Evening star., 1936-05-24
rHE Third Fleet Division Of the
First Battalion, United States
Naval Reserves, in the District


naval officers at an inspection held at
the armory in the Washington Navy
Yard last Monday night.
Prior to the presentation, which
was made by Admiral William H.
Standley, U. 8. Navy, chief of naval
operations and acting Secretary of
the Navy, the naval official conducted
. formal inspection Of the battalion.
He headed the group of naval officers
who witnessed the formal inspection
and review Of the organization. He
also presented gold merit medals to
the enlisted man in each Of the three
divisions for meritorious services in
the interest Of the divisions.
Oficers attending the inspection in
cluded. ip addition to Admiral Stand
ley, Rear Admiral Adolphus Andrews,
U. 8. N, chief Of the Bureau Of Navi-
CATION; Rear Admiral Joseph R. De-
frees. U. 8. N. commandant Of the
Washington Navy Yard; Capt. w. o.
Spears, U. S. N, director Of naval re-
serve affairs Of the Navy Department;
Capt. John A. Schofield, U. S. Naval
Reserve, materiel offlcer; Capt. How
ard @. Copeland. U. S. Naval Reserve,
attached to the Bureau Of Navigation;
Lieut. Comdr. L. S. Perry. U. S. N,
aide to Admiral Defrees: Lieut.. Comdr.
M H. Crouter. U. S. Navy, oficer in
charge of naval reserve affairs in this
city and inspector instructor Of the
local battalion, and Lieut.. A. D. Ay-
rault, U. S. N, aide to Admiral Stand
ley. All of the guest officers were
"piped over the side" in traditional
navy style and the ofiicers Of flag
rank ssluted with fiourishes on the
bugle.
Admiral Standley presented the cup
to Lieut.. g. G. F. S. Kirk, command
ing oficer of the Third Fleet Division.
This large silver cup was donated to
the battalion by group Of naval re-
serve ofiicers employed in the United
States Shipping Board, and is awarded
annually to the division attaining the
highest average for drill and training
cruise attendance during the preced-
ing IL months.
The Third Fleet Division, 1t was
announced, attained an average of
886 per cent this year. with the Sec
ond and Third Fleet Divisions plac-
ing in the order named. The average
for the entire battalion was 863.
The First Fleet Division won the
cup last year with an average Of
1913 per cent.
Admiral STANDBY pinned the gold
merit medals on the following en-
listed men: James Franko, chief
water tender, OF the First Division;
H. L. Barnstead. chief storekeeper, of
the Second Fleet Division. and r. P.
Fleet, fireman, third class, Of the
Third Fleet Division. These medals
are awarded annually to the man in
each division who has contributed
most to the efficiency and welfare Of
the division during the year. The
medals are given to the battalion by
the same group Of Naval Reserve Of
ficers who donated the Admirars cup.
The guest officers reviewed the work
Of the battalion in the manual of
arms and infantry drills and various
divisions were selected to carry out a
battle problem, abandon ship drill,
collision drill and fire drill. The on
GERS also were taken on an inspec-
ton tour of the armory, and were
shown first hand just how. the local
citizen sailors are receiving their
training under the most adverse con-
ditions in an old building which was
built for o commercial establishment.
Before leaving. Admiral STANDBY
addressed the battalion and expressed
himself as being very well pleased
with the efficiency and good appear
ance Of the battalion officers and
men and complimented them on the
high caliber Of the training work
which they were performing. The ad-
miral further pointed out the i'm
portance OF the Navy to the Naval
Reserve and the position and duties
of the Naval Reserve in the time of
. national emergency.
Last Mondays inspection probably
will be the last which Admiral De-
frees. commandant Of the Washington
yard, will witness during his present
tour Of duty in Washington as he is
being detached from the Navy Yard
during the first week in June, when
he will assume command Of the sub
marine force with the U. s. 8. Bush
nell as his flagship.
Admiral Defrees in a few farewell
remarks praised the officers and men
Of the battalion for the progress which
they have shown and said that he
would be pleased to have the Wash
ington battalion serve under his COM
mand in the time of national emer-
gency" During his tour of duty in
Washington, Admiral Defrees has
shown a marked interest in the affairs
OF the local battalion and contributed
a great deal to the welfare of the bat
talon.
Two Of the candidates from the local
battalion for admission to the Naval
Academy through the Naval Reserve
qualified among the first five from the
group Of men who took the examina-
tions all over the United States in
April. according to report just re-
ceived at the local battalion headquar-
ters.
Richard L. Cochrane led the group
Of candidates. winning first place in
the United States. while John p. Spears
attained NTH place, the results of the
examinations revealed. Both men will
enter the United States Naval Acad-
emy this year. Cockrane is q son Of
Comdr. Edward L. Cochrane, U. s.
Navy, 311o Thirty-third place, and
Spears Is q son Of Capt. w. o. Spears,
U. s. Navy, 1881 Blagden avenue.
Spears and Cochrane enlisted In the
Washington Battalion in June, 1885,
and served as apprentice seamen. Sew
eral other candidates from the Wash
ington Battalion also will be appointed
to the Naval Academy.