Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-03-03
BATTLESHIP cruise appears to
\ be in store for the officers anc

has made tentative plans to use two
ships OF the Atlantic Training Squad
ron, the Wyoming and Arkansas, for
the purpose of widening the expert
ence Of some of the Naval Reservists.
Ever since the World War the Re-
servists in this area have been making
their cruises aboard destroyers, espe-
cially in view of the fact that the
various divisions have been designated
as the crews of deStroyers. However,
In the event of a national emergency
which might involve an expansion OF
the fleet it probably would be neces-
sary to transfer the men from de-
stroyers to larger ships. The present
movement to give them battleship
training is believed to be a step to
educate them into service aboard
these vessels so that they would be
thoroughly indoctrinated should 1t
be necessary to call them into active
service.
Furthermore, service on battleships
Is said to be quite different from that
on destroyers. On the latter boats
they are not as strict in uniform and
other requirements as they are on
the bigger ships. They would learn
the intricate fire control systems and
all about the big guns which are on
battleships, something that many OF
them have never seen before. How
ever, in the organization there are
certain number of the officers and
enlisted men who have taken special
cruises aboard battleships in add
ton to the regular cruises. The Navy
Department at various times provides
opportunities for officers and men OF
the Reserve to take training cruises
on these vessels without pay. But as
to actual divisional training aboard
the big ships they have not had II.
There are some of the officers, how
ever, who are veterans of the World
War, who have had this duty, but
they now are in the minority.
The tentative plan for the training
of the local Reservists this Summer
calls for the battleship wyoming to
come to Annapolis. At that point she
will be boarded by the three feet divi-
stons from Washington, the list. End
and 3rd Fleet Divisions from Balti-
more and the 4th Fleet Division OF
Richmond. According to the present
schedule the officers and men will
board the ship on September z, re-
manning aboard for training until
September 20. These dates are, OF
course, subject to change later, upon
Recommendation of the commanding
officer of the Wyoming, although it is
probable that the boarding point is
certain because Of the desire to save
overland transportation expense to
and from the ship. At the time the
wyoming is taking aboard ReRrvists
at Annapolis, the battleship Arkansas,
also a part of the training squadron.
will board eight feet divisions Of the
New York Naval Reserve. The two
ships are expected later to join COM
pany and cruise together.
1t is probable that sometime during
the cruise the gun crews of the vari-
Gus divisions will have target practice
with the secondary batteries aboard
the ships, but whether the method OF
practice will be changed as long
recommended by the Reserve has not
been made public. Under the prac-
tice aboard the destroyers, the Re
servists fire at small target and any
thing within certain distance Of the
target is considered a hit. The Re
serverists want to use the large tar
gets as is done in the regular estab-
lishment. so that it would be neces-
sary to get q direct hit on the target
in order for it to count. 1t has been
pointed out that the latter method
would furnish better system for COM
parison between the Reserve and reg
ular gunners.
The following are candidates fol
officers in the local chapter of the
United States Naval Reserve Oficers
Association:
President-C. r. Bittinger and e
H. Talbert. Vice president-T. w
Wagner, B. E. Stahl and T. F. Schnei-
der, jr. Secretary and treasurer-C
H. williams, H. J. Huester, w. G
Schofield and G. D. Sullivan. Direc-
tor-w. C.. Lockhart, p. p. Brown and
and E. I. Snyder.
Although the q. S. Destroyer Leary
which has been here for q number Of
weeks for the purpose Of allowing the
local Reservists to train aboard her
will remain for another week, it wa:
| indicated that the local officers anc
men will not use her any more fol
| drill purposes because of the neces-
sity for beginning the training fol
! the annual inspection.
The drills and exercises incident tc
! the annual inspection will of neces-
sity be held in the crowded armory
here, so it was decided by those ir
! charge that as the time is short the
men should begin to familiarize them
selves with the equipment in the ar
mory In order to put on their very
best while the inspection officers art
here on April 8, the date which ha'
been set for these annual tests.
The program for drills mapped ou1
by Lieut.. J. e. Sullivan, battaliar
commander for the current month. Il
designed wholly to prepare the officers
! and men for the coming inspection
and these will eliminate in genera
drill of all three divisions on the night
Of April 2 for the purpose OF going
through q rehearsal Of the inspection
program. At other times each of the
three fleet divisions drills on a sepa-
rate drill night, because OF the
cramped quarters at the armory.
The following enlistments were re-
ported during the week:
John M. Ritchey. apprentice sea.
man, 1909 B street southeast. assigned
to the Sd Fleet Division; John F
Beutler, apprentice seaman, G. G. G.
camp 228, Benning, D. c, assigned to
the LIST Fleet Division; Daniel M. Levy
fireman, second class, 1437 Spring
road, assigned to the LIST Fleet Divi-
sion; Normal Petersen, apprentice
seaman, 651 Morton street northeast
assigned to the Sd Fleet Division.
Robert B. Wall has been ordered
promoted from seaman, second class,
to FIRST class In the Aviation Division
The Baltimore, Md, Reservists ex-