Evening star., 1936-08-30
IEUT. COMDR. MARK H.
CROUTER, United States Navy,

1EUT. COMOR. M A n X H.
CROUTER, United States Navy,
who for nearly two years has
- served in the washington Navy
Yard as of1,cer in charge of Naval Re-
serve affairs and inspector-instructor
Of the LIST Battalion Of Fleet Re-
serves, was the guest of honor at q
dinner Thursday night which was
rendered by the oficers Of local re-
serve. Comdr. Crouter has received
orders detaching him from this duty
and has been ordered to report aboard
the U. 8. g. Enterprise. new Navy
plane carrier now under construction
at Newport News, Va, and to duty
aboard as chief engineer when COM
missioned. He Is scheduled to leave
Washington next month. His relief
here to guide the local Naval Reservists
has not yet been announced.
Comdr. Crouter has been connected
with Naval Reserve affairs here and
the lst Battalion activities for little
more than q year and has been one
of the most popular ofiicers from the
regular establishment to serve with
the local unit, according to the Reserve
officers. They say that he has been
most helpful to the Washington con-
tingent In meeting their problems and
has contributed considerably to their
progress. He has been particularly
active with the unit In their campaign
for an appropriation with which to
construct . new armory to take the
place Of the present dtlaptdated build
ing now used at the Washington Navy
Yard. The dinner Thursday night.
according to the local Reserve ofncers.
was farewell token Of appreciation
for his conspicuous work and service
on behalf Of the citizen sailors.
Orders were published at the regular
battalion drill last Tuesday evening
promoting the commanding officers of
two Of the three Washington feet di-
visions to higher rank. LieutS Uunior
gradel W. c. Jennings and p. S. Kirk
were both advanced TO the rank OF
lieutenant as Of that date.
Lieut., Jennings IS . graduate Of the
Navy Academy. class Of 1877. and COM
mand,ng oc,cer Of the lst Fleet Di-
vision. In private life he Is attached
to the Department Of Justice, where
he serves as special assistant to the
Attorney General. Lieut.. Jennings
came to Washington from the Naval
Reserve unit in Detroit and served as
executive oficer of the 3rd Fleet Di-
vision before taking over his present
command.
Lieut.. Kirk also is a graduate OF
the Naval Academy, in the class OF
1927, and now has command of the
Sd Fleet Division. Lieut.. Kirk has
been with the battalion for a number
of years. having transferred to WASH
ington from the Baltimore Battalion,
where he was attached to the staff
of the battalion adjutant. He serves
as inspector of engineering materials,
Ordnance Department. Washington
Navy Yard. Lieut.. Kinks division
had the distinction Of winning the
Admirals Cup for the best drill at
tendance in the local battalion last
year.
With these promotions, the three
Washington divisions are now all
commanded by lieutenants. Lieut..
John Cleland has command of the
I'd Fleet Division. Lieut.. q. g.
Eugene G. Carusi, battalion adjutant,
has recently been selected for ad-
vancement to lieutenant and will
shortly take his professional exami-
nations.
The drill schedule for the month
Of September, just issued by the bat