Evening star., 1938-09-04
NAVAL RESERVES
READYFOR CRUISE
Battalion Leaves Saturday
to Embark on u. S. S.
Texas.

Wnen members OF the three QlV1-
eions of the lst Battalion District
Naval Reserves, embark next Satur-
day for their annual tour of sea duty,
they will have the very latest infor-
nation on fire control and gunnery to
aid them in their efforts to come back
with big gun score in competition
with other divisions in the country
Comdr. A. c. Clay. United States
Navy. who has just reported duty here
as inspector instructor of the local
battalion, gave lecture on this i'm
portant phase of the cruise work to
the members of the divisions, and par
ticularly those engaged in the fire con-
troll and the guns crews. This is
secret information as are the scores
which the divisions will make during
their firing. The only information
which will be published on this phase
OF the cruise will be the relative
standing of the various divisions.
Comdr. Clay also will give the or
eanlzation a close inspection Wednes-
day night at the armory in the WASH
ington Navy Yard. when he will check
up on the personnel and their equip
ment. They will ship aboard the
battleship Texas for their cruise in
Caribbean waters. with possibly week
end liberty in the middle of the cruise
at Havana or some other Cuban port.
As the uniform requirements are
more strict aboard battleship than
a hno ri fho 1lor l,a ko~ 81
each man will be closely checked to
ascertain that he has sufficient uni
form changes to carry him through
the two weeks cruise
1t is the first battlehip cruise the
local outfit has been on for a num-
the local organization are made aboard
destroyers, AS each of the three divi-
sions is trained to form the nucleus
of a crew for such a ship should it be
necessary to call them into active
service in the event of the occurrence
OF an emergency.
Following the inspection on We'd
nesday night. and remaining nights
prior to the start for the battleship.
will be taken up with the conduct of
physical examinations by the medical
officers of the Reserve
The organization will board the ship
at the Philadelphia Navy Yard The
exact time of departure from Wash
ington awaits information from the
commandant of the Philadelphia
Navy Yard and the commanding Off
Ger of the Texas as to when they are
expected to embark.
The organization will proceed to
Philadelphia by a special train, which
will take them directly to the Navy
Yard. The men will not report at
the local armory on Saturday morning
but will assemble at the Union Station.
Their hammocks will be taken by truck
to baggage car on Friday, but the
men will take their clothing bags home
and bring them to the station
Battalion officers expect that they
will be able to take 100 per cent of
the complement on the cruise, as the
men are anxious to make this trip.
Those who do not go, it was indicat-
ed, will be the men who have been
unable to make satisfactory arrange
ments with their civilian employers
Shortly after the organization re-
turns it will get its new training YES
sci. Information has been received
from the Navy Department that the
ship will be ready for them early in
H<tnhor r,;1l hn
possibly in time to get in few cruises
down the Potomac before the very cold
weather sets in.
The vessel, a 75-foot boat formerly
used by the United States Coast Guard
for patrol duty, and which has been
turned over to the Navy now is under
doing a general overhaul at the
Charleston Navy Yard. When COM
pleted, the local Reservists will be
informed and a crew OF officers and
men will be selected to 90 to Charles
ton and bring the ship to Washington.
The new vessel will provide more
facilities for training than aboard the
present boat. and will enable the Of
ficers who better meet the demands
Tor service.
Evidence Of the fine training which
the members of the local battalion re-
celved was contained in a letter last
week from the commanding officer of
the United States destroyer Roper to
1t. James E. Sullivan, commander of
the local battalion. 1t was highly
commendatory of the services rendered
aboard this vessel during recent
training cruise by Willard H. Higbie.
yeoman. second class, attached to the
staff OF the battalion commander.
During the cruise of the Roper, it
was pointed out, Higbie was given the
cole responsibility of making up daily
the smooth log. and also for the pre-
pairing for distribution throughout the
ship of the rather extensive morning
orders. He also was reported to have
been OF very great assistance to the
ships yeoman. While carrying out the
heavy duties in the ships office, he
also qualified for a sounding watch,
which he stood throughout the cruise
The commanding officer of the Ropex
said that Higbie's conduct and per-
formance of duty throughout the two
weeks cruise was outstanding and ex-
cellent. and reflected great credit on
the training provided by the local
battalion.
Very high standards have been sug-
eested by the Naval Reserve confer
ence for the basis of award of medals
to officers and men of the Reserve for
good conduct. drill attendance and
general efficiency. Among them are.
Long continuous service, a high per-
centaee in drill attendance, or equiva-
lent periods of instruction; a high
mark in conduct. high mark in pro-
ficiency in rating, attendance of a
high percentage of training cruises or
annual field training periods; high
attendance at annual inspections, COM
pletion of training courses available
for their ratings. in the case of officers
no unsatisfactory fitness reports.