Evening star., 1935-12-29


Y il is expected to be one Of the
principal questions to be dis
cussed at the convention here next
month of the United States Naval
Reserve Officers Association. The as
sociation holds its convention here
each year, and during the course Of
the proceedings listens to addresses by
prominent naval officers in the de-
partment, and particularly those as
signed to the Reserve affairs in the de-
partment.
While 1t Is believed the Navy De-
partment Is favorable to a proposal to
increase the size Of all feet divisions,
the matter of expense will be most
important, and before the increase can
be had Congress will have to appro-
pay the oficers and men.
Under the law, officers and men of
the Fleet Reserve receive the equiva-
lent Of e days pay Of their rank or
rating for each night Of drill they
attend, but the number Of drills is
limited each year.
The feet divisions now are limited.
largely by the appropriations, to Sc
men each. but 1t Is proposed to in
crease this strength by 20 men, or
rs men to a division. With the in
crease in enlisted personnel, it is prob
able that there will be needed an in
craa ca q, oor,r,iesiopad y1arsa,,raI ,oo-
ticularly in the lower ranking ON
GERS.
It Is pointed out that the Reserve,
since the war, has worked to a high
state of efficiency and those now in
are ready to take on an additional
force for training purposes. 1t was
asserted that the naval service now
is becoming so technical that 1t Is
impossible to take on a large number
Of green men at the beginning of emer-
gency and assign them to ships. BY
training q large number Of Reserves
now, they would be ready for instant
service at sea should any trouble de-
velop.
OF course. should Congress provide
for the additional men for the di-
visions, there would also be question
Of armory space. Many of the divi-
sions, particularly those assigned to
the District Of Columbia, now are
cramped for drill space and any in
crease would materially aggrevate the
situation. However, the Reserve Of
f1cers are not willing to let that stand
in the way of an increase They point
out that If funds are provided for the
enlistment of the men they will take
care Of the drill situation.
Another important matter which is
expected to be given considerable at
tention by the Reserve officers is the
matter Of providing more active duty
for the members of the Volunteer Re-
serve. The feet officers are Il the ac-
tive Reserve, that is the one that holds
weekly drills, and they are required
by law to take two weeks sea train
ing tour each year. However, the
volunteer officers are a group of spe-
cialists usually taken into the service
because their civilian work is of a
type which the Navy would require in
time of war. These officers do not re-
ceive any compensation, are not re-
quired to drill and do not have to
take the sea duty each year.
1t was asserted that unless many Of
them were given some training at sea.
they would have to be further trained
when called into active service in time
of emergency. The Navy does from
time to time make provision for these
officers to 60 on cruise, on their own
application, but they not only have to
60 without pay, but they have to bear
the expense of their transportation to
and from the port where they board
and disembark from the ship. They
also have to pay their food bills while
aboard the vessel.
Many Of these officers, it was said.
are anxious to get some first hand in
formation on naval work, but they
cannot afford to bear the expense of
training, especially in view of the fact
that the Government provides pay and
transportation expenses for the feet
Reserve.
1t is probable that a recommended
tion will be made at the coming con-
vention that certain percentage of
these officers be taken to sea each
year, and that it be made compulsory
for them to go. This branch of the
Reserve would be materially benefited
by such a provision, it was pointed
out.
The Navy Department has called to
the attention Of commanding and
executive officers the ironbound policy
of the Bureau OF Navigation to not
cancel applications for transfer to the
Fleet Naval Reserve or authorizations
for transfer to the Fleet Naval Re-
serve. A number of enlisted men of
approximately 16 or 20 years service
submit their applications for transfer
to become effective on completion Of
their Is or 20 years, and then prior
to transfer, for various reasons, usually
personal. request that their applica-
tions or their authorizations be can
celed. Other requests indicate a de-
sire to delay the effective date of
transfer for one or two years in order
that the men may accomplish some
personal end Of their own or that they
may continue on until they get a
permanent appointment In order to get
greater benefits when they do transfer
to the Reserve. In this connection, it
was explained, 1t is the policy of the
bureau to authorize transfers to the
Fleet Naval Reserve as much as two
years in advance.
An item in connection with the
transfer to the Fleet Naval Reserve
with the benefit Of Is or 20 years
service, which is not generally under