Evening star., 1936-06-21

THE lst Battalion. United States
Naval Reserves in the District
of Columbia, will be increased
u in strength by 80 enlisted men,
beginning on July /, it was announced
at the battalion headquarters here
this week. This will be a part of the
increase allowed for Naval Reserve
divisions throughout the country by
the additional appropriations which
Congress made for use during the
coming fiscal year by the Reserve
contingents. The size of the fleet
divisions, 1t might be explained. is
limited by the appropriations which
Congress allows each year for pay,
as each officer and enlisted man re-
ceives one days pay for each drill
he participates in, up to certain
maximum which is fixed by the Navy
Department.
The Reservists for several years
have been urging an increase in the
size of the Naval Reserve divisions,
pointing out that more men should
be trained for this branch of the
service in time of peace. Because
of the highly technical nature of
service aboard ships Of the feet it
has been pointed out that these men
cannot be trained for sea duty as
readily as men in the various branches
Of the Army.
The Naval Reserve Officers As
sociation sought an increase of 20
men for each division and made
strong bid in Congress for this num-
Der. but the legislators did not see fit
at this time to provide such a large
increase. Even with this increase, it
was indicated, there will be little op-
portunity for new men to join the
as the vacancies will be
filled by members of the Volunteer
Naval Reserve now drilling with the
fleet divisions. The members of the
volunteer branch of the Reserve are
not required to participate in weekly
drills, and do not receive pay, but If
they are interested they are permitted
to drill with the active units with a
view to a transfer to them in the
event of vacancies. The local
divisions are practically filled up with
men of this class now. In filling the
the selections are made
from men who have shown enough
to give their time freely with
the idea of fitting themselves for
service. although they do not receive
any of the privileges of the Fleet
Reservists-that is, they are not per-
mitted to take the annual cruise un-
less there is a fleet Reservist who
does not go.
Rear Admiral Adolphus Andrews.
chief of the Bureau of Navigation of
the Navy Department, sent orders
which were received at the local bat
TALON headquarters last week an
nouncing the authority to increase
the size of the divisions. The present |
quota of the divisions Is 56 men, and
an increase will give 66 enlisted men
for each division.
Lieut.. (J. c. e. c. Carusi, adjutant
Of the local battalion, announced that |
members Of the Volunteer Reserve who |
have been drilling regularly with the
three District divisions and members
Of the recruit school shortly will be
to a Fleet Reserve status
to fill the vacancies made by the
increase. Activities of the
recruit school will be continued on
each Monday evening at the Naval
Reserve Armory in the WASHINGTON
Navy Yard, at 8 o'clock, under the d.
rection of the recruiting officer, En-
sign H. w. Lamar, to consider an
plications Of men between the ages
Of II and 20 years for enlistment in
the battalion.
The Bureau of Navigation has fur
her ordered that the number of au-
,horized drills of feet divisions for
he fiscal year beginning July /, 1885,
will be 4S. No drills will be held dur
ng the weeks in which THANKSGIVING
md Christmas days fall. Neither are
lrills authorized during the period in
which the local battalion will make
Is two-week prescribed annual train
ng duty at sea.
The commanding officer of the 1st
'leet Division, Lieut.. q. g. w. Croft
ennings, has received q letter from
;apt. r. Z. Cassidy, U. s. NJ, COM
nander of Destroyer Squadron 10, Of
he Scouting Forces Training Squad
on, aboard the U. s. destroyer Jacob
ones, flagship Of the squadron, an
ounced that the 1st Division Of
will make its training
i