Evening star., 1938-03-20
NAWAUTHOR|zES
RESERVE INCREASE
Three Divisions of Local
Battalion Each to Get
Nine More Men.

| ONAe0uOIi IOVII " OCl
Nine More Men.
The 1st Battalion. District Of Co.
lumbla Naval Reserves. will be re.
cruited to the highest number of en-.
listed men in the history Of the organ.
ization Immediately, it was indicated
last week. Orders were received from
the Navy Department directing the
battalion commander to raise the size
OF each Of his divisions to SO enlisted
men.
A little more than a year ago the
size OF the three divisions was raised
to so men. but owing to an economy
wave they were cut to so, but now
the new order directs that they be
raised to the new figure. Officers say
they will have no trouble, as the
divisions are practically at this figure
now, but not all of the men are mem
bers of the Fleet Reserve and thus
not required to attend drills.
In each Of the divisions there are
carried as supernumera-ies a number
OF members of the volunteer branch
OF the Reserve. These men are in a
class which is not required to at
tend drills, and they were not taken
into the fleet branch upon enlist
ment because of the departments
limitation on size, which in turn is
regulated by the amount Of money
available for drill pay, as each man
receives one days pay for each drill
which he attends.
All that will be necessary to make
the departments orders official will
be to transfer these volunteer men
TO fleet status. These men have
been so interested in the naval train
ing that they attend drills with the
fleet men, and many of them par
tlcipated in the recent annual in.
spection.
While the officers are pleased over
the increase. nevertheless it creates
further armory problems. The pres
ent building is so small it is difficult
to get the full result out Of all drills.
and much better training could be
obtained If suitable building were
provided.
Lester NJ Sanders, yeoman (irst
class. and Lloyd Y. Ingrahm. pl1ar-
macist's mate first class have COM
pleted examinations for promotion to
the grade of chief petty officers.
recommendations have been made
that they be appointed to fill two
existing vacancies. Both have been
IN the Regular establishment and the
reserve for a period of IL years each
and both have also re-enlsted fo-
another four years. When the ap-
polntments are made by the Nav
Department they will be assigned to
the battalion staff.
The Battalion Examining Board ha
begun the examination of a number
OF enlisted men for promotion to the
next higher ratings. Because Of the
highly specialized activities in the
| Navy. each man has to be examined
separately. and the work will require
some time, but it was indicated when
the organization starts on its annual
cruises there will be a number of
new petty officers with the outfit.
| When the men complete the tesi~
they are recommended for promotion
to fill vacancies.
The drill attendance year Of the
battalion ends on May /. and in the
nnal rush there is keen competition
being shown by all OF the divisions.
At the present time, it was said. ir-
dlcations are the 1st Fleet Division
will head the list. although the race
is not yet complete.
From the last figures turned In. il
was said the division commanded BY
Ii. w. c. Jennings had an average
OF 93.4, and if it continues to hold
this high place it will De awarded
the Admirals Cup. This figure is the
highest that has ever been reached
ny any division in the history Of the
battalion, 1t was asserted Second
Division has an average of 924.
Officials of the local Reserve are
hopeful the Navy Department will
allot them suitable training vessel
this summer For many months they
have been striving to convince the
naval officials that the organization
has reached stage in its training
where it is entitled to have a large
ship, which will permit them to get
some relief from the monotony of
taking all of their training in the
armory.
1t is understood the department has
tentatively decided to assign vessel
here as soon as one can be found
which will be suitable for the work of
the local Reservists on the river and
bay. They have been seeking one o.
the 100-foot patrol boats designed fo"
use of the Coast Guard during tt.
days of prohibition enforcement.
For another year Congress has de-
clined to provide funds with which to
purchase subsistence for the men when
they go out on their training ships
for weekend cruises. Although it was
disclosed that the naval officials who
make up the departmental estimates
for the Reserve put an item for this
in their requests, the Bureau Of the
Budget declined to approve it.
Although the destroyer Leary Is ex-
pected here within short time to pro-
vide drill activities, it has not yet
been determined whether she will bc
used for weekend cruises, If available.
However, the Reservists have launch
for training. purposes. but its use is
limited both by the number of men
who can be taken out at one time and
by the fact that the facilities aboard
for training also are very limited.
The men expect to get much valua-
BILE training on drill nights while the
vessel Is here, particularly for the
training of their gun crews, which
will take target practice under a new
system when they 60 to Guantanamo
this fall aboard the battleship Texas.
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