Evening star., 1936-09-06
from a sea voyage for two

after life aboard destroyers of
L the United States Atlantic
Fleet, the officers and men of the
lst Battalion. United States Naval
Reserves. of the District of Columbia,
appeared at their best before their
new commapdant, Rear Admiral
George Pettengill. United States Navy,
at the armory Tuesday night. Ad-
miral Pettengill has just assumed his
new duties as commandant of the
Washington Navy Yard and the Re-
serves of this area come under his
jurisdiction.
It Is the first opportunity Admiral
Pettengill has had to see this com.
mand, as the local citizen sailors were
on their annual cruise at the time he
assumed command of the local yard
He has expressed keen interest in
the affairs of the Washington citizen
sailors. according to the officers, and
best when 1t was marched onto the
drill floor for review.
When Admiral Pettengill appeared
at the entrance to the armory he was
''piped" into the armory, as he would
have been had he come up the gang
way of batleship, and the local
sailors performed this duty without
q flaw, having just returned from the
sea, where they had real practice in
this important naval ceremony. Fol-
lowing an inspection of the personnel
of the battalion, the three fleet divi-
sions were put through various ma
neuvers and emergency drills, includ-
ing demonstrations OF manual of arms
and infantry.
Admiral Pettengill had command
of the End Battleship Division OF
the Battle Force, United States Fleet,
with his flag aboard the battleship
Arizona. before coming to Washing
ton to take charge Of the Naval Gun
Factory. He Is holder of the Navy
Cross. with two citations, and has
recently been decorated by the gov
ernment Of China.
The following promotions have been
announced by the Navy Department
for local battalion officers: Lieuts.
q. g. w. C. Jennings and F. S.
Kirk, to be lieutenants, and Ensign
John w. Shultz, to be an assistant
paymaster in the Supply Corps, with
the rank of lieutenant Gunior grade)
Lieut.. Jennings, graduate of the
Naval Academy in 1927, is command
ing officer Of the 1st Fleet Division.
Lieut. Shultz is the battalion supply
officer and had held that duty for
the past five years. He has one of
the longest records with the battalion,
having first become associated with it
following the World War. He is con-
nected with the United States Ship
ping Board.
The battalion recruiting officer has
announced that two vacancies exist in
the battalion for young men between
the ages of II and 2s who have had
experience in tipping and stenographic
work. Applicants should apply to the
Naval Reserve Armory, Ensign H
Arthur Lamar, recruiting officer, or
Tuesday at pm. The Recruiting
School, which is also now handling
the large class Of Naval Academy
candidates. Is drilling on Tuesday
evenings with the battalion.
Changes in the naval reserve act
to improve the efficiency and training
Of this branch of the service probably
will be pressed before the coming
Congress. no progress toward legisla-
ton having been made at the last
Congress. One Of the important
matters is that of providing funds
with which to give training to the
Volunteer Naval Reservists and par
ticularly the merchant marine Re-
serve men, the latter serving as off,
GERS aboard the merchant ships flying
the United States flag.
The naval board which has studied
the matter reported that in spite OF
its importance to the national defense
the merchant marine Reserve is the
most neglected class of the Naval
Reserves. No funds have ever beer
appropriated for training this class
It is estimated that about two-thirds
of the commercial tonnage of the
United States will be taken over anc
operated by the Navy in time of war
In accordance with the basic shipping
policy, the Navy Department ha.
shown some concern in the develop
ment Of the merchant marine, with {
view of providing ships for the Nava
Transportation Service, but the inter.
est heretofore has been principal,
the considerations of the materia
questions rather than personnel prob
lems.
1t was asserted that the liaison be