Evening star., 1936-09-20

nu shown by the 1st Battalion,
v United States Naval Reserves,
4 in the District Of Columbia
this year over last, as indicated by the
report Of the regular Naval Inspection
Board which put the local outfit
through a series of tests early in the
Spring. The report, just received at
the Naval Reserve headquarters in
the Washington Navy Yard, put the
Washington battalion Of Naval Reserv-
lists in seventeenth place for the fiscal
year ending in June. The comments
of the inspection board reveal that the
local unit has shown consistent, pro-
gressive improvement. moving from
thirty-f1rst place in 1888 to twenty
sixth place in 1894 and now to seven
teenth place. There are So feet bat
talions Of Reservists in the United
States. The Washington battalion
was ahead Of the neighboring bat
talon in Baltimore, which placed
twenty ninth this year.
The report of the board submitted
to the Secretary Of the Navy by Capt.
r. w. Mathewson, U. s. NJ, president
of the board, further shows that the
three local feet divisions, comprising
the 1st Battalion, made a definite i'm
provement in all respects. The I'd
Fleet Division. under the command Of
Lieut.. John Cleland, led the local di-
visions in sixty-first place, while the
Sd and lst Fleet Divisions were in sew
enty-fourth and seventy seventh place,
respectively. Last year the I'd Division
also was leading the Washington di-
visions with the 30th and 1st Divisions
in relative position. There are 148
feet divisions in the United States.
Factors used in making up the rela-
tive efficiency standings Of battalions
and divisions include inspection at
tendance, cruise attendance, general
drills, instruction, turnover and drill
attendance. The general effect is to
emphasize drill attendance and pro-
flciency in drills.
Battalion officers give much Of the
credit for the improved standing to
the untiring efforts of the battalion
commander, Lieut.. James E. Sullivan.
Lieut.. Sullivan, the other officers point
out, has brought the battalion from
thirty-first place when he assumed
command in 1888 to its present posi-
ton of seventeenth place in the short
period Of three years. Prior to taking
command Of the battalion in 1888
Lieut.. Sullivan was commanding Of
ficer Of the Sd Fleet Division, one Of
the crack divisions Of the battalion.
Following one Of the recommenda-
tions contained in the report Of the
Inspection Board, that armory train
ing be continued with emphasis on
the instruction of officers and en-
listed men, the more exact execution
Of such drills as the general quarters
battle problem, and the training Of
officers and petty officers In their
prospective mobilization duties, the
office of the battalion commander now
Is putting the finishing touches on
new system of class room instruc-
tion, which Is expected to be one Of
the finest used in the United States
and which local officers are hopeful
will bring the local battalion nearer
the top in the inspection next year.
Due to the large number of classes
needed for the instruction of the bat
talon, the plan provides for the use
OF number of volunteer officers now
drilling with the battalion in pay
less status. The plan further pro-
vides for the use of smaller classes,
so that enlisted men will be given
the opportunity of receiving more in
dividual attention in their training
than 1T has been possible to give them
in the past.
The plan hinges IN the idea of
bringing the battalion to peak ef-
ficiency before the annual inspection
II held next year. The date for this
inspection has been tentatively set for
April a., 1887.
The Naval Communication Reserve
Division held q buffet supper in the
armory last Monday night.
Last Thursday was the first day Of
the national over-the-air competition
for these units for the year ls36-1s37.
Lieut.. Comdr. M. II. Crouter, U. 8. N,
inspector-instructor Of the local Re-
serves, has accepted the invitation to
act Is the representative Of the officers
In presenting the cup award to Unit 2
Of this division for winning the local
competition last year.
Efforts are being made to arrange
the drill schedule for this division
this year to suit the time Of the
majority Of the men, and they have
been asked to make suggestions on the
following points:
Should Thursday night be the reg
ular drill night? Should two regular
drill periods week be provided for
naval and military training, including
Infantry drill? Should over-the-air
drills be held at the regular time on
Sunday mornings or ut other periods?
Should all units drill together, or sep
arately? Should the instruction pro-
gram be expanded to include radio
materielsf Should arrangements be
made with adjacent districts to par
ticipate IN their over.the-air drillai