Evening star., 1935-08-04

assistant gunnery officer on the battle
ship Idaho Since his arrival here he
has proved himself one of the most
popular of the regular service officers
assigned here to aid the local citizens
In getting their sea training. Accord
ing to officers of the battalion. largely
due to his interest, number Of bene-
fetal changes and improvements have
been made in the activities Of the
battalion.
Comdr. Crouter makes his home on
North Ivy street, Clarendon. Va,
where he recently was joined by Mrs.
Crouter and their three children. He
Is a native of Union, Greg.
The review will be presented as a
part of the annual inter-diviSion
competitions of the battalion, and also
will include a battalion commanders
Inspection. The ceremonies will begin
promptly at o'clock. AS with all of
the competitions which have been ar
ranged, it probably will go long time
beyond the usual drill period which
the officers and men are required to
put in each week. The members of
the various divisions will be examined
for proficiency in emergency drills,
engine room casualties, knotting and
splicing, Semaphore signaling, Infan-
try and manual of arms drills first aid,
battle problems and attendant activi-
ties. They will go through practically
the same routine as when they go up
for their annual tests before a board
Of regular officers from the Navy De-
partment. In addition to the compe-
tition between the three divisions
which compose the battalion. the re-
cruits will be examined to determine
which one has shown the most i'm
provement since joining the Reserves.
In preparation for the recuit compe-
titions the battalion adjutant, Lieut..
Carusi, and his aide, Ensign Lamar,
are busily engaged in giving the men
their final instructions for the tests.
In addition to these competitions, the
recruits soon will be taken out of this
group and transferred to the several
divisions Of apprentice seamen. Re-
cent transfers of volunteer Reserve
men and enlistments of applicants for
the Naval Academy have opened few
vacancies for feet Reservists in the
divisions. The recruits drill every
Monday evening. Applications for en-
ltstment will be considered any Mon
day night, 1t was announced.
There is much astir among the Off
GERS of the battalion, for the training
launch is to be used in the near fu-
ture for an all-of1cers' cruise, enlisted
men being barred for the trip. Off
GERS are said to be brushing up on their
practical work, things that they get
out Of practice on because of having
the crew perform the details. There
will be many details to be carried out
on this trip, mere matters of routine
for enlisted personnel, but big prob
lens. For instance. there is the mat
ter Of cooking the meals. A good
ships cook can order his supplies and
get out meal in short order, but Just
how we'll trained any officer is in the
matter of cooking and looking far
enough ahead to get the proper sup
plies is a matter being given serious
consideration. OF course, it was
pointed out, If the situation gets bad,
1t is Summer and there are many
water resorts along the Potomac where
the boat can put in and give the
"crew" an opportunity to get good
meal ashore.
1t is going to be good opportunity
to pull rank" and it is understood
that officers in the same grade are
looking up the dates of their commits
sions to ascertain seniority, with a
view to getting a pick Of the assign
ments. The battalion commander
will be captain of the vessel during the
cruise and there will be one officer
for engineering duty and the
rest will be just crew.
The medical department Of the
battalion has announced they have set
August IL as the first drill night on
which enlisted men and officers who
have yet to take their inoculations for
typhoid fever may begin the second
series. With the possibility that some
last-minute vacancies may occur dur
ing the cruise, all men are being
treated.
However, according to information
available at this time, it was indicated
that practically every officer and man
Of the battalion will participate in the
annual cruise this year. which is to be
conducted aboard the battleship
which is coming UP the
Bay to Annapolis to re-
reivo the rNpfirOnrt