Evening star., 1936-03-08
Rep. Mas to Inspect
Local Naval Reserve
Minnesota Congressman Is Member of Naval
Affairs Committee and Colonel in
Marine Corps Reserve

~ IlCl0 &uCoOny AllSAG ny tilc lSt
~ Battalion, United States Naval
4 n Reserves in the District of
Columbia, at the Armory in the Wash
ington Navy Yard. The organization
will be put through its PAGES for the
benefit of Representative Melvin j.
Mas of Minnesota, colonel in the
United States Marine Corps Reserve.
He also is a member of the House
Naval Affairs Committee and men,
Der of the subcommittee now consider
ing proposed changes in the Naval
Reserve law. He also is president of
the Marine Corps Reserve Ohicers'
Association. During the World War
he rendered distinguished service over
seas as a member of the aviation
branch of the Marine Corps.
Col. Mas has always been a stanch
supporter Of the Naval Reserve and is
well versed in Naval Reserve activities.
Last year he made personal tour
of the South and West, visiting a
large number of Naval Reserve units
to get the view of officers on needs OF
the service. Previously he has in
spected number of units OF the Re-
serve on the East Coast.
The inspection will follow the same
lines as that conducted by the regular
board Of officers from the Navy De-
partment. The purpose of these pre-
liminary tests is to ascertain any
defects that the organization may
have and correct them in detail prior
to the time selected for the board to
make its annual visit.
Only a few more drill nights remain
to prepare for these annual tests. The
board has selected April 13 as the
night for conducting the inspections
here and officers and men are dill
gently applying themselves to the task
Of perfecting their training in the
hope of raising their marks Of last
year. What they lack in facilities for
training they are trying to make up in
the manner Of performing their duty,
and Lieut.. ]. E. Sullivan, commander
of the battalion, Is using every minute
to bring them to high state of
efficiency.
It was asserted that what the local
Reservists need more than anything
else at this time is an armory. Their
project, which now is before the Presi-
dent OF the United States, was given
the support during the week of the
Association of the Oldest Inhabitants
of the District of Columbia. 1t was
said that other organizations have
voted their support to the project, the
preliminary plans for which already
have been drawn and provide for a
building ON the Anacostia waterfront
in the southeast corner of the Wash
ington Navy Yard.
The proposed building. in addition
to providing full facilities for bat
talon Naval Reserve, would have pro-
vision for housing the United States
Marine Corps Reserve Regiment here.
which also is hampered in its training
work by poor facilities.
In a letter to the association. Ensign
F. w. Lemly said that while the Navy
Department is lending hearty moral
support to the movement, they have,
so far, refused to lend their support
toward obtaining funds with which to
start building construction. In fact,
they have refused to allow this item
to appear in their requests for ap-
preparations for their shore estab-
lishments."
The armory was needed, the letter
said, "for training local organizations,
and for immediate mobilization in the
event a national emergency should
necessitate such action"
In addition to an armory the local
Reservists are sadly lacking in train
ing facilities af1oat, it was pointed
out. They have now a small launch
which is taxed to capacity each week
end during the Summer months. Each
week men desiring to take training
cruise have to be turned down be-
cause OF the limitations. 1t was said
that if Q larger vessel were assigned
here, enough men could be found each
week who would be willing to take
this training without pay.
1t was indicated that the Reserve
officers desire the assignment of a
boat here which would be under their
command. so that they could develop
in the officers and men that respon-
sibility which would attach them
should they be called into the regular
service in time of a national emer-
gency. Under such a plan the boat
would be manned entirely by Naval
Reserve personnel. and they would not
have regular naval officers aboard to
advise them on what to do.
There are available, it was said.
some 300-foot Coast Guard patrol
boats, which the local officers say
would make ideal training ships for
weekend cruises of the Reserve, and
would serve to keep them in a high
state OF efficiency for the annual
training cruises which are taken
aboard a destroyer.
incidentally, the United States de-
stroyer Leary of the Atlantic Training
Squadron is scheduled to arrive here
next month for stay of two or three
months. 1t will be berthed at the
Washington Navy Yard, and each drill
night a division of the battalion will
be required to drill aboard her in
preparation for their duties at sea on
the annual training cruise.
While the battalion for several