Evening star., 1937-01-10


Wv ington Navy Yard last
week, Lieut.. James E. Sui
livan, commander of the 1st Bat
talon, United States Naval Reserve
in the District of Columbia, an
nounced that drills will not begin
aboard for two more weeks, the first
one being scheduled for January 26.
The local Reserve commander has
held conferences with the destroyer
commander, and a drill program will
have to be arranged for the three
divisions which compose the local
organization. The ship was sent here
to remain for a period of six weeks
for the purpose of giving the local
citizen sailors an opportunity to use
her for drill purposes.
Although the training aboard the
vessel is considered far superior to
that which can be obtained in the
armory, particularly in gunner and
fire control training, nevertheless the
Reservists' program will depend on
the weather being good enough for
the men to work at night on the
decks of the training ship. The Off
GERS had previously expressed a de-
sire that the ship be sent here in
the early Fall or late Spring, which
would make it possible for them to
use it to the full extent each drill
night for the deck force. However,
the engine and fire room forces will be
able to use it at all times, as their
training is entirely below decks. and
any kind Of weather will not inter-
! fere with it.
The ship is commanded by Lieut..
Comdr. r. w. Matthews, and her
executive officer is Lieut.. NJ. w. Peake,
both of the U. S. Navy.
At the drill of the battalion last
week each Of the three divisions were
put through a strenuous infantry drill
at open and closed order. Following
drills by divisions, the battalion was
formed for extended drills. This bat
talon drill was one of the few the
organization here has had for
number of years, and this is due 20
the fact that the armory facilities are
limited to such an extent that a
battalion cannot be maneuvered in
the very small drill hall. There is only
room enough for it to be lined up in
close order. All Of the infantry drills
were held in the streets of the navy
yard. but this can only be done in fair
weather, such as has been prevalent
here during the past few weeks. The
battalion adjutant, Lieut. 81. g. Eu-
gene c. CaruSi, announced that the
battalion was to drill as unit again
on Tuesday night.
Although the final reports have not
been completed. advance information
indicates that the competition for the
honor of being color guard of the
battalion for the first six months
of 1887 will be a very close one, it
was said at the battalion headquar-
tiers. The three Washington divisions
have been in competition since early
in November for the position of color
guard of the unit. The divisions were
Put through two thorough .nspec-
tions in December, at which officers
and men were examined both as a
unit and individually in the duties of
their ratings.
While the divisions were striving for
, the honor of carrying the battalion
colors in the inaugural parade. never
theless it appeared that this particular
feature might be an empty one, in view
Of the decision last week not to permit
the local reservists to participate in the
parade. They have been working for
months with this purpose as their OBJ
jective, and will continue to train for
the parade in the hope that the In
augural Committee will change its
mind.
The Recruit School used for the first
time at drill last week a complete
model of a life boat as used aboard
destroyers of the fleet This model was
constructed and executed by Chief
Boatswain's Mate Joseph Slattery, now
on active duty at the navy yard as
armory aide. The boat is complete
and made to scale and contains all
lines and rigging found on the regular
equipment Although in miniature it
may actually be lowered and hoisted
for explaining the operation to the new
members of the battalion.
Battalion officers have indicated that
there will be a general Tightening up
Of discipline in the organization for the
remaining weeks before the annual in
spection to be held by a board of
officers from the Navy Department in
April. All hands have begun working
at top speed so that the battalion may
present fine appearance at inspection
this year.
The following local officers attended
the convention of the United States
Naval Reserve Officers Association here
last week, as official delegates from the
Washington Chapter:
Lieut.. James E. Sullivan, battalion
commander; Lieut.. j. M. Fewell, Lieut..
w. D. Armstrong, Lient. Comdr. w. C.
Lockhart, Lieut.. c. H. Williams, Lieut..
w. Croft Jennings, Ensign F. w. Lemly,
Ensign H. A. Lamar. Lieut.. j. B. Gle
land, jr.; Lieut.. John Wetherell, Lieut..
j. G. winston Brown and Lieut.. q. g.
r. J. zanzot.
Washington officers serving on the
convention committees included Lieut..
c. H. Williams, Credentials Commit
tee; Lieut.. j. M. Fewell, Resolutions
Committee: Lieut.. Comdr. w. C. Lock-
hart, Auditing Committee; Lieut.. j. E.
Sullivan, Nominating Committee;
Lieut.. ]. c. Cleland, jr., Time and Place
Committee; Ensign F. w. Lemly, Mem
bership Committee; Ensign H. A.
Lamar, Publications Committee; Lieut..
W. D. Armstrong, Association Emblem
Committee, and Lieut.. John Wetherell,
Banquet Committee.
Changes in personnel were an
nounced as follows:
H orary retirementS - Lieut..
Comdrs. James Pagan, Urbine j.
Herman, George H. Malvin, William
w. Schott and Edgar K. Ziegler and
r