Evening star., 1937-08-29
NAVAL RESERVE HIT
BY SLASH IN FUNDS
Navy Orders 10 Per Cent
Cut in Personnel of
Divisions.

The economy AK is about to bite
into the local Naval Reserves along
with those in other parts of the coun-
try. At recent conferences at the
Navy Department the Reservists were
told when it came to the matter of
cutting funds. the Reserves must
suffer first, for it was the prime duty
to spend all the money possible to
build up and maintain the Fleet.
While the first cut is only one Of
10 per cent, ordered for the personnel,
nevertheless those in the local estab-
hshment are fearful others might be
coming, which might affect the train
ing schedule. The cut is the same
which has been ordered for the rest
Of the regular establishment.
The Reservists were told by naval
official in all cases of reductions in
the total Navy Department budget,
the Naval Reserve must be prepared
to accept reduction of their activities
which cost money. 1t does not seem
practicable, they were told, to pre-
scribe any definite ratio of reductions
to the Naval Reserve budget as COM
pared with the whole naval appropri-
alton. AS an example of increasing
the budget without corresponding
augmentation of efficiency, it was as
serted, would be an increase in the
number of Fleet Reserve organizations
in the various States. Certainly, it
was added, no increased numbers Of
organized drilling and training units
of the civilian components of the
Fleet Reserve other than proposed by
the Navy Department can be justified.
1t was pointed out to the Reservists
that the Naval Reserve, although a
component part of the United States
Navy, is not the only part. The
United States Navy consists also of
ships and guns and submarines and
airplanes and shore stations and per-
sonnel To advance furtheSt towards
the ends to be accomplished the Re-
servists we're told. there must be a
balance between all of these. There
must be a sufficiency of ships and
guns and other facilities, as well as of
personnel and in building up Of re-
ouired ends. one component should
not be permitted to outdistance an
other.
Likewise a balance should be main
tained between the personnel OF the
regular establishment and that OF
the Reserve, to the end that the crews
->hf vessels, etc, may not be unduly
diluted with those of lesser expert
ence.
An expansion program covering a
period of years has been prepared for
the naval establishment, but in this
connection it should be remembered
that in the event funds should be in
sufficient in any year to carry out
the entire program, the Naval Re-
serve program must lag with the
others.
Naval reservists had expected the
divisions might be increased in size
this year. as they have been making
strong fight in Congress to that end.
However, it was said the orders do
not mean that the divisions will be
Immediately cut 10 per cent in per-
eonnel. This could not be done i'm
mediately, because, it was explained
the men enlist for a period of years
However, If the need was imperative
the necessary number of men could
be transferred to the Volunteer Re
serve, where there is no cost for drill
pay as there Is in the Fleet Reserve
There will not be any new enlist
ments for the local divisions or any
transferred from the volunteer to the
fleet until after the contemplated re-
ductions will be effected.
The Examining Board of the local
battalion made a preliminary report
announcing that a number of en-
listed men had successfully passed
the tests for promotions, and is con-
tlnulne its work Of conducting exami-
nations of other men who have been
recommended for promotion.
The promotions are-Frederick W.
Walker. 1st Division, from machinists
mate, first class, to chief machinist's
mate, acting appointment. This man
has a long record of excellent drill at
tendance, he has cruised regularly
since he joined the battalion in 1893
by transfer from the Reserves at Bos-
ton. Mass
First Fleet Division-John J. Meuer.
electricians mate, second class to first
class; Wilbur E. Mcpherson, fireman.
first class, to machinists mate, sec
ond class; George D. Weckhardt, hos
pital apprentice, first class, to pharma-
cist's mate, third class, L. S. Goulart.
fireman. second to first class.
Second Fleet Division-James r.
Thompson, boatsWains mate. second
to first class; Morgan A. Chism, ma
chlnlsts mate, second to first class:
Antonio F. Lancaster, fireman, second
class, to water tender, second class:
Fran j. Naumann. apprentice seaman
to seaman. second class; Bollard ia
mieson, seaman, second class, to first
class; Maurice E. Smith, apprentice
seaman to fireman, third class. Ed
ward L. Rosette, apprentice seaman.
to fireman, third class; Warren L.
Love, apprentice seaman to fireman,
third class; Oscar w. Johnson, ap-
prentice seaman to fireman, third
class; Bernard c. Reed, apprentice
seaman to seaman, second class;
Ihurston N Lynd, apprentice sea-
man to seaman, second class; Raleigh
F. Harman, jr., apprentice seaman,
second class.
Third Fleet Division-Pete MancenI,
seaman, second class, to first class;
John w. Ritchey, seaman, second
class, to first class; Samuel R. Blank
enship, apprentice seaman to fireman,
third class; Norman l.. Peterson, sea-
man, second class, to first class, and
Robert L. Gilbert, fireman, third class
to second class.
The U. S. Destroyers Decatur and
Dickinson have been selected to carry
the 1st and I'd Fleet Divisions on
their annual sea cruises. They will
come to the Washington Navy Yard
this week, in time for the men to
board them and leave for North At
lantic ports on September 4. The lst
Division is commanded by Lieut.. w.