Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-05-16
RESERV|STSPLAN
FOR TARGET WORK
District Naval Battalion De-
veIoping New Gun
Pointers.

Members Of the 1st Battalion
United States Naval Reserves. District
Of Columbia, are out to capture all
the honors in big gun firing when they
go on their annual cruise aboard de-
stroyers this Summer. Every Satur-
day afternoon a detail of men 70 to
the gallery in the Washington Navy
Yard for firing with pistols and rifles
From the best of them will be Sc
lected the gun-pointers for the crews
which will fire the big destroyer guns
on the ships during the annual cruises
The training cruise season was
started last week, when the launch
assigned here for this purpose made
a weekend cruise down the Potomac
River with a group from the local
battalion aboard They had with
them as observer on their first trip,
Lieut.. Comdr. Charles B. McVay, IT,,
U. S. NJ, inspector instructor of the
local OUTFIT.
Because Of the size of the vessel, it
was necessary to refuse permission
for a larger number of men to take
the trip, thereby causing some disap-
polntment. 1t Is this feeling that the
officers OF the battalion have been try
Ing to avoid by seeking to have the
Navy Department assign here a larger
vessel, one that could take out a large
group each week end AS the duty is
purely voluntary, it was pointed out,
the only expense would be the cost of
operation and the Government would
be more than repaid by the valuable
training which would be received.
A vessel on which they can obtain
some real practical training and a new
ar7mory are two things which the local
militia men need more than anything
else. With the proposed increase in
the size OF the divisions. the conditions
at the local armory will be more seri-
Gus than at any time since the local
Reserve was formed subsequent to the
World War. While the citizen sailors
have made the most Of their facilities,
they are at the most of make-shlft
sort, and at the best cannot take the
place of actual shipboard training.
This they receive once year, when
they take their two weeks training
cruise as required by law in order to
maintain efficiency. While a destroyer
Is sent here from time to time for
q their use as drills, it is not permitted
to take them on week end cruises on
the Potomac.
Because of the Indictment weather
and the fact that the vessel is located
SO far from the armory, the reservists
have not obtained much from the de-
stroyer Leary which has been here for
several months. They have only sew
eral hours OF drill period each week.
and an hour of that time would be lost
IN marching from the armory to the
ship, with the result that the officers
have confined their training largely TO
armory work rather than lose this
valuable time in going to and from
the ship. However, it was said if Con-
gress would provide funds with which
to construct a suitable armory for the
citizen sailors, this loss of time would
be obviated, as the proposed site for
the building Is right on the sea wall
OF the Anacostia River within the con-
zines OF the naval reservation.
Members OF the Naval Communica-
tion Reserves have been urged to make
application early for periods Of active
duty for training, most Of which will
be given at the United States Naval
Air Station at Anacostia, D. c. It was
pointed out that these tours of duty
will begin on June and June IS and
that last minute applications will not
be acted on.
Another inspection faces the Reserv-
lists on May IS, the drill schedule call
ing for one OF these, although the bat
talon had just passed through its
annual inspection. 1t is probable some
high ranking naval officer from the
Navy Department will be asked to re-
view and inspect the battalion. These
periodic inspections, it was pointed out.
serve to keep the men on their toes all
the time, with the result that the bat
TALON Is constantly improving in all
branches of its work.
The drill attendance record to date
VI Vic Three DIVISIONS was announced
at the battalion headquarters as fol-
lows: First Division, $40 per cent,
which is 4 per cent increase; I'd Divi-
Sion, 1858 per cent, which is g per
cent increase, and the Sd Division. $40
per cent, which is 8 per cent increase.
1t was announced there are only a
lew vacancies now in the battalion.
and that limited number of appli-
cants will be considered for enrolment
IN the organization during the current
month. Those desiring to enlist in the
organization are advised to apply at
the Navy Yard Armory on Tuesday
nights.
There has been such a demand on
the part Of young men to enlist in the
local outfit that the officers have been
able to make choice of applicants
and usually only those with a high
school education are accepted. MANY
OF the young men Of the city now enter
the battalion, with the idea in mind
OF seeking one Of the appointments