
training in cruising ship operation
might be had by sending the vessels
south. OF course, while the ships
are at anchor in foggy weather the
citizen sailormen are not idle, for
there are many ship and gun drills
which they can perform just as well
while the ship is at anchor as when 1t
Is cruising.
Under the cruising system an
nounced this year ell three divisions
composing the battalion will 60 out
at the same time. Two OF the di-
visions viii be placed aboard the
Badger and the third VIII go aboard
the Bahbitt. The latter vessel then
viii proceed to Hampton Roads to
pick up a division Of the Richmond,
Va. Naval Reserves, and then both
vessels viii proceed 10 sea at the
same time. This also will provide
much more training for the officers
and men than II they went on one
ship. The vessels then will travel in
formation and the officers will be
trained in keeping their position in
this formation, and the signalmen
win receive much more practical
training than II they were on a ship
sseaming alone.
Enlisted men each drill now are
checking over their sea bags to as
certain that they have all the neces-
sary clothing and equipment ready by
the time the two ships arrive at the
washington Navy Yard to take them
aboard. At the present time it was
indicated that each OF the divisions
would take its full complement on
the cruise. so that IL is believed that
the ships win be fully manned when
they leave washington. Each of
them, Of course. will have a portion
OF the regular complement aboard to
assist In training the Reservists.
Lorenzo Adola, officers cook, first
class, has been ordered retired upon
completion of 80 years of service in
the regular establishment and the
Reserve.
The records of the transfer here
OF Chester w. Hopkins, chief store
keeper, from the 9Th Naval District
at Charleston, S. c.. have been re-
ceived.
Lieut.. Howard II. Strine, Reserve
Medical Corps. at present attached TO
the 9Th Marine Corps Reserve, has
been promoted from the grade Of
lieutenant (JG9.
Recruiting has been so active in
the local organization and the de-
mand for enlistment in the Reserve
has been so great that two of the
three divisions are now up to the
complement allowed by the Navy De-
partment to keep the divisions within
the appropriation allowance. The lst
and Sd Fleet Divisions were reported
to be up to full complement and the