Evening star., 1937-08-08
RESERV|STS PLAN
FOR TARGET TESTS
Gun Crews Being Selected
for Annual Summer
Cruises,

Well satisfied with their progress
made during the armory drill last
year as evidenced by the fne marks
given them by the Board Of Inspection,
members OF the 1st Battalion, United
States Naval Reserves in the District
OF Columbia, are preparing TO take
further honors on the annual cruises.
Inese voyages, which they are re-
quired to take annually aboard ships
OF the active feet, give them an op-
portunity to test the results of their
theoretical and practical training Of
the armory under actual service con.
ditions. One OF the most important
features Is the target practice with
big guns aboard the destroyers. 1t is
in this phase Of the preparations that
they are devoting considerable time
now, co-ordinating the work OF the gun
crews at the drill gun at the armory.
While there is no opportunity for actual
firing. the time is devoted to so train
Ing the crews that they will work as
a unit in loading the guns and keep
ing them ready for service. The most
important part Of this work is tbs
training Of gun pointers. In order To
get the best marksmen for these key
positions, they are holding indoor rife
practice in the Navy Yard The best
men in these practices will be tried out
in the positions Of gun pointers and
the best will be selected for these
positions.
While all of the Reserve units use
the same method in firing their an
nual strings at the guns. nevertheless
large group are striving TO have
their system changed to conform as
nearly as possible to that in Use for
the regular establishment. They
point out that under the two systems
there is no opportunity for compari-
son between the work OF the Re.
servists and the gunners OF the regu.
lar establishment. Under the Reserve
system. small target is set up by tha
firing ship, and the gunners are given
credit for a hit for any shot within Z
prescribed radius On the other hand,
when the regular Runners FIRE. they
say, 4 standard Navy target Is toued
to the scene Of operations. and the
gunners have to make . hit in the
target TO get credit.
From remarks made to Naval Reserve
officers attending conference at the
Navy Department it might be taken
that the Reservists will have 10 cut
down on their demands for funds
with which to increase their activities
during the current year In the con-
sideration Of the naval budget. it was
indicated that primary considera ton
will be given to obtaining as much
money as possible for the mainte-
nance and operation OF the regular
establishment and the purchase Of
new equipment and ships.
They were told in the formulation
OF naval policies, certain general prin-
ciples should be kept in mind, and
these were said to include clear
understanding Of the relationship Of
the Naval Reserve TO the regular estab-
lshment; no proposal should be con-
sidered which will in any way inter.
fere with the efficiency or morale Of
should show positive advantage and
Naval Reserve expenditures should be
kept as low as is consistent with the
development OF An adequate Naval
Reserve
1t was pointed out that the Reserve
should be 80 organized and drilled in
peace time that in case OF an emer-
gency It will be ready to take It's place
in the active Navy with As little fric.
tion IS possible.
Due to the high state OF readiness
that must be maintained in the feet,
it WAS explained to the Reservists, it
Is desired that the personnel be the
most Skillful available. 1t is for that
reason the Navy desires to have its
combatant vessels of the feet manned
with 100 per cent regular officers and
men. But failing in this the Reserve
must consist Of the most highly
trained and experienced personnel
that can be produced This, 1t was
added. means that Naval Reserves
generally will be required for the pur-
pose Of aiding and supplying and
will be sent to sea in vessels employed
in supplying the feet and in COM
batant vessels employed in the pro-
lection of these supply vessels.
Further. they will be assigned to COM
be Sant vessels, and vessels protecting
district and shore bases
1t was pointed out the principal
role Of the Regular Navy in time of
peace is not, as many Reserve officers
seem to think. to train civilians to
operate the Navy in time OF war The
fact that some Naval Reserve officers,
principally those belonging to naval
militia units, are more closely as
sociated with the Army organization
through the National Guard of the
various States, than they are with the
Navy Department, is believed to be at
the root Of certain recommendations
that have been made by Reservists for
adoption Of the Army system OF ad.
ministering Reserves in the Navy De-
partment.
1t was asserted. in explaining the
Nays stand against the Reserves
proposal, it should be realized that
the relationship between the Regular
Army and the Army Reserve Is very
different from that existing between
the Regular Navy and the Naval Re-
serve. The Regular Army has rs It's
principal task the organization and
training Of civilians to be expanded
and to fight as individual commando,
it was explained to the Reservists seek
ing change, and it is the civilians
who will be employed in the main
battle on the front line. The relative
Of the Army Reserves to
the success Of the Army is much
greater than that Of the Naval Re-
serves to the Navy The Navy, the