Evening star., 1935-05-26


Reserves Of the District Of Co.
Il lumbia, commanded by Lieut.
(Junior Grade Jay F. Carpen-
ter, was announced last week by Lieut..
j. E. Sullivan, battalion commander,
as the winner of the Admiral's Cup
for having attained the highest drill
attendance record during the year.
The cup, along with three individual
gold medals to enlisted men, will be
presented at a general muster Of the
entire battalion in the armory tomor-
row night, by Rear Admiral j. r.
Defrees, United States Navy COM
mandant of the Washington Navy
Yard. who also will conduct an inSpec-
ton of the organization.
Holbert B. Berryhill, 1st Fleet Divi-
sion Edward j. Motley, chief water
tender, 2nd Fleet Division, and Frank
C. White, chief gunner's mate, 3rd
Fleet Division, each will be presented
with a gold medal which has been
awarded to them because Of having
been recommended by their respective
commanding officers as having con-
tributed most toward the efficiency Of
their divisions during the year. The
name Of each will be engraved on his
medal.
THE commanding officer. 1st Bat
talon" says a letter of Lieut.. Sullivan
announcing the formation tomorrow
night, "congratulates the officers and
men Of the 1st Division on attaining
the distinction of being the first divi-
sion to win the Admirals Cup. The
division winning this trophy three
times in succession will be permitted
to retain it permanently.
THE award of the gold medals men,
toned above to BerTyhill. Motley and
White is a tribute to their interest in
and loyalty TO the reserve and to their
Of the duties of their ratings. The
battalion commander compliments
them on their achievement"
The attendance year on which the
awards are made begins May l and
ends April 80 of the following year
Although each of the divisions drills
on a separate night because of the in
adequate armory, they have been
/ called together tomorrow for the spe-
cial ceremonies and there will be no
/ further drills during the week.
In this connection Lieut.. Sullivan
| has sent to the commandant of the
/ yard a set of plans for a proposed
! aYmory and a strong letter citing many
! reasons for the erection Of new
armory for the training of the local
/ personnel.
The need for a new armory is OBJ
vious," said Lieut.. Sullivans letter to
/ the commandment The present
building in which this battalion drills
Is totally unsuited for the purpose. 1t
| is entirely inadequate in size, so small
| in fact that it is necessary for the
/ three divisions Of the battalion to drill
/ on separate drill nights. This pro-
/ cedure interferes with the carrying out
Of systematic and standard course
of instruction for the specialized petty
/ officer ratings and strivers therefor.
/ In cold weather the building is eX-
/ tremely difficult to heat in spite of the
/ gas heating system recently installed.
The building can be heated during
/ severe weather. but at great expense.
I The inability of the three divisions of
/ the battalion to drill as a unit pre-
vents the development Of a lively spirit
Of competition between the divisions
/ When the battalion does assemble. the
/ drill hall is SO overcrowded that it is
! impossible TO form the divisions prop
/ erly. The drill floor is so small that
one division cannot be properly eXer-
cised in infantry. The present armory
| compares unfavorably with the stand
| ard one-company National Guard
armory, many of which the command
! ing officer has been privileged to visit.
! The building now used as an
aImory was not designed as such;
I consequently, in addition to being TOO
/ small for the purpose, its arrange
ment is not satisfactory. In this con-
nection it is desired to point out that
! the Naval Reserve Inspection Board
of the Navy Department itself has
repeatedly commented adversely on
/ this present building utilized as an
| armory.
ITO rectify this highly unsatis-
| factory situation, there have been pre-
rared drawings for a new armory
which it is considered will be entirely
suitable for the purpose. 1t will be
noted that the plans provide for ex-
pansion. facilities for recreation, /. e.,
swimming pool, bowling alleys. etc.
none of which is available in the
present building. 1t is proposed that
the armory be located on the water
front, near the Eleventh Street Bridge.
with an entrance on Eleventh street.
/ The drawings submitted are not in
detail, but have been prepared to in
oicate in general what the battalion
requires for an armory. 1t is recon-
mended that detail drawings and
specifications be prepared and
that steps be taken to obtain the
necessary funds to erect building
of the type proposed. 1t is estimated
/ that this can be accomplished for a
sum under S500,000
THE commanding officer cannot
overemphasize the absolute necessity
of providing this unit with a suitable
armory.
Summarized, 1t is recommended
that the 1St Battalion be provided
with an adequate armory for the fol-
| lowing reasons:
1T is necessary for the efficient
training Of the battalion.
ut would be available in wartime
| for mobilization purposes and for
other Navy wartime activities.
ut would be an inspiration to the
| thousands of visitors who come to
Washington each year. 1t would help
the Navy as well as the Naval Reserve.
/