Evening star., 1938-10-09
RESERVE TRAINING
SHIP IS DELAYED
Larger Vessel Probably viii
Not Be Here Until
Spring.

Although a tentative crew has been
held In readiness to 60 to the Charles
ton (s. CO. Navy Yard this month to
bring here new training ship for the
lst Battalion, District Naval Reserves
the members learned with regret last
week that it now will be some time
next spring before they will have the
vessel here for week end cruises. The
naval authorities at Charleston will
not have completed the overhaul until
spring.
While the local reservists will have
10 forego their proposed winter cruis-
ing, because Of the change in the date
when the vessel is expected to arrive
here, they nevertheless plan to make
full use Of the ship during next spring
and summer. The vessel, former
Coast Guard patrol boat turned over
to the Navy, Is larger than the pres
ent training launch and will make it
possible for more officers and men to
be accommodated on the Saturday and
Sunday cruises and also will make 1t
possible for them to proceed for greater
distances down the river on each Of
them.
When the vessel is turned over to
the local reservists they will find that
she has been thoroughly overhauled
and will be in the prime OF condition,
including her power plant, which is of
the gasoline type. The repair work
Is costing more than was originally
estimated il vas Said
The three divisions composing the
local battalion are engaged on q
strenuous training program, mapped
out by the battalion commander, 1t.
James r. Sullivan, which will culmi-
nate in flnal general assembly and
public drill on the night of October
~, which Is Navy Day. Although the
regular drills of the local battalion are
held on Tuesday evening, the last drill
OF the month has been shifted to
Thursday Of the last week, because OF
the fact that is Navy Day, when the
Reserve will invite officials and the
general public to witness the work
that they are doing in preparing them
CSANCo 4OI 6ClNiCC dUOd1u tllC 4lccb III
time Of . national emergency.
Battle problems will feature the drills
the remainder Of the month, as will
special instructions to the quartermas-
ter and signalman groups, who will
be given instruction in the dispatch
and receipt Of tactical signals, 50 i'm
portant in maneuvering during battle.
During the Navy Day demonstration
it's expected that the signalmen will
be called upon to show the visitors the
various methods used by the Navy in
carrying on communication work dur
ing maneuvers, including blinker, SEM
aphore and nag hoists.
While it is expected that the whole
evening will be given over to DEM
onstrations for the benefit Of the pub
lie, detailed plans have not vet been
perfected.
The Sd Fleet Division showed such
. burst Of activity in building up It's
attendance record during the last
month that it has tied for first place
with the 1st Division. Both of these
divisions had attendances Of 94.6 per
cent, while the I'd Division mustered
BOT per cent OF its enrolment. How
ever. the I'd Division showed the most
Improvement for the month, jumping
from 64.7 per cent. The Sd Divisions s
previous month percentage was 92.6,
while that Of the 1st Division was 93.6
per cent,
The eyes Of the Reservists here and
throughout the country are centered
on the Navy Department to ascertain
who will be the rear admiral OF the
Reserve. authorized under the new
Naval Reserve Act. There is consid-
cradle speculation Is to the selection
Of the man to Ill this new assignment
IN the Reserve, but it will be by selec-
ton. However, the Selection Board
will not be convened until about De-
cember l. The specific date is to
be announced later, as will also the
list Of officers eligible for the promo
tion. This will be done so that they
can bring their service records up to
date for the consideration Of the board,
the personnel of which has not even
been announced.
The Navy Department said that, in
view Of the numerous questions which
require decision before convening Sc
lection boards in the grades of rear
admiral, captain and commander, and
IN order that the more pressing task
Of writing the new Naval Reserve regu-
lations, under the terms of the new
act, may be completed at the earliest
practicable date, the convening Of
these boards has been deferred.
It Is expected that the rear admiral
will be selected from among the cap
tains in the Reserve, of which there
are only q few.
The Naval Reserve Policy Board will
be convened here during the period
March 6 to 18, next, to review the
recommendations of the various dis
tTict group conferences and to submit
final recommendations to the Secre-
tary Of the Navy concerning the Naval
Reserve regulations to be promulgated
In accordance with the act.
The Secretary OF the Navy has sent
letter to the commandants OF all
naval districts prescribing the organi-
nation Of the Naval Reserve under the
new act It Is expected that in the
near future similar instructions in
regard to the organization Of the
Aviation Reserve will be issued and
that the unit of organizati ton of the
aviation branch will be changed from
the division to squadron organization.
At such time as aviation divisions are
abolished, it was announced, organiza-
taons of the Naval Reserve formerly
designed as fleet divisions will be desig-
mated merely as divisions.
A new edition of the Landing Force
Manual is being prepared separately
by chapters, in loose-leaf form, to-
gether with binds. Arrangements are
being made to procure supply Of
chapters /, z, 3, 4, 10, Is and II, which