Evening star., 1936-05-31

- economy move WHICH reeuiCeu
4 n in the withdrawal Of their
destroyer here, with only a small
motor launch, the officers and men
of the First Battalion, United States
Naval Reserves in the District OF
Columbia, are hopeful that they will
\ receive one of the boats which are
to be turned over to the Navy by the
Coast Guard next month.
These vessels are constructed OF
steel, 100 feet in length and have twin
screws, driven by Diesel engines.
They were formerly used as patrol
boats during prohibition days by the
Coast Guard. 1t was pointed out by
officers of the local battalion that
boats of this size would permit more
than 80 men and officers from
the local divisions to make a week
end cruise at one time. 1t was added
that with the present launch 1t Is
practically impossible to give each
man of the three divisions one train
ing cruise a year during the few
months in the Summer when the
boat Is available.
With this type of vessel, it was
pointed out, each platoon of divi-
sion could go out every six weeks.
There is a heavy demand for use
of the motor launch, and officials
point out that the Government Is
losing a lot of valuable training, for
which the men volunteer to give up
their week ends without pay, by not
providing a larger vessel here. The
limitations on training aboard the
launch are such that only the mini
mum of naval activity can be carried
out. However, with a larger vessel,
1t was said, both officers and men
would be able to obtain valuable
training in the operating of the YES
sci In pilot waters and could carry
out a number of emergency drills on
small scale.
Up until the beginning of the de-
preston the reserviStS had destroyer
assigned here for training purposes,
and they received much training, al
though they did not take regular
week end trips, However, the bat
talon has been recruited up to full
strength since then and the training
work has been materially increased
to keep up with the rigid require
ments of the Navy Department and
the Inspection Board. While the
members of the Reserve receive much
valuable theoretical instruction in
their class rooms during the Sum-
mer months, officers point out that
they should be given the opportunity
to take full advantage OF the open
weather months to get practical train
- ing by cruises on the river and Cnesa-
peake Bay during the week ends. This
would be the only cruising ship train
ing they would receive during the
year except for the two weeks training
cruise aboard vessel in commission.
The battalion now is making prepa-
rations for the annual cruise which
will be made aboard destroyers of
the Atlantic training squadron. The
organization will be gone for two
weeks, and the mid-week liberty will
be given the officers and men at the
United States Naval Station at Guam
I tanamo, Cuba.
An intensive recruiting campaign
Is being planned by the Naval Com
munications Reserve division. COM
manded by Lieut.. J. H. Nicholson.
The organization is anxious to enroll
in its ranks qualified radiomen. either
technicians of any commercial radio
activity. radio amateurs and opera
tions of landline telegraph. Facili-
ties are provided by the division for
t,.tt, Af liy11it
Of inexperienced men.
It was pointed out that the Naval
Communication Reserve duplicates on
a modified scale the work of the regu-
lar Naval Communication Service for
the purpose of providing constant
training and exercise in the methods
of radio communication as standard
1zed by the Navy.
The Naval Inspection Board had a
word of high praise for the seamen
branch Of the local Reserve, particu-
larly the first and second class sea-
j. men. The boards report said that
these men were above average in
knowledge of knotting, splicing and
deck seamanship. The 1st Division,
1t added, was very good. On the other
hand, the board reported that the nom
rated men of the engineer force were
slightly below average in instruction
of fundamentals of marine engineer
ing.
The signal force, in general, the
board said, is average in proficiency.
Most Of the rated men, the members
said, require additional instruction in
one or more branches of signaling.
They found one man in the Its Fleet
Division who could take charge of a
signal watch at sea with little more
practice.
The radioman of the 1st Division
was found below average, due to lack
Of practice and instruction.
Discussing the armory, the board
pointed out that it is one floor with
basement. 1t is small for infantry
drill and not well arranged for class
rooms.
The attention of naval communi-
cation Reserve men has been called
to the fact that additional duty is
available at the Naval Air Station,
Anacostia, for all qualified radiomen
who desire to take advantage of the
same. This duty is for IA days with
pay, and it is planned to have two
groups, one to start on June and
the other on June is.
Communications men will be given
an opportunity to get in some sea-
S,sn y,ebin fhie Ct,p,y,,or ~ %hov rop
pull a good oar, according to an an
nouncement of the division COM
mander. He said that the battalion
Is attempting to obtain a few small
boats that can be sail-rigged and
used on Saturdays and Sundays for
short sails on the river for the pur-
pose of giving instruction in small
boat handling.
However, it was added, that as there
V-il1 he times when sllf71cient wind will