Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-11-08
THE need for increasing the pres
/ ent strength of the Naval Re-
serve units throughout the

country was stressed py SeCIe-
tary Of the Navy Claude A. Swanson
In his annual report, which was re-
leased for publication today.
"A strong and well-trained Naval
Reserve is essential to the readiness OF
the Navy for major emergencies" said
Secretary Swanson in his report.
1.-THE present force shows great capa-
bility and zeal, but needs to be
strengthened in numbers. Increased
funds and facilities to provide for the
training of Reserve personnel afloet
and ashore are urgently needed"
Oficers of the local battalion Of
Naval Reservists viewed this recon-
mendation with much satisfaction, as
they, with other officers Of the Naval
Reserve Officers' Association Of the
United States, have been urging an
increase for several years, and they
believe that with this active support
by the Secretary of the Navy that
some efforts might be made to con-
vince the next Congress Of the need
for appropriating additional funds for
the enlargement Of the personnel and
80, training. Although the Reserve
dlvNarys here and throughout the
country were increased by 10 men
each this year, 1t was pointed out
that Congress had been urged to pro-
vide for an addition of 20 enlisted men
to each division.
The size Of the active drilling units,
known as the Fleet Reserve, Is limited
by the amount of funds available for
pay purposes Each officer and man
of this unit receives days pay OF
his grade for each weekly drill at
tended, and the number Of drills Is
limited. Also the amount of money
available limits the size of the di-
visions for the reason that the ON
GERS and men have to be paid the rates
Of pay Of their respective grades dur
ing the two weeks they are at sea on
feet vessels for training purposes.
Under increased funds for facilities
would be the provision of vessels for
the Reservists to take weekend train
ing cruises and money with which to
pay for subsistence and fuel for oper-
alton Of the vessels. The local Re-
servists for more than three years
have been without a satisfactory
cruising vessel for training purposes,
having had to confine their activities
to small launch. which permits each
man to get about one trip for train
ing purposes during the Summer
months. In the Winter time the train
ing has to be confined to armory work,
as the vessel has to be hauled out Of
the water to protect it from damage
by ice.
Furthermore there is need for funds
with which to provide training for
serve and the merchant marine class.
The former is made up largely of off,
GERS whose civilian employment fits
them for some special duty which
would make them valuable assets for
the Navy in time of War. However,
no funds are provided to give them
training to indoctrinate them into the
methods of the naval service, and there
would be delay to do this when they
are modified and called into the
service in time of a national emer-
gency. There also has been complaint
that the officers of the merchant ma
rine reserve, who are men actively
engaged in following the sea on mer-
chant ships, which will be taken over
by the Navy in time of war. Although
they are trained seamen and navi-
gators, it was pointed out that they
would also have to be trained in fol-
lowing the naval procedure for oper-
ating ships in formation in time of
national emergency, yet no funds are
provided either for training them
either ashore or af1oat.
In the case of volunteer naval Off
GERS. the department does provide
facilities, in many instances, for them
to make cruises aboard vessels of the
feet, and some of them take advantage
of it. On the other hand, there are
others who have the time but are not
financially able to take advantage of
these opportunities, as they not only
must provide for their transportation
to and from the ports of embarkation
and debarkation, but they must meet
their mess and other expenses while
aboard ship. While aboard ship they
are expected to perform the same
duties as officers of the active Reserve,
who receive pay for this duty.
The Secretary also pointed out that
detailed studies have been made dur
ing the past year with view to rec
ommending remedial legislation for the
organization and administration of an
adequate Naval Reserve. He said that
the Naval Reserve act of 1925 was in
general excellent legislation and its
basic principles remain UNCHANGED,
put certain minor defects have become
evident during the 10 years of Naval
Reserve administration under its pro-
visions.
He calls attention to the fact that
q special board appointed to study
the matter has completed two re-
ports, and that on the basis of
these reports the Bureau of Naviga-
lion, IN conjunction with the Judge
Advocate Generals Once, has pre-
pared tentative draft of legislation
covering the naval reserve act.
Reserve officers are anxiously await
80 w ooSSA soAh Juoe W2idb Vic tcT1lS
of this legislation are, as many Of
them have put forth decided views on
the matter, one of the most important
Of which is the proposal to establish
Naval Reserve division in the Navy
Department as q separate Office, I'M
der the direction of an assistant Sec
Rotary Of the Navy for Reserve. The
plan, except as to a special assistant
secretary for this branch, is similar
to that in the War Department, where
a separate unit administers National
Guard affairs, under a National
Guard officer who Is appointed to the
Office for four-year term.
The regular officers, it was said,
strongly oppose such provision for
the Naval Reserve, pointing out that
the conditions in the Navy are quite
different from the relations between
the War Department and the Ma
tional Guard. The National Guard,
$hav y.ointad AFT IL largely q State