Evening star., 1937-12-05
RADIO RESERV|STS
GET LEAGUE HONOR
Public Service Certificate
Awarded to D. c.
Naval Unit.

Members of the Naval Reserve
Communications Division are proudly
displaying on the walls Of their radio
shack in the Washington Navy Yard.
the American Radio Leagues certif.
cate Of public service. 1t has Just
been awarded for their fine work dur
ing the hurricane on the Eastern,
Shore last year. when they manned
the local facilities and aided in keep
Ing IN communication when the land
wires and other means Of communi-
cation went down in the storm.
These men drill weekly to train for
| service to the country in time Of war,
learning how to keep up lines OF COM
munication to aid the fleet and the
Government. They, unlike the fleet
reservists, do not receive any weekly
| drill pay. but give at least one night
. week to their work. Most Of them
are amateur radio operators, many Of
whom have their own sets, and the
work is a hobby with them But they
do not conflne themselves to the reg
ular weekly drill, but many nights
keep lonely watches 1T their home sets
for some call for assistance which will
give them an opportunity for service.
1t was just such an opportunity which
resulted in their getting the certificate
which they now proudly display.
Many of them sat for long hours, tun.
ing in with other amateurs on the
Eastern Shore, sending and receiving
messages for the Government and for
individuals who would have been un-
able to otherwise communicate With
the outside world
This organization, under the COM
mand Of 1t. J. H. Nicholson, has made
rapid strides since it was organized,
and q competent corps Of instructors
keeps them on the alert. not only in
the manner Of handling commercial
traffic, but in the intricate methods
Of handling naval business. The
division also has made an enviable
record in competitions which are con-
Quoted under the auspices Of the Navy
Department through the big sets, and
there is a scramble at all times tor
an opportunity to sit-in at the set
which the reservists maintain In their
armory in the Washington Navy Yard
In this connection the Navy De-
partment has addressed the following
communication to 1t. Comdr Charles
B. Mcvay, Sd, United States Navy:
The bureau (of navigation) notes
that the District OF Columbia Naval
Communication Reserve was awarded
first place in the annual reserve radio
competition for the competition year
ending June 80, 1887. AS instructor
Of the naval communication reserve
of the District of Columbia during the
competition year ending June 80, 1887,
the bureau considers that your serv-
ices have been a real factor In very
materially building up and maintain
ing the efficiency Of the organization.
The bureau commends you for your
efficient prformance Of these duties"
The Navy Department announced
1t has authorized q special insignia
to be worn on the uniforms Of mer-
chant marine officers who are mem
bers Of the naval reserve. It will be
bronze gilt pin Of distinctive design
embodying the merchant marine ma
val reserve emblem and Of size
similar to the navy aviation and sub
marine insignias. 1t Is contemplated
1t will be optional whether the pin
Is worn or the same design embroid-
cred and sewed to their uniforms The
insignia Is only to be worn on the
merchant marine uniform to identify
licensed merchant marine officers as
also being merchant marine naval
reserve officers.
The Navy Department announced
it Is contemplating q departure from
the short-range battle practice fred
in the past by reserve divisions on
annual training cruises. 1t Is said
local control practice will be pre-
scribed for divisions cruising on board
destroyers and . modified director
practice for those cruising on board
battleships.
1t was explained what undoubtedly
is contemplated. and this Is Of par
ticular interest to the local reserv-
lists who cruise aboard destroyers. is
to have the fire controlled from
central station. but this Is said not to
be in conformity with the practice in
Use in warfare, and as the reservists
!, are being trained for just such duty
it is probable the department has
decided their training along this line
should be pressed. In wartime, 1t was
indicated, when q submarine Is sight
ed by . destroyer, the gun having the
target within range takes control If
the firing. the ofhcer at the battery
taking charge, rather than having
the orders coming from q central con-
troll. This proposed new method. 1t
was said, Stimulates war conditions.
The reservists say they would like to
see further modification in the target
work while on their annual cruises
by having the target changed. At the
present time stick or buoy Is usually
| set up as a target on the drill grounds
and the firing goes over the range.
while the gunners aim for the stick.
Anything within q certain distance
Of the target Is considered hit, and
the umpire decides what Is hit.
They have been urging q regular
floating target be set up, of the same
dimensions as that used by the regu-
lar establishment. to give them some
thing definite to aim at. They say
they could then bring the target
aboard ship 50 the gun crew could
have physical evidence Of what they
did on the range. 1t would not be
matter for the umpire's determine
ton as to whether q shell fell into
the water near the target was q hit,
but he would be bound by the evidence
Is shown by the target itself.
The Controller General Of the United
States has ruled that members Of the
Naval Reserve suffering from . dis
ability, other than an injury in line
of duty, are entitled to treatment at
Government expense only during the
period of active duty.
The NAVY DEPARTMENT explained