Evening star., 1934-10-07

~ hEF FAftA11oINo aiC Dcnie hiouc
by the 1st Battalion, United
States Naval Reserves of the
i District of Columbia, for the
annual Navy day celebration.
The day, this year, falls on Saturday,
so that it will be necessary for the
organization to change its drill night.
Lieut.. j. Z. Sullivan, commanding
the battalion, has issued orders chang
ing the drill night of all three divi-
Sions, which usually drill on separate
nights, to q general assembly on the
night Of October 27. The Navy Yard
activities will be on display during the
day and it Is expected that the Re-
serve units will keep open house in
their armory that night. Visitors will
be taken throughout the building to
see the apparatus which has been in
stalled for training purposes. This
includes the Engineering Department
laboratory, the destroyer bridge and
fire control apparatus as well as drill
gun. Also there have been installed
in the armory number of models Of
ships as well as exhibits of naval
apparatus.
In addition to the armory exhibits,
and probably will put on a drill for
the visitors. Whether there will be a
special Navy day speaker to address
the battalion has not yet been deter
mined. The reservists will stress the
Importance of the citizens preparing
for service for war
In addition to the work on the line
divisions, there will be on display
also the work Of the Naval Communi-
cations Reserve, a volunteer corps Of
young men trained in radio and tele-
graph work. They have a station at
the Reserve armory and will be on
hand to explain the apparatus, which
is similar to that on shipboard.
During the drills scheduled for this
week emphasis will be placed on emer-
gency drills, with special instruction
on the equipment used, and the details
of each mans job during the various
emergencies, which include battle sta
tions, fire, collision and abandon ship.
The seamen branch above seamen,
first class, will be given instruction
and quiz by the division commander
on rules of the road, lights, fog sig
mails and steering and sailing rules.
Those below this grade will be given
instruction in marlinspike seamanship.
The quartermasters and signalmen
will be given instruction in absentee
lights, flag lights, men Of war lights,
full dressing ship and blinker signal
practice. The machinists will continue
their work of installing a heating sys-
tenn in the armory.
Indications that the battalion Is
preparing for its annual inspection be-
fore a board of naval officers is con-
tanned in the schedule for drills the
following week The first period calls
for fire control and gun drill, to be
followed by a battle problem. The
seamen branch will be given instruc-
tion in semaphore signaling, sound
ing, markings on the lead line, read
ing the compass and duties of mes
sengers and lookouts. The quarter
masters and Signalmen will be given
instruction in distinctive flags and
pennants and a period of blinker sig
mailing. The engineer ratings will be
instructed in the theory of turbines,
reduction gear, etc. The fire room
force will be given instruction in
boilers.
The new recruit class begins to-
morrow night, and each man has been
requested to bring in an acceptable
candidate. Those who enter the re-
cruit class will not be required, nor
will they be permitted, to enlist imme-
diately. For 80 days they are given
instruction in the rudiments of naval
work, during which time they are un-
der the constant observation of the
officer in charge. and If at the end of
that period it is believed that they
have aptitude for the service, they are
enlisted. On the other hand, how
ever, if the candidate for enlistment
finds that he does not like the serv-
ice, he is not required to take the
final step of enlistment, but is dis
This practice, it is pointed
out, has resulted in obtaining for the
organization a high type of personnel,
because the enlistmentS may be Sc
lective.
The Board of Examination to con-
duct the tests of enlisted men for ad-
vancement in rating will meet only
on the third Monday of each month,
it was announced by Lieut.. Sullivan.
In making the announcement he
pointed out that there are several
vacancies for men who can qualify
for them.
Owing to the fact that the depart
ment is keeping close watch in the
markings and examinations in the
Reserve, the examiners throughout
the country are becoming more strict
in the tests and a man when sent
ahead with recommendation that
ne be given the next higher rate is
now considered well qualified for the
post. The Inspection Board keeps a
close check on these ratings now DUR
ing its annual inspections and picks
men at random to take written ex-
aminations, and these are examined
and filed with the reports at the
Navy Department.
The Naval Reserve Inspection Board,
of which Capt Rufus w. Mathewson,
U. s. ~, is chairman, will spend next
week in the Middle West, examining
divisions of the Reserve. 1t will begin
at Rock Island, ILL.,, on Monday:
going to Burlington, Iowa, on Tues
day; Peoria, Ill, on Wednesday; In
dianapolis, Ind, on Thursday, and
Cincinnati, Ohio, on Friday.
The members OF the party will be
Capt. Mathewson, Comdr. w. 1.
Causey, U. S.. N, and Lieut.. Comdr.
H. F. Ely, U. S. N, all from the
Navy Department here.
Lieut.. q g. A. F. Block commands
the 31st Division, at Rock Island;
Lieut.. F. H. Lauder, the 42d Di-
vision, at Burlington; Lieut.. r. C.
Loves, jr, the 30th Division, at
Peoria.
Lieut. T. H. Escott commands the
4th Division, at Indianapolis, and the