Evening star., 1938-04-24

1T. COMDR. CHARLES B.
McVAY, 3D..
officers are planning to tender him
q testimonial dinner prior to his de-
parture from the city. In addition
to his duties at the Washington Navy
Yard and with the Reserve, he also
was the senior White House naval
aide.
The assembly on Tuesday night
will be his last inspection Of the
local battalion Comdr. McVay is
greatly admired and respected by the
Naval Reserve and his departure, ac-
cording to the officers, is being keenly
felt. During his tour Of duty here
the proficiency of the battalion has
progressed many points. and his de-
parture. it was said, will create
vacancy which will be difficult to
fill. 1t was Comdr. McVay who in
augurated for the volunteer officers
q series Of lectures. which were pre-
pared at the Navy Department, hav-
ing for their purpose the indoctrina-
ton of naval procedure Up to the
time of his arrival little attention had
been paid to the instruction of these
officers, who are not required, as Is
the Fleet Reserve, to attend regular
drills.
In commenting on the coming de-
parture Of Comdr McVay, 1t. James
E. Sullivan. commanding ofI1cer Of the
local battalion said:
From the very first contact which
we had with Comdr. McVay, when
Naval Reserve division from this
city was making cruise on the
United States destroyer Ellis, of which
the latter was in command, and con-
tinually since that time, his inspiring
leadership has been an excellent ex-
ample for all Of us to emulate.
His detachment leaves us with
feeling Of deep regret, as it brings to
US the knowledge of the loss of q
good friend of every officer and man
OF the battalion; an outstanding OFF,
Ger and one long remembered by us
for his fairness, tact and general COM
petence."
incidentally, Comdr. McVay as one
Of his last official acts before the en-
tire battalion. will see presented the
Admiral's Cup to the division which
had the largest drill attendance for
the year just closed, and the three
gold medals to the three enlisted men
who have been selected for outstand-
ing service to their respective divisions
during the past year.
The lst Division nosed out the 3rd
Division to win the competition. II
the 3rd Fleet Division had been sue
cessful in the competition this year,
the cup would have become its per-
manent possession, which would have
necessitated the purchase of another
The 3rd Division captured the en-
biem the past two years.
The winners of the medals are: J..
j. Meyers, electricians mate, lst Di-
vision; D. D. Mcpherson, machinist's s
mate first class, I'd Division, and L.
M. Sanders, storekeeper first class),
3rd Division. The latter now is de-
tailed to the battalion staff.
Work is being started, in accordance
with instructions from the Navy De-
partnent, for the procurement, Or
ganization and training of 1893 sig
nalmen to be taken into the volunteer
branch Of the Reserve. The Navy De-
partment has been so successful in
recruiting large force of radio men
for the communications unit, and the
units have been SO successful in their
training, that 1t has undertaken the
work OF forming groups Of men for
training as signalmen. 1t was said
that practically all of this personnel
would be utilized in case of mobiliza-
ton in connection with service on
board merchant vessels. It was said
that the bureau realizes that it has
taken IL years to develop the COM
munication reserve to its present state
OF organization and efficiency in radio
communication. It is not expected
that the organization and training of
the volunteer signalmen can be ac-
compltshed all at once, but that 1t
Will necessarily have to extend over .
period Of years.
It is believed, however, that the
present Communication Reserve Or
ganization has the necessary facilities
for recruiting and instruction Of sig
nalmen in connection with its COM
munication units, so that much Of the
early difficulty Of procuring radio men
and organizing them does not now
exist In the case Of signalmen.
The Bureau of Navigation expressed
hope that every district will make q
sincere effort to procure this person.
mel, and support its training in COM
munication procedure, including the
general instruction in the primary
duties Of q man O. warsman, COM
munication instructions, blinker and
identification Of signal fiags. Later on,
when a reasonable number of men
have been enlisted and attached to
communication units, . more definite
program Of instruction will be issued.
An indication that the Navy De-
paztmsnt y dlling ~ Rassrvs omcG