Evening star., 1935-03-10

RTeSSlONdl COHlIHlLIccS Adob WCOh' buV
the result will not be known until the
naval appropriation bill is reported.
The national officers, it was said,
urged the committees TO allow Suftl-
cient funds which would permit the
organizations to be increased in size
from Sc to 76 enlisted men. Any in
crease In the enlisted personnel, II al
lowed. would naturally be accom-
panied by an increase in commits
stoned personnel, and pay and allow
ances would have to be made for them.
1t is also understood that Congress
is to be urged TO allow sufficient funds
with which to cruise each year at
least 20 per cent Of the Volunteer Re
serve officers This class of Reservists
is not required to attend regular drills
and does not receive any compensa-
ton, but sometimes its members may
cruise with the Fleet Reserve if there
are vacancies. For the most part this
branch is made up of specialists whose
civilian occupations would make them
valuable to the Navy in time of war.
However, most of them are green to
naval practices, but the department
for some time has been urging the
officers in charge of Reserve activities
in the various districts to assemble
these officers and have lectures de-
livered to them with view to indoc-
trination. In this area this has met
with much success. Also the depart
ment has provided number Of corre-
spondence courses for those in this
4f hoy
Of them have taken advantage OF this
opportunity TO learn something about
the duties in connection with the COM
missions they have accepted in the
Naval Reserve.
Many times when the Navy Is send
ing any Of its ships on special duty
it has provided opportunity for the
officers in the volunteer class, in lin
ited number, to take the voyage, but
this has been without either pay for
the service or allowance for transpor-
tation to and from the port of en-
barkation. They also have had to pay
their mess bills while aboard ships.
1t Is the idea Of the Reserve ASSo-
citation, it was explained, that If these
officers are taken aboard ship for
training purposes that they should re-
ceive the same pay and allowances as
do the officers Of the Fleet Reserve
who are required by law TO take two
weeks of sea training each year in
order to maintain efficiency.
II Congress should approve the rec
ommendation of the officials OF the
National Association. it would mean
that officers of the Volunteer Reserve
would be entitled to cruise every five
years.
From local standpoint the proposal
| to increase each of the feet divisions
by 20 men would furnish q serious
problem in the matter Of armory
training space. The local Reservists
now drill in an old store building
which was taken into the Washington
Navy Yard during the war. The drill
hall is small shed or lean-to added
to the building at that time. and ii
Is wholly inadequate and unSuited to
the purpose for which 1t was used
The building is so crowded now that
the whole battalion cannot attend
on the same drill night for the purpose
of drilling as such. Therefore, it has
been necessary to split the drills into
three parts, each division taking a
! night.
Plans for a new armory have been
discussed. and some time ago tenta-
tive plans for a structure we're drawn
However, they have never taken any
definite shape and no request has been
made for an appropriation. The Re-
serviSts desire a building on the water
front, where they could have their
motor boats and sailing and pulling
boats for drill purposes in fair weather
Owing to the lack of armory facilities
they have little or no equipment OF
this kind and do not get any practi-
cal training along these lines except
during the annual cruises. They have
one motor boat which they use for
week end cruises down the Potomac,
during which small detachments of
enlisted men are taken along for in
struction.
Lieut.. ]. E. Sullivan, commander Of
the 1st Battalion. District Of Columbia
Naval Reserve, was elected president
of tse local chapter of the United
States Naval Reserve Officers Asso-
ciation last week. Ensign P. j
Wagner was named vice president ano
Lieut.. (Junior Grade) G. D. Sullivan
was named secretary and treasurer.
Efforts are to be made this year tc
stir up greater interest in the activities
of the local association, with view
to increasing the membership. AL
Reserve officers, whether in the feet
or the volunteers, are eligible to men,
bership, as we'll as former members OF
the Reserve.
1t has planned to have meetings
every six weeks, to which will be in
vited some speaker to talk on naval
and Naval Reserve matters.
The following appointments Of COM
missioned officers were announced at
the local Reserve headquarters:
Lieut.. (Junior Grade) John M. Nc
Inerney, 2410 Twentieth street; Ensign
Henry M. LeffertS, Ill Kirkwood road
Clarendon, Va. and Ensign George
E. SCHNEIDER, It'll Thirty-fifth street
Ensign Winston S. Brown has been
ordered promoted to the rank OF
lieutenant, junior grade.
Work Of the local Reservists now Is
directed almost entirely to the prep
arations for the annual inspection
which has been definitely set for
April s. All of the three divisions
will be inspected on the same night
by a board Of regular officers from the
Navy Department.
Every detail of naval training will
be gone over between now and the
night set for the inspection, with q
view to having the three divisions and
the battalion as a whole take one oi
the high marks this year. Particular
attention will be paid to the written
tests for petty officers. the board hav.
ing inaugurated the system last year
of picking petty officers at random
and putting them through short writ
ten tests to determine how well they