Evening star., 1936-02-09
ILIGENT preparations are b.

men OF the 1st Battalion,
United States Naval Reserve
in the District of Columbia, for the
annual inspection, the date for which
has been definitely set for April 13. it
was announced by Lieut.. James E. Sui
livan, commander of the local bat
talon.
While the officers and men are striv-
ing for first place, they will not be
seriously disappointed II they do not
make it this year. The battalion COM
missioned personnel is largely made
up of young officers and they have
been trying for several years to build
up an efficient outfit out of what they
found when they were placed in
authority. There are so many details
to be worked out before perfection is
obtained that the officers and men
realize that they cannot compete for
first place with other organizations
which have not been through the
problems which have faced the local
outfit.
As adjunct to the regular division
training, the battalion at frequent in
tervals is being put through rehearsal
inspection such as they will receive at
the hands of the regular board from
the Navy Department. The inspec-
tions are being made by regular officers
and are just as strict as the members
of the board will require. After each
rehearsal the DIVISION officers are re-
quired to confer over the inspection to
ascertain the defects and then to take
diligent steps to correct them before
the time Of the annual inspection.
1t was announced by Lieut.. Sullivan
that there will be two more rehearsal
inspections before the time set for the
annual tests before the board from the
Navy Department. BY that time it
is expected that the organization will
be in high state Of perfection.
The local Reservists, however, are
somewhat hampered in their training
work by the lack of adequate armory
facilities and training ship. The Or
ganizations which usually pass with
high marks have facilities consider
ably better, it was said, than the local
| outfit, although the latter is located at
the seat Of Government. However, the
officers and men work right ahead
with what is given them and make the
best Of it. at the same time keeping up
their efforts to have an adequate
armory and suitable training ship
here.
All Of the ship-training facilities
available to the local men are make
shifts erected in the armory by the
officers and enlisted men. They even
have a fire and engine room in the
basement of the old building where
instruction is given the men who
handle this important phase of naval
work. For abandoned ship and other
emergency drills they are compelled
to use a ship outlined painted on the
small and inadequate drill hall floor.
Their practical instruction with real
ship material is confined almost exclu-
sively to the two weeks of training
they receive aboard a ship at sea.
During the interim between these
cruises the work is largely theoretical
and in the class room.
Another foreign cruise is in prospect
for the local Naval Reservists, it was
learned last week. While no definite
word has been received as to where it
will be held, it is understood that
Bermuda and Nassau are being con-
sidered as possible destinations for
the mid-cruise liberty.
This years cruise is expected to be
a destroyer cruise, the entire battalion
having been taken to sea last year
aboard d battleship. However, it was
indicated that the three feet divisions
composing the battalion would be
taken out at one time, together with
the three divisions from Balti-
more, Md.
Whereas, heretofore, it has been the
practice to send two divisions on each
destroyer. 1t was said that it is con-
/ templated this year to send only one
division on a destroyer This will
relieve the crowded conditions which
usually prevail when two divisions are
taken on ship of this type, and also
will give the Reserve officers and men
more responsibility in their various
duties.
It is expected also that the cruise
will be held in July. With a Summer
date for the cruise set and the fact
that it will be foreign cruise it is
expected that each division will be
represented 100 per cent. The men
find it easier to get leave from their
civilian occupations when the regular
vacation periods are in effect, and the
men show more interest in trying to
obtain the necessary leave when there
is q prospect of their going to a foreign
station for their mid-cruise liberty.
A cruise to Bermuda or the Ba-
hamas on small ship, 1t was pointed
out, will give the battalion members
some real sea-going experience and
will test their abilities as sailormen.
It Is probable that a definite an
nouncement of the date and destina-
ton will be made in a short time. or
just as soon as the department can
make the necessary arrangements Of
( schedules Of the vessels selected to
take the reservists on the training
| cruises.
The temporary appointment Of Chief
Gunner's Mate Frank C. White, Sd
Fleet Division, has been made per-
manent. White is veteran member
of the battalion, and in civil life is a
member of the Metropolitan Police
| Force. Several years ago he was