Evening star., 1938-05-08
RESERVES At SEA
ON j. s. s. LEARY
Destroyer In Atlantic on
Special Cruise for
Local Sailors,

With officers and nearly 50 men of
the 1st Battalion, District Naval Re-
serve, aboard, the United States de-
stroyer Leary is steaming out in the
Atlantic to destination which was
unknown at the time she cast of her
lines from the Navy Yard dock How
ever, there were three destinations,
tentatively selected, but their use as
liberty ports for the local citizen
sailors was dependent upon necessary
diplomatic contacts.
| AS stated last week, 1t had been
planned to go either to Bermuda or
Nassau, but in the event the arrange
ments could not be made with the
foreign governments, then the ship will
head for Miami, Fla, for short stay.
This however, Is not the regular cruise
for the Reservists, but one which they
volunteer to take without pay or al
ing. The vessel left here last Thurs
day morning and is scheduled to re-
turn next Thursday.
The vessel was sent here several
weeks ago to be used for drill pur-
poses and the three divisions have
been making full use of her. However,
it is not expected that the ship will
remain long after her cruise in South
| ern waters, as she is scheduled to join
the training squadron which has been
assigned to take groups of midship-
men on voyages on the Atlantic Coast
| during the summer months.
During the cruise the men will carry
on the regular training routine which
they perform during their annual
cruises and expected to give some at
tention to special training of the gun
crews in preparation for the new sys-
tenn of target practice which will be
tried out by the Reserves this year.
1t. Comdr Charles B. McVay. Sd,
U. S. N, who for several years has
been instructor Of the local battalion,
was rendered a dinner at the Raleigh
Hotel by the Reserve officers last week
1t was an expression of an apprecia-
tion on the part Of the officers for
the excellent work he had done ford
the battalion Rear Admiral Charles
B. McVay. jr.. U. S. N. (retired),
former commander in chief of the
Asiatic Fleet and father of the COM
mander, was an honor guest.
Although proud of the marks which
the divisions and the battalion received
on the report of the last annual
inspection by a board of Regular OFF,
GERS from the Navy Department, Re-
servists of the 1st Battalion are anxi-
ously waiting for the board to CON- :
plete its inspections of all the Re-
serve units throughout the country so
that they may obtain information on
their relative standing.
They believe they have made such
vast strides that there is possibility
they might have gained first position
this year.
Under 1t. James E. Sullivan, bat
talon commander. rigid system of
schools and practical training has
been put into effect, which keeps
both the officers and men at top-notch
efficiency at all times. The continua-
ton of this program keeps them ready
for any kind of inspection. at any
time, without the necessity Of making
special effort for any period. And
this fact gives assurance also that
the three divisions will make an ex-
cellent showing when compared to
other divisions from other parts Of
the country when they take their an
nual cruise this year aboard the bat
tleship Texas to the United States
Naval Station at Guantanamo, Cuba.
The Navy Department has called
to the attention of Reservists that
new edition of the Blue Jackets Man
ual has been published by the United
States Naval Institute at Annapolis.
1t was pointed out that since the
original edition of this manual was
| issued in 1902, it has become accepted
by the Navy as vital need to every
man O. wars man, and of special
value to those newly commissioned or
enlisted in the naval service.
Both Fleet and Volunteer Naval Re-
serve officers in large numbers attend
| ed the sixth of a series OF lectures
planned for the instruction of Re-
servists in the organization and oper-
alton of the Navy which was given at
the Reserve armory last week at the
Washington Navy Yard. This lecture
was delivered by 1t. H. c. Daniel,
U. S. N, on THE Organization of
BattleShip."
These lectures, it was pointed out.
have become particularly attractive
to officers of the Volunteer Naval
Reserve who are not required to at
tend regular drills, and many of them.
have never had any contact with the
Navy until they received their COM
missions While most Of them are
specialists in some particular civilian
work which makes their services an
asset to the Navy in time Of war.
nevertheless they are encouraged to
take the lectures as part of their
indoctrination Of naval affairs so
that they would be familiar with many
details which they would have to
know before they could enter upon
full service in time of war;
The question was raised in Con-
greSS during the consideration OF re-
serve legislation as to why men should
be classified as Volunteer Naval Re-
serve when they have no drill and
get no compensation, but merely re-
ceive letter now and then from the
department telling them something
about the Navy. At that time it was
pointed out that it would be bene-
fetal to rewrite the whole law. How
ever, the officers of the department
do not feel that that is necessary. as.
after thorough study of the Organic
Act under service conditions, while
they feel that it needs some changes,
they have not recommended a COM
plete rewriting OF the act, nor Is it
believed that this is necessary How
ever, Congress has done nothing def
mite to aid the department In bring
ing about this more efficient reserve