Evening star., 1938-11-20
Naval Reservists Here
Given High Rating
On Annual Cruise
Officers and Men Pleased
With Report From
The Texas

Members Of the three divisions
composing the 1st Battalion, Dis.
trict Naval Reserves, have clearly
shown that they can take their sta
ton beside the Regulars in the event
Of the development Of q national
emergency, according to indications
contained in the report made to the
Navy Department on their efficiency
as observed when they made their
annual cruise last summer aboard
the battleship Texas.
The report was described as one
Of the most glowing ever given tho
local contingent, in which they were
highly commended for their OUT
standing performance of duty. Both
officers and enlisted men made an
excellent impression on the COM
manding officer of the battleship, the
report said. They were described as
intelligent, energetic and enthusi-
astically eager to get every possible
benefit out of their brief stay aboard
the ship. The captain Of the Texas
added that their discipline, respect
and subordination to authority were
excellent. and he asserted that he
would be pleased to have his ship
brought up to war complement from
the ratings available in the Wash
ington battalion.
The men were enthusiastic over
the report, which was held to be
most gratifying and will spur them
to greater efforts during the current
drill year, when they will strive to
climb further toward the top Of the
ladder in the annual competitions.
The cruise mark was held to be q
great benefit in their efforts to reach
top rank, and it was said that with
this mark there is an exceptionally
good chance that their goal will be
reached. This. it was explained.
comes from the fact that under the
recently revised system OF rating the
Reserve battalions in their efficiency
and merit standing the cruise mark
will be given factor of so per cent
out of a possible 100. This means
that when the Navy inspecting ON
GERS make their annual visit to the
local organization, If they have OBJ
tanned so per cent marking from tho
cruise, then they will only have to
make up the other so pc. cent by
their drills, exercises and classroom
instruction in the armory work Of
the year. 1t was pointed out that
the cruising is, after all, the really
important phase of the work, as
there the men are under the OBJ
servation of the officers and men Of
the ship. who can see just what the
Reservists would be able to do under
actual service conditions, matter
which cannot be fully weighed by
observations in the armory work.
They show under actual cruising
conditions just what they can do,
including firing the guns and other
emergency work incidental to put
ting the ship in battle.
Although the target practice re-
suits are confidential matter, it is
understood the local sailors were
far superior to practically all Of the
other divisions with which they
cruised. This is considered rather
important from the Reservists stand
point, as they were among the first
this year to put into effect the new
system of target practice. That is
the moving target. Heretofore, be-
cause of the expense involved, they
have been required to fire at small
fixed target, when any shell within
certain radious was set down as
hit, the judgment of the umpire
as to the space in which it hit de-
Gliding the point.
1t was indicated in the report that
in drill attendance and general
readiness for mobilization, other
factors considered in the marking,
all three divisions stand much higher
than at any time in the history Of
the local battalion. The local or
ganization was rated in second place
by the Navy Department, as COM
pared with Naval Reserve organiza-
tions through the United States. on
the inspection Of last year. The
local outfit was tied for second place
with the 9Th and 9th Naval Districts
in an analysis OF the Is naval dis
tricts in the country.
A formal parade and review has
been scheduled for December to
make formal presentation to Chief
Boatswain's Mate c, M, Berryhiu Of
the gold medal donated by the
Veterans of Foreign Wars for his
long, active, faithful and outstand-
ing attention to duty over the period
with which he has been associated
with the Naval Reserve. Mr.. Berry,
hill is the leading petty omcer in
the 1st Division.
He has been repeatedly com.
mended for his outstanding leader
ship qualities and he is held in the
highest esteem by both the officers
and men of the organization. He
is former member of the regular
establishment. who joined the local
outfit upon his discharge from that
service. He also is one of the hold
ers of the Naval Reserve Officers
Gold Medal, an award made an.
nually to the outstanding enlisted
man in each division.
1t. James E. Sullivan, commanding
the local battalion, announced there
will be no drill this week, on account
of Thanksgiving, In accordance with
instructions received from the Navy
Department. However, there will
be a drill November %.
Members Of the communications
division have shown great improve
ment in the over-the-air drills, 1t
was reported, the procedure being
better and the operating much I'm.
proved. This Is believed to be the
result Of an admonition given the
men by the commanding ofncer, in
which he called attention that they
| nn,ist stAn I'm their efflciencv II