Evening star., 1936-11-22
CHANGES IN LAW
FOR RESERVE HIT
Citizen Sailors to Face Bat
tie on Some Pro-
posaIs.

Naval reserve proposals iol tlie
establishment of separate bureau in
the Navy Department to handle
Naval Reserve affairs are likely to re-
ceive severe battle marks from the
Navy Department II 1t is pushed in
the coming Congress, it was indicated
from remarks to the Reserve officers
made at a conference here by Rear
Admiral Adolphus Andrews. chief OF
the Naval Bureau of Navigation.
Admiral Andrews gave many rea-
sons why such a plan would be in
effective from the standpoint OF the
main purpose Of the Navy Of keeping
the regular naval establishment and
the Reserve in the highest state Of
efficiency for mobilization in the
event Of a national emergency.
Considering the experience of the
United States Navy during the World
War of administering a total force of
$4,000 men, he said pointedly. it is
not admitted that 1t requires any
superhuman efforts for the ad-
ministration of this relatively small
number Of men in peace time Ac-
cording to the admiral no one seems
to have suggested a separate Naval
Reserve administration for war.
The Naval Reservists. through their
national association, urged this change
in the Naval Reserve act at the last
session of Congress. They want a bu-
reau in the Navy Department similar
to the National Guard Bureau in the
War Department As the latter is
headed by a National Guard ofiicer Of
general rank. they want a Reserve
of1icer of nag rank for the proposed
naval bureau.
Admiral Andrews said once It Is
thoroughly understood. that the feet
comes first in all naval activities. other
considerations are simplified. For ex-
ample. he added. II it be recognized
that the morale and efficiency of~the
Regular Navy personnel who man the
fleet must come first, it is not logical
to have separate administration for
Naval Reserves, whose efficiency and
morale must be secondary to that Of
the Regular Navy. The Bureau OF
Navigation head argued to the Re-
servists that If an Assistant Secretary
of the Navy can increase the effective
ness of the Naval Reserves why should
not there be an Assistant Secretary Of
the Navy for the regular personnel.
He indicated only chaos would re-
suit from such a condition, and added
every effort in peace time should be to
the end that when an emergency
comes the Navy will be able on
mobilization day to use effectively its
Regular and Reserve forces and to
strike the enemy Immediately. To In
sure this. he said, it Is vital that both
Regular and Reserve sections be ad-
ministered as q whole under one
head.
1t was made plain also to the Re-
serve officers the department did not
look with favor on the promotion OF
Naval Reserve officers in great num-
bers to high rank, including that OF
admiral 1t was pointed out there
| are many Regular officers of the
grade of captain and commander who
have been retired for lack Of vacancies
and who have the experience for serv-
| ice with the fleet in time of emergency
It was argued the services of these
officers should be used rather than to
promote civilians to flag and captain
rank when they have had so little
experience.
Attention was called captains and
commanders who are passed over fol
promotion are all fitted for higher
rank, but due to the restricted mum.
ber of high-rank billets available ir
the Regular establishment only the
best fitted or qualified can be pro.
NOTED to fill the few vacancies
They were told all high command.
needed in war are organized ane
actually exist in time of peace, anc
for that reason there will be no greai
demand for high-ranking Naval Re.
serve officers. However, 1t was sale
Reserve officers of the rank of captain
and commander will be needed in the
administration Of shore establishments
and the merchant marine, but there
seems to be no need for Naval Reserve
officers with flag rank. Furthermore
the creation Of large numbers Of cap
tains and commanders would affec,
the morale of the regular Navy ad.
versely and should not be proposed te
Congress.
Indications were made that the pro-
posals of the Reserve officers were no1
backed by a showing that increased
efficiency would result to the nava
fighting machine. OF all the pro-
posals, Admiral Andrews, said there
are none which illustrates Just how
these officers would work and JUS
how it would improve the eficiencI
of the Naval Reserve or Of the whole
naval service.
Furthermore, the Reservists must p'
prepared to take cut in their budget
and the Reserve, when time comes u
get appropriations, must let the Regu'
lar establishment get the greater shar'
because of the necessity Of keeping tn
fighting machine at the top notch II
efficiency. It was pointed out to tn
Reserve officers that 1t will becom
increasingly more dificult to secur'
approval Of expenditures which d
not show positive advantage towar'
naval efficiency. They were warne'
that any proposal requiring consider
abls expeudttures of money tor aceaN