Evening star., 1936-06-14
Naval Reserve Offers
Annapolis Opportunities
Local Battalion Now Enlisting Men Seeking
Appointments as Midshipmen
at Academy.

through, it appears improbable at this
time that there will be any legislation
changing the Naval Reserve organic
act of 1925.
However, extensive hearings have
been held on the changes Of the act,
and wide difference Of opinion has
been expressed by regular naval OFF,
GERS dealing with the Reserve and by
the Reserve officers. There also have
been some differences Of opinion
among the Reservists themselves.
The Reserve Association has been
making strong efforts to have Con-
gress establish In the Navy Depart
ment a separate organization to deal
with the Reserve, to have an assistant
secretary whose sole duties would be
to direct the affairs of the Reserve
On the other hand, the regular naval
officers oppose this, pointing out that
in time Of a national emergency,
which would require the calling Of the
members Of the Naval Reserve to ac-
tive duty, it would interfere with eff
cient mobilization as at that time all
operations would be directed by the
regular establishment. The Reservists
on the other hand, point out that the
War Department has a separate bu-
reau to operate the National Guard,
with a Guard oficer at its head. But
there Is no assistant Secretary Of War
for Reserves and National Guard. The
Reservists have contended that the
administration Of their affairs should
be in the hands of Naval Reserve
officer who knows the problems of this
contingent.
It was pointed out that an assistant
secretary for Naval Reserve would un-
doubtedly prove to be one more cog
in the wheel and would accomplish no
additional benefit to any one con-
cerned.
It was added that separate bureau
would emphasize differences after
years have been spent In an earnest
endeavor to minimize and amalga-
mate these differences. A separate
bureau, it was asserted, would entail
the application of two different ad-
ministrative methods for component
parts Of the same Navy. If separate
bureau in operation should recon-
mend something direct to the Secre-
tary of the Navy, who is secretary Of
the Naval Reserve as we'll as the regu-
lar establishment, that official un-
doubtedly would refer it to the chief
Of the bureau most nearly concerned
for comment and recommendation. 1t
was asserted that thus the final result
would be the same with additional
machinery to achieve it.
Another piece of legislation in which
the local ReserviSts are deeply inter-
ested and which probably will be
wiped of the slate with the closing
of the current Congress is that au-
thorizing funds for the erection Of an
armory here for the Naval and Ma
rine Corps ReservistS. This legisla-
ton has reached the hearing stage
in the House of Representatives, but
1t is not likely that it will reach the
floor in either House at the present
session.
III tIlS ul6dIlLlIil6 tllS lOtdA 1SCoCA FAoOo
will have to continue to drill in the
delapidated and unsatisfactory quar-
tiers. One unit drills in an old build
ing in the Washington Navy Yard,
several blocks from the water front.
while the other, the Marine Reserve
unit, drills in an old building pur-
chased by the District government as
a part of the site Of the proposed
Municipal Center.
The Reserve armory project has re-
ceived the approval of the comman-
dant of the Washington Navy Yard.
who is fully cognizant Of the handi-
cap under which the local Reservists
work in their weekly drills, and it also
has the support of heads Of naval bu-
reaus In the Navy Department and
Of the Secretary of the Navy. The
proposed building would cost in the
neighborhood of $500,000 and would
provide special features for the in
struction of Naval Reservists.