Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-06
Local Naval Reserve
Faced With New
Personnel Problem

Navy Yard Men Slated
To Be Dismissed From
Battalion
The LIST Battalion, District Naval
Reserves, is confronted with the pos
sibility Of having to put on a great
recruiting campaign to fill its ranks
which may be seriously depleted by
an order withdrawing members who
are employed In the Navy Yard.
Orders came out last week directing
that members who were employed
in civilian capacities in the local
gun factory should be discharged SO
that they would be free to carry
on their civilian work In time of
national emergency which might
involve calling the reserve to the
colors.
Coming as it does shortly before
the annual inspection, the matter
Is viewed with much concern by the
local officers. Unless they are able
spection board may find only small
divisions with but few veterans in
them.
Each of the three divisions here,
according to plans, is to form the
nucleus Of crew of a destroyer.
All OF their training is along this
line. But If an emergency develops.
and 1t should be decided that even
II the yardmen remain in the reserve,
they might be assigned to yard work,
which would leave the divisions
materially short So 1t is considered
to be far better to take the necessary
steps now, so that new men may be
obtained to take their places and
begin training so that the divisions
could proceed to their assignments
intact without the delay of wedding
out those whose services would be
considered of more importance in
their home stations.
Most of the yard employees are in
the engineering force of the three
divisions, it was explained, and it
will be difficult to Immediately fill
their ranks with expert machinists.
particularly men who are familiar
with the workings of the intricate
machinery which is aboard the
modern destroyer. Developing men
for the flreroom and engine room
forces, it was explained, is a long
and tedious task, and in the Begin
ming the men must have some TECH
nical training OF course, the fire.
room training Is much more simple
than the preparation of men to
handle and take care of the ma
chinery.
The effect of the proposal, If final
ly carried out, will mean that there
will be much more opportunity for
advancement for the men, as many
of those who might be discharged
from the reserve as result of this
plan are those in the higher petty
officer ratings. 1t also will throw a
heavy load of work on the enlisted
mems examining boards, the men,
bers of which must examine each
man scheduled for promotion indi-
vidually.
There is the hope among the off,
GERS that the elimination process
may be held of until after the an
nual inspection, so that the battalion
may obtain the full benefit of every
possible opportunity to obtain a
higher mark.
During the recent Navy Day cele-
bration of the reserve, officers of the
navy yard, headed by Rear Admiral
Pettengill commandment of the gun
factory, were given an opportunity
to see first hand the very seriously
crowded conditions which the large
organization is compelled to obtain
its training. Everything in the old
building is seriously crowded, and
with the battalion on the floor for
review, there was little room left for
the reviewing officers and the large
number of spectators who attended
to witness the work of the reserve.
The result may be, it was indi-
Gated. new interest in the efforts of
the officers to obtain for the reserv-
lists a new and adequate armory in
which they can hold their weekly
drills and carry out their training
schedule 1t. James E. Sullivan,
commander of the organization, has
made numerous efforts to bring
about the provision of funds for a
new building, but to no avail.
Just what steps will be taken to
obtain funds has not been decided
upon, but it is probabale that efforts
will be made to convince the Navy
Department of the seriousness Of the
local situation with view to having
a fund included in the next naval
appropriation bill. There Is. of
course, the possibility that some
Public Works funds might be OBJ
tanned, in which event 1t would not
be necessary to make an appeal to
have it included in the regular APP
preparation act.
1t was explained what the reserv-
lists really need is specially de-
signed building so that every
branch will have certain provision
made for its particular training.
Some time ago tentative plans for
such a building we're drawn and
received the approval of the then
commandant of the navy yard and
these went forward to the Navy
Department, where 1t was indicated
that they also received approval.
but they did not get far enough to
bring about the provision Of funds.
Included in the tentative design
was provision for a structure large
enough not only for the reserve
battalion, but also far the marine
corps reserve regiment which also
is getting its training in very poor
waters.
Only funds for the construction
Of building would be needed, it
was asserted, as site has been set
aside in the Washington Navy Yard,
on the Anacostia River adjacent to
the Eleventh street bridge. Tho
building would be so situated that