Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-11-15
Jewell ATTENDS
RESERVE FARLEY
Local Battalion Officer As
signed to Navy Con.
ference.

mander Of the LIST Battalion, United
States Naval Reserves In the District
of Columbia, to represent that organi-
cation at the conferences being held at
the Navy Department on matters af-
fecting the Naval Reserve. 1t was said
that the local representative was sent
more or less as an observer, as no
definite recommendations have been
formulated either by the local battal-
ion or the local chapter Of the United
States Naval Reserve Officers' Asso-
citation for presentation to the group
of Regular officers and a number from
the Reserve throughout the country,
who have been called here to discuss
the question. particularly impending
legislation.
Although all phases Of Naval Re-
serve problems. both from the Re-
serve and the Regular Navy stand
point, will be discussed, one Of the
prime purposes Of the conference Is
to discuss proposed legislation to
amend the Naval Reserve act Of 1925
to correct certain deficiencies which
have been brought out in its practical
administration. A board Of officers
has made thorough study Of the
law and has made certain findings
which will be thoroughly threshed out.
1t was said that although the or.
ganic act was a great factor in har.
monizing the existing conflicting ele-
ments at the time of its passage, GER
tain minor defects have become evil
dent during the years Of Naval Re-
serve administration under its provi-
sions.
1t was asserted that some Of the
laws applying to the Naval Reserve
do not differentiate between the two
classes OF Fleet Reserve in the trans
ferred class and the enrolled civilian
component. This, it was said. often
leads to considerable. confusion when
the term fleet reserve" Is used and
has at times worked adversely to the
Naval Reserve as a whole.
The failure TO provide a reasonable
number of officers above the grade Of
lieutenant commander for each class
of reservists. that is. feet, volunteer
and merchant marine and the failure
to provide for q reasonable flow of
promotion by establishing an age in
grade retirement in each grade, has
resulted in decreased morale in the
Naval Reserve as a whole, it was
pointed out. The lower grades, it
was added, now contain many officers
too old for their rank.
Although there has been some in
crease in numbers in the Naval Re-
serve, it was said that it is still far
from being adequate, even in number
enrolled. No funds have ever been
provided for the training of the
Merchant Marine Naval Reserve, that
part of the Reserve consisting of off,
GERS and men on merchant ships, and
only for an insignificant part of the
Volunteer Reserve, composed largely
of men whose civilian employment fits
them for special service in the Navy
in time of war, mostly for filling
positions in the shore establishment.
1t was pointed out that an analysis
of the yearly estimates submitted by
the Navy Department for the support
of the Reserve, compared with funds
actually appropriated, reveals that in
three cases in II years Congress made
reductions in the Navy Department
estimates, in two cases the appropria-
tions were the same as the estimates
and in six cases Congress actually
increased the appropriations over and
hot in or1prnUad
budget.
1t was further pointed out that this
analysis also showed that it has been
necessary to cut the seagoing overhead
in order to provide sufficient funds
for training Of seagoing Reserves. This
reduction in overhead was accom-
plished by carrying numbers in the
fleet divisions below desired COM
plement and reducing the number Of
Eagle boats and other vessels for
training, Notwithstanding the gradual
increase in the total reserves enrolled.
The board called attention to increases
in aviation expenses, which was said
to furnish the principal reason for
not having increased the funds for the
seagoing Reserves.
1t was asserted that the relative
importance of the Volunteer and
Merchant Marine Naval Reserve has
grown we'll beyond the ideas of the
trainers Of the Naval Reserve act OF
1925. Within the Volunteer Reserve.
the Naval Communication Reserve has
been developed. This is composed Of
TOO officers and 1000 enlisted men,
most Of whom are civilian communica-
ton experts. They own and operate
2.400 amateur radio stations and
operate 81 Government-owned radio
training stations. They also operate
under emergency status in connection
with American Red Cross relief dur
ing disasters. Also, it was added. the
volunteer class has greater importance
due to the increasing number Of
r. o. T. c. graduates who enroll
Pensacola graduates with the designa-
ton of Naval aviator and all grades of
specialists in both line and staff.
In spite of its importance, it was
pointed out to the department, the
Merchant Marine Naval Reserve is
the most neglected class of the Re-
serves. No funds have ever been ap-
propriated for training this class. The
report of the board said that recent
disasters in the merchant marine en-
phasize the lack of training and dis
cipline among the crews OF American
merchant ships.
It is estimated that about two-thirds
of the commercial tonnage flying the
United States flag will be taken over
and operated by the Navy in time Of
war. In accordance with the basis
shipping policy, the Navy Department
has shown some concern In the de-
velopment of the merchant marine
with a view of providing ships for the
naval transportation service. but is
was added that the interest hereto
fore has been principally the consid-
erations of the material questions
rather than personnel problems.
There Is still much to be done to