Evening star., 1936-04-05


~ Rear Admiral Joseph R. De-
4 \ frees. commandant Of the
Washington Navy Yard. and his staff,
officers and men of the lst Battalion,
United States Naval Reserves in the
District Of Columbia, feel that they
will make q good showing before the
United States Naval Inspection Board,
which will put them through their
annual tests on Monday night of next
week.
Assisting Admiral Defrees in the
inspection were Lieut.. Comdr. ]. r.
Sullivan, commanding the Receiving
Station in the navy yard; Lieut..
Comdr. L. S. Perry, officer in charge
Of the Seaman Guard at the navy
yard. Chief Boatswain w. 3. Goats,
U. S. NJ, inspected the deck platoons
in deck seamanship, knotting and
splicing. The inspecting party made
detailed comments on the results OF
the inspection.
Upon completion Of these prelimi-
nary tests, all of the battalion officers
held a critique in the armory, when
the written comments of the COM
mandant's inspection were studied in
detail in an effort to clear up all
matters in preparation for the annual
inspection. 1t was said that number
of factors which are considered by the
inspection board each year have
shown considerable improvement over
last year and the officers are hopeful
of winning much higher marks than
at any time in the past. Both drill
and cruise attendance, which are given
high consideration in the report OF
the inspection board, are distinctly
better than last year, the officers re-
ported.
Tomorrow night will be the final
drill night for a check-up before the
annual inspection and all of the
officers and petty officers, under the
direction of Lieut.. James e. Sullivan,
battalion commander, will thoroughly
examine every detail of the prepara-
tions so that there will be no pre-
liminaries necessary when the board
comes into the armory on the inspec-
ton night.
The 3rd Fleet Division of the lst
race for the admirals cup, a report
from the Battalion adjutant's office
revealed last week. The admiral's cup
is awarded each year to the division
attaining the highest drill attendance.
The cup was donated by group Of
Naval Reserve officers who are with
the United States Shipping Board.
The report further revealed that the
lst and End Divisions are running
a close race for second place.
Lieut.. 81. G. F. S. Kirk commands
the 3rd Division, with Lieut.. q. g.
w. C. Jennings as executive oficer
Platoon officers are Ensign W. r.
Fifer and Ensign j. S. Miller. Lieut.
81. g. M J. Gigy is also attached to
this division in the Engineering De-
partment.
Lieut.. q. g. ]. F. Carpenter COM
mands the 1st Division and Lieut.
j. B. Cleland, jr.. the End Division.
Individually, the enlisted personnel
Of the three divisions are having q
keen competition for the three medal;
awarded each year by group Of
Naval Reserve officers in the Shipping
Board for the best man in each divi-
sion. This award Is made without
regard to the rating Of the man, but
only on the basis Of his value to the
division.
Two enlisted men of the 3rd Fleet
Division have been ordered promoted
They are J. D. McGregor. promoted
from quartermaster, second class. tc
quartermaster, first class. and I. Abra-
movitz from seaman, first class, tc
coxswain.
Drills to be conducted aboard the
United States destroyer, Leary. as
signed temporarily to the use Of the
local Reserve battalion, and which /!
to arrive at the Washington Navy
Yard on April 20, will place emphasis
on that part Of the training which
can only be secured aboard regular
ship of the line. The divisions Of the
battalion will drill individually aboard
the Leary on Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday nights. The deck platoonS
will be given drills in the lowering ano
hoisting Of small boats, instruction ir
the handling of small boats, particu-
larly in coming alongside dock anc
other deck duties. The engineers will
hold drills in the engine and boiler
rooms of the destroyer, usually the
equipment there.
The Washington Chapter of the
United States Naval Reserve Oficers
Association is showing distinct gair
in membership, according to reports
from the local officers A meeting o.
the chapter is being planned after thu
annual inspection Of the local bat
talon. The association has recently
been engaged in furthering the in.
terests Of the battalion in the promo.
tion of the armory project.
Members of the body are expected tc
push with all the vigor possible, the
bills now in Congress authorizing
funds for the construction of q new
building in the Washington Navy
Yard, which is to be used as an armory
both for the Naval and Marine Corps
Reserve units. Both outfits now art
housed in the most unsatisfactory OF
buildings. having no facilities for the
proper training Of the personnel. In
fact, the structure in the Washington
Navy Yard was an old commercial
store building, and the drill hall, the
roof of which is leaky, is a lean-tc
which was constructed of wood along
two sides Of the brick building to pro-
vide for Red Cross activities during
the World War. 1t Is very expensive
to heat, and on extremely cold
weather, it Is necessary to abandon
drills and As the men only have one
drill week the loss Of one period
is serious from their viewpoint.
The Secretary Of the Navy has ad-
dressed special letters Of commenda-
ton to the following:
Lieut. q. g. Paul Jackson. 14th
Fleet Division. Saginaw, Mich, in