Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-02

M has been placed at their
wv service, the list Battalion,
United States Naval Re-
serves in the District Of
Columbia, inaugurated their Summer
cruising season yesterday Manned by
a few members Of the LIST Fleet Dr.
vision, the vessel went down the Po-
tomac River for week end Of train
ing. but, of course, the drill is limited
because OF the size Of the boat.
There is a great need here. it was
said by those familiar with the Re-
serve. for a larger vessel, not only TO
accommodate the large number Of
men who apply each week to take a
cruise, but also to give the men
broader training to aid them in keep
ing up with the instruction which
they receive each year on their annual
cruises.
Although other Naval Reserve units
throughout the country have been
assigned vessels Of various types, in
Guiding gunboats, destroyers, eagle
boats and even some of the 75-foot
patrol boats used by the Coast Guard
when it was engaged in running down
rum runners during the prohibition
era. nothing has been assigned here
since the destroyer was taken away
some years ago Only on short periods
is an active destroyer sent here for
the purpose Of having the men engage
In weekly drills. There u no large
vessel available for week end cruises.
It was asserted that the National
Capital more than any other unit
should be supplied with . training
vessel to be used regularly for drill
and cruising purposes. With q de-
stroyer or boat Of equal speed the
Reservists could leave here on Satur-
day afternoons and could be in the
bay in a short time. However, with the
small launch they can only go q
sort distance down the Potomac in
order to be back in time for the men
to report to their respective civilian
Jobs on Monday mornings.
The local Reserve organization Is
one Of the few in the country which is
working under great handicaps. 1t
has q most unsatisfactory armory and
it lacks q vessel. It was said that
when the training ship was assigned
here the morale Of the organization
was at its highest, and the local unit
always passed its inspections with the
highest marks among the units OF
the country.
A Naval Reserve unit without Q
ship, It was asserted further, feels
itself working under difficulties. ON
GERS point out that the training re-
suits obtained are much greater when
the men are permitted to take their
weekly drills aboard ship and TO take
week end trips on the river. 1t Keeps
them in constant touch with their
duties, which helps them materially
when they 60 away on their annual
Summer cruises.
With other Reserve organizations
throughout the country having been
| ASSIGNED ships, those here say they
cannot see why the National Capital
should not be assigned q vessel. espe-
cially as there are destroyers out
Of commission both here and on the
West Coast. They point out also that
| q ship even In ordinary commission
with ship keepers assigned to main
tain 1t Is kept in better fighting con-
dition and ct less expense from de-
| terioration than If it was kept out
of commission in the ship yard
Pleas Of the local oflcers for the
assignment Of q ship here have not
been answered, but they hope that
| with the increase in the size of the
Navy and the move to increase the
active fleet that there will be funds
available to assign vessel here 1or
| training purposes.
While the local Reservists would
like to see destroyer assigned here
for training purposes, nevertheless 1t
was said that they would be satisfied
If they were able to get one OF the
75-foot patrol boats, as these would
accommodate q larger number OF men
and officers on week end trips, and
would provide better facilities for
training than Is provided on the
launch which is little more than q
makeshift SO far Is suitability Tor
training Is concerned.
Although no definite plans have
been made, according to oficers, to
obtain the assignment Of vessel here,
1t ID probable that some representa-
tons win be made to the Navy De-
partment through the commandant OF
the Warrington Navy Yard in the
near future. In the hope that q vessel
will be sent here before the Summer
is far under way. The local Eeservists
believe that their standing entities
them to Q ship In order that they
might carry on their training to the
fullest extent.
The United States Naval Reserve
Officers' Association also has proposed
the construction of special type boat
for training Of the Naval Reserve
but until something definite II done
toward providing for their construc-
ton the Reservists here are willing to
take any vessel that b assigned %
thsm+ H~ pstntsd sse- that 4 such