Evening star., 1935-02-10
TENDANCE at drills Of the d.
visions Of the lst Battalion,
United States Fleet Reserve Of


~ United States Fleet Reserve of
4 \ the District Of Columbia, has
shown remarkable improve
ment during the past few weeks, 1t
was announced at the headquarters
here last week. Division commanders,
under the direction of the battalion
head, have taken steps to force the
regular attendance of enlisted person.
mel. and It Is expected that the men
viii continue their regular attendance,
not only during the period between
now and the time set for the annual
inspection, but will continue right
through the Summer months up to
the time of cruising.
by hitting the men right In their pock-
etbooks, where they feel it most, 1t
was indicated. Under the new system
Q man cannot slip in for drill even
minute late and receive credit for the
attendance. Even II he remains the
whole evening and participates active
ly in the program for the night, his
division does not get credit for his
attendance. The result is that
wholehearted competitive spirit has
been stirred up.
II man is late for drill he does
not get his days pay. even If he re-
mains the entire evening, so that when
the divisions are formed for evening
roll call since the new order was put
into effect the ranks are filled. Those
men who are inclined to be lax are
chided into attending by their fellow
sailors In order to keep up the di-
Visions attendance record. Further,
If a man comes on time and is out
Of uniform, or has q part Of his uni
form missing, neither he nor his di-
vision is given credit for the attend
ance. Neither does he get pay.
It is expected that this plan viii do
more than anything else that has been
tried to keep up regular attendance.
It was pointed out that when men miss
one or two drills at this time, when
the organization is preparing for its
annual inspection, it cuts down the
co-ordinated training, which may seri-
ously affect the markings which will
be given the divisions and the battalion
by the inspection officers when they
arrive here on April /.
With the attendance kept at 100 per
cent, the drill schedule on the q. S.
Destroyer Leary can be kept on q high
plane. and the organization will be
well trained for its inspection. One or
two men missing from drill, it was
pointed out; seriously impedes the
training work, and it is the purpose
Of the officers to see that every man
attends regularly and takes part in
the drill.
It Is expected that work will be
started soon in preparing the training
launch for its Spring and Summer
work on the Potomac River The boat,
which was assigned here for week end
training cruises, has been hauled out
of the water to protect it from the ice
during the Winter months, but in q
short time vorkmen will begin clean
ing the hui and painting it and other
wise improving the equipment so that
it may be placed in the water when
the danger Of ice damage Is past.
Each week end detail of the men
under commissioned officer takes the
vessel down the river, where the en-
listed men are taught seamanship and
navigation. Signalling Is taught, and
the men are taught to handle power
boats.
Robert Flanagan. chief water ten
der; Jacob Townsend. ships cook, first
class, and Bradley N. waldrip, avia-
ton rigger, first class, have been ord
cred retired upon the completion of 80
years service, 90 of which were in the
regular establishment and 10 in the
Reserve.
The following enlistments were re-
ported during the week:
Benjamin H. Hall, seaman, second
class, 800 Seventeenth street southeast,
Sd Fleet Division; Frederick H.
Thomas. seaman, second class, TIT
Massachusetts, avenue northeast, I'd
Fleet Division; Paul E. Houck, seaman,
second class, 9l4 K street southeast,
I'd Fleet Division. and John NJ Ritchey.
apprentice seaman, 1909 B street
southeast, Sd Fleet Division.
Members Of the Naval Communica-
ton Reserve Division are being urged
to take an active part on the over-the-
air drills during the remainder of the
quarter. Lieut.. j. NJ. Nicholson, divi-
sion commander. says that this month
is the last month of this quarter and
every man is requested to take as
active an interest as possible in order
that we may capture second place by
this quarter. The monthly score is
slightly better than last month, but
We are still weak in 'over-the-air'
are being made to entertain the 1885
a~cocio IN, poar f,,t