Evening star., 1937-01-24
RESERVE DIVIDED
ON LAW CHANGES
Blocs Reported Developing
Between Veterans and
Young Officers.

From discussions of Naval Reserve
officers. it is apparent that there IS
difference of opinion among them as
to the stand of the United States
Naval Reserve Officers Association on
the program to have the Naval Reserve
act of 1925 amended. So far as can
be observed. it was explained. there
appears to be developing two definite
blocs in the association, one composed
of the younger officers of the Reserve
and the other the veteran officers.
The association at its convention
here, it was said. did not take any
definite stand on the program as ad-
vanced by the Navy Department and
which is different from that taken by
some of the Reserve officers. 1t was
said that the matter of presenting the
associations stand was left to the
Legislative Committee.
1t was explained that there are on
active duty number of veteran off,
GERS of the Reserve They have been
on active duty for many years in their
naval districts in connection with the
training of the Reserve and handling
other features of Reserve activities.
The younger officers contend that
these assignments should be made for
definite terms and that they should
be given an opportunity of serving on
periods of indefinite active duty.
Under the present system. it was eX-
planned. they do not have any op-
for octjUo GIltU eypont On
the annual cruises. whereas they point
out that a period of rotation on the
naval district assignments would fit
the younger officers to better handle
their problems in time of a national
emergency.
The Reserve Officers Association
has been definitely fighting for an
Assistant Secretary of the Navy. who
would have sole charge of the Naval
Reserve and Naval Reserve division
in the department headed by a Re-
serve rear admiral However, this has
not met with favor in the department,
and it was indicated that some of the
younger officers are inclined to the be-
lief that the association is trying to get
something which is impossible, and to
the extent that a fight is made in
Congress- may serve to defeat efforts
TO get real and much needed amend
ments to the Reserve act, amendments
which the operations under the act
for a period of IL years have shown
are needed in order to build the Re-
serve to the high state of mobilization
efficiency which is required.
The younger element. it was said,
has indicated that it was for harmony
In the organization with the goal that
of building up united Reserve. They
point out that the reservistS should
get behind the departmental program
now, and if later conditions indicate
that further changes are needed that
the department will be glad to recon-
mend them.
It was pointed out that to set up a
dual organization in the Navy De-
partment in peace time such as is
being urged by some of the reServists
might seriously hamper the mobiliza-
tion of the Reserve in time of emer-
gency. It was added that in time of
war there could not be any such dual
organization, as the Reserve would
be a part of the regular establish
ment, and it would be administered
q part of it. This would leave the
departmental Reserve unit sort of
fifth wheel which would have to be
wiped out, and its worked merged
with the department at time when
all of the energies would be needed
for the prosecution of a conflict.