Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-11-28
DESTROYER GOES
AS CARRIER GUARD
Leary Leaves D. c. Reserv.
lists to Cruise With
Yorktown.

ule in connection with preparations
for the annual inspection caused by
the presence here for drill training
purposes of the U. S. destroyer Leary
have been relieved for the lst Bat
talon, United States Naval Reserves
in the District of Columbia, by the
sudden departure of the ship.
1t was disclosed the vessel has been
ordered to sea as plane guard for the
U. S. airplane carrier Yorktown. It
will operate with that vessel for
period, it was said. being available to
be rushed to planes in trouble while
the Yorktown is out to sea for train
ing purposes
Because of the intensive program
which has been mapped out by 1t.
James E. Sullivan, commander Of the
battalion. to get the organization in
top shape for the annual tests before
a board Of officers from the Navy De-
partment. the local Reservists would
not be able to make as much use of
the vessel as would be possible under
ordinary conditions. it was said. How
ever. while they did alter their al
ready laid out schedules in order to
have some drills on the vessel, it was
found even these were hampering
their work in preparation for the
tests, because the inspection will be
conducted in the armory at the WASH
ington Navy Yard.
i
get much more out of their work
aboard the Leary if she were sent here
during the Spring months, when the
men are making preparations for their
annual destroyer cruises. Aside from
the difficulty of arranging drill Sched-
ules for the ship on account OF the
inspection. the officers point out that
during the winter months it is diff
ficult to find enough good drill nights
to take the men from the armory to
the ship. Many times the steel decks
are too slippery for drills at night.
While the officers expressed hope
the Leary would return here in the
spring. they also expressed the further
hope that it would not be necessary
for the department to send her here,
vessel permanently to this organiza-
ton.
Indications that the aviation branch
of the Naval Reserve is getting the
bulk Of pecuniary attention from the
Navy was indicated last week in the
report of the chief of the Bureau of
Navigation. when he made public the
figures for the support of the two
establishments. He pointed out that
Naval Reserve activities during the
fiscal year we're given appropriations
Of $7.868,469, of which S5,334 1903 was
for aviation activities and s2,534,166
to the seagoing branch
This, it was indicated, probably en-
plains the reason that the seagoing
branch is not able to obtain all of its
desires in the way of increased per-
sonnet and equipment However, 1t
is known that the Navy is striving
to increase its air forces and it has
probably found it easier to get avia-
ton funds for the Reserve than for
the forces which operate surface
The smaller amount for the sea-
going branch probably explains also
why it has been difficult for the local
Reservists to obtain vessel here for
training purposes. The assignment of
a vessel means that its maintenance
and operation cost would be charged
to the Reserve funds. AS would the
crew. which for the most part would
be made up OF Naval Reservists called
to indefinite periods of active duty as
ship keepers.
While the department has been gen.
erous in equipping Naval Reserve air
stations and separate divisions with
facilities for flying. which gives them
operating and maneuvering expert
ence. the seagoing branch has had to
take its training on the beach because
in many instances ships have not
been assigned them for cruising pur-
poses. for. it was pointed out, where it
is necessary in learning flying to fly,
1t also is necessary in learning to
operate ships they should actually be
operated. and that is what the Dis
trict organization is trying to do when
it pushes so hard to have a ship as
signed here.
In this connection it was pointed
out that there are 149 actively drilling
feet or surface ship divisions, while
in aviation there are only 81 actively
drilling divisions. so that the large
amount noted above was divided into
the 81 divisions. while the considerably
smaller amount had to be used by l49
divisions.
The difficulties of providing book
training for the Naval Reservists is
pointed out by the Navigation Bureau
chief, attributing it to lack of funds.
There is not enough money to enable
the department to furnish this litera-
ture to individuals Of the Reserve, but
1t is furnished to organizations where
all of the men must use it during class.
There is not enough to provide a man
who wants to perfect his studies dur
ing his spare time at home the neces-
sary books and papers.
Books in the loan library of the
Navy here are available to members
of the Naval Reserve only when this
does not interfere with the needs of
the regular establishment. Owing to
the limited number of rating courses
for enlisted men available, an allow
ance for the Naval Reserve has been
prescribed. based on the number of
men attached to actively drilling or
carnations, in the proportion of one
course to every four men of the par
ticular rating which the organization
is required to mobilize. The bureau
chief, however, pointed out that addi-
tional courses are badly needed, but
cannot be supplied until such time as
funds made available for this purpose
are greatly increased.