Evening star., 1935-04-21
Congress and the Navy
Department make some pro-
vision for the assignment Of
L individual training ships for

Department make some pro-
vision for the assignment Of
L individual training ships for
Reserve units throughout the
country is being urged by the United
States Naval Reserve Association OFF,
cials. The association is urging the
construction for use by the Reserve
of a special type vessel, similar to
those being constructed for use by the
United States Coast Guard in its reg
ular operations.
Prior to the period when 1t became
necessary to materially reduce Gov
ernment expenditures, most OF the
Reserve units throughout the country
had ships of various types assigned
to them. Many of them had vessels
Of the Eagle class. special type Of
patrol boat which was constructed
during the World War for anti-sub-
marine work. Other units had re-
serve deStroyers. However, one of the
first retrenchments of the Navy De-
partment was to withdraw these YES
sells from service because of the ex-
penSe involved in their maintenance.
In addition to the maintenance of
the material, 1t was necessary to keep
skeleton crews aboard them.
The District of Columbia battalion
was one of those which lost its train
ing vessel during the retrenchment
period. Shortly after the World War
the Eagle No. 56 was assigned here,
and the Reservists used it for their
weekly drills and for week end trips
on the Potomac as well as for their
annual training cruises. This vessel
was later relieved by a destroyer and
the Eagle was sent to the Baltimore
battalion. Several different destroyers
were assigned here in succession. but
| finally the last one was removed,
since which time the local citizen
sailors have been without a training
when training fleet vessel was sent
here.
Reserve officers point out that the
presence of a ship on which to train
the men serves to keep up the morale,
as the men really feel then that they
are part of the naval establishment.
The armory instruction, it was said,
is not nearly as effective as drilling on
q vessel.
While considerable ship equipment
has been obtained and set I'D in the
armory, the men do not have the
| same training as they would If they
had ship here. Both the deck and
engineer forces would, each week, be
taken to the ship and trained in the
stations they would be assigned to in
time OF service at sea, either for train
ing or on active duty in time of an
emergency. Under the present sys-
tenn they 60 to sea for two weeks
each year and receive intensive train
ing with the guns and other gear on
the ship and then they are away from
1t for nearly whole year. While
they keep up their drills and class
room instruction, those familiar with
the service point out that it is not
nearly as effective as when they 20
back week after week to keep them
selves fresh in their duties.
Aside from the weekly drill, each
week one or more divisions could be
taken aboard for q voyage down the
river, remaining ! overnight. They
would receive the same training and
instruction as they receive at sea, and
besides the line officers would receive
considerable training in plotting and
navigation, something they do not
receive now. except in theory in their
classroom instruction. The local
battalion does have launch now
which they use each week end for
training purposes. but it has none of
the facilities required for the train
ing of a division. It Is practically
limited to seamanship. signaling and
primary navigation and plotting. Dur
ing the weekend trips on a larger
vessel the divisions would receive the
same training as they would on a
vessel in active commission, the same
training which they receive while at
sea on their annual training cruises.
There are number Of deStroyers
now laid up on both the East and West
Coasts, but these were war-built and
many Of them are becoming obsolete
as naval vessels 60. While they are
still valuable for training purposes,
they are expensive to operate as train
ing ships, and 1t is believed that 1t
would be less costly to construct q
special type vessel for the ReserWsts.
| a vessel that would be economical to
operate and maintain.
Lieut.. Mark H. Crouter, U. S. N,
has reported for duty here as officer
in charge of local Naval Reserve af-
fairs under the commandant of the
Washington Navy Yard, and as in
structor of the local Naval Reserve
battalion.
Lieut.. Crouter relieved Lieut.. Comdr.
r, w. Benson, who has been ordered
to duty aboard the U. S. s. Twiggs on
the West Coast. Comdr. Benson did
much while he was here to build up
the battalion to its present high state
of efficiency. He not only worked in
cessantly for the local feet organi-
zation, but he did much to bring to-
gether the volunteer Reserve officers
who are not required to attend any
drills or participate in any training
duty. However, he worked out series
of meetings at which he had expert
instructors from the Navy give lee
lures, and also conducted q number
of tours to naval activities In this
city and vicinity for the purpose Of
getting these officers in closer touch
with the naval activities.
OmcerS and men Of the battalion
heard Of his relief orders with con-
siderable regret.
Two enlisted men were advanced IN
rating this week, according to an
nouncement of Iiegk J. .. oullivAA,