Evening star., 1937-03-07
RESERVE OFFICERS
OPPOSE NEW LAWS
Another Group May Be
Formed by Younger
Members,

LIE acIlOn OF the United States
Naval Reserve Off1cers' Association
at its recent convention here in leav.
ing to its Legislative Committee the
matter OF presenting the side Of the
Reserve in the impending tight In Con-
gress on the proposed amendments to
the Naval Reserve act Of 1925 has ap-
parently stirred up hornets nest In
the organization. The resentment ut
the action Of the association Is spread
ing throughout the Naval Reserve
commissioned personnel, with the re-
suit some groups have informed meqn-
bers of Congress the Legislative Conn
mittee OF the association, If 1t pre-
sents what purports to be views Of ths
Naval Reservists, cannot be taken
as representing them
The fare-up, according 10 Naval
Reserve officers here, is likely 10 grow
into a move for the formation Of an.
| other association, made up largely Of
the younger officers These officers
have for the past several years been
resentful of a bloc of older officers Of
the Reserve who are reported to be
the domineering elements in the old
association.
Many officers Of the local Reserve
are looking forward to the coming
meeting Of the Washington chapter
Of the Association for an opportunity
TO air their views at the action of the
national body. The matter has been
discussed at a number of conferences
here, in which it was pointed out the
Navy Department some time ago held
a conference to which were invited
number of prominent Naval Reserve
officers. At that conference the Navy
Department openly laid its recommen-
dations on the table, and the whole
matter was threShed out. The Navy
Department began the preparation Of
a bill in accordance with the agree
ment reached at that time. Yet, it
was said, when the matter was
brought into the convention, no def
mite action was taken, but the matter
was left with the Executive Commit
tee. The conference approved the de-
1 partments recommendations as laying
the groundwork for a definite i'm
| provement in the Naval Reserve, fair
TO the Reserve and to the Navy.
Many of the younger officers have
since expressed the feeling that the
convention should have indorsed the
action of the conference and the Navy
Departments proposed bill. Local Of
| flcerS received report last week that
: 1f st
Naval district, which includes large
| number of the New England States,
have informed the National Legislative
/ Committee that all of the officers OF
/ that district, numbering 200, have
voted that whenever any member OF
I the committee expresses an opinion on
the subject, that 1t be made clear that
/ their remarks do not represent the
/ opinions OF the officers of that district.
These officers want it made known
that they are entirely in favor of the
principles as agreed upon at the con-
ference held between the naval Of
ficials at the Navy Department and
the Reserve officers who attended that
meeting.
1t was indicated 1t Is very likely
at the meeting here next month the
local officers will follow the lead OF
those in the first naval district and
| similar instructions will be issued 70
the National Legislative Committee.
The departmental bill, which was
prepared as a result of the agreement
reached at the conference here, il
expected to be ready for Congress
within a couple of weeks. 1t is now
/ in the Office of the judge advocate
: general of the Navy, and when APP
proved as to form by that official, ii
will again be sent to the various bu-
reaus of the department concerned In
the matter, for their approval. When
that is complete it will be sent to Con-
gress for introduction, after which
committee hearings are expected to be
held, when the break in the associa-
tior, will he brought into the open.