Evening star., 1938-08-14
NAVAL RESERVES
GET HIGH MARKS
Local UEit Scores Reported
Higher This Year Than
Last.

Members of the lst Battalion, Dis
trict Naval Reserve, had cause for
rejoicing last week when 1t became
known that they had again attained
a high standing in the highly COM
petitive race for supremacy among
the 81 battalions throughout the
country.
The battalion stood higher this
year than last They are starting
now to strive for top place which
was captured by the 1st Battalion at
Boston, Mass.
It was announced also that the Sd
Fleet Division, commanded by 1t. F.
S. Kirk, lead the three divisions of
the battalion in relative standing this
year. having finished in 23d place
among the 148 divisions scattered in
various parts of the country
The citizen sailors are preparing
for their cruise, with the goal the
making Of high mark on the cruise
when they will be under the constant
observation of the regular officers
OF the Battleship Texas. on which
vessel they will make their annual
tour Of sea training
The guns crews on each drill night
are kept necessarily at their work Of
gun pointing. teamwork and loading,
SO as to coordinate the work with
a view to making high ratings at
target practice which, this year, will
be held under new system designed
by the Navy Department to put the
shooting of the Reservists on the
same plane as that of the Regular
outfits.
Also during each drill signal flag
hoists flash up and down on the
bridge" which has been constructed
In the armory, and blinker lights
mark off dot-and-dash messages
across the drill hall of the armory.
all q part Of the plan of the battalion
commander to present aboard the bat
tleship a corps of quartermasters and
signalmen who can show their ability
to handle a signal watch aboard the
big ship with the same efficiency as
the Regulars. This will be kept up
until the time the organization de-
parts from Washington to embark on
the ship for the 15-day cruise.
The engine room force also is get
ting some practical instruction. now
being engaged in taking down and
overhauling the instruction machinery
which has been installed in the base
ment of the armory. This is expected
of them, to be ready to undertake any
task whether overhaul or main
tenance which may be assigned them
while on the cruise.
From present indications the Or
ganization will take practically all OF
its personnel on the training voyage
This is rather important, as the num-
Der of men cruised as compared with
the number on the rolls of the bat
talon materially affects the marks
which are received at the annual in
spection before a board of Regular
officers.
Chief Machinist's Mate John
Moody, a veteran member of the local
battalion, has organized special class
Of instruction for machinist's mates,
The members of this class attend the
school on Thursday nights, which is in
addition to their regular weekly drill,
md it is extra time. for which they
do not receive any pay.
Mr.. Moody gives them instruction
in the operation of lathes in turning
out parts for machinery. and also in
the operation Of other equipment US
TALLY found in the machine shop Of
any ship There is complete machine
shop installed in the drill hall Of the
local armory.
Word has been received at the local
armory that the next annual inspec-
ton will be conducted by the regular
Navy Department board of officers in
February, 1899. although the exact
date has not yet been set. The officers
welcome the early date so that the
way will be clear for them to get In
some drills on the destroyer which
usually makes one stop of several
months here each year. The Reserv-
lists lost much time last year. because
when the ship was here they were ur-
able to make the most use OF her, as
they were preparing for the annual
inspection. These preparations must
be made in the armory. as the inspec-
ton board makes its tests there. and 1t
would be useless to train the men
aboard ship and then have them take
their inspection tests under entirely
different conditions.
Having been put to continuous
service during the summer, the
motor launch assigned to the local
battalion has been laid up for repairs.
This is another argument for the
assignment here Of large vessel, such
as a 75-foot patrol boat. which is ex-
pected to come in the fall.
The vessel is needed every week end
In order that every man may get some
service afloat during the summer
months, and If it becomes necessary to
lay her up for repairs for week end
or two during the summer, the matter
Is serious from training standpoint.
1t was pointed out. General overhauls
have usually been saved until the
winter months, when the launch is out
Of the water, but the vessel has de-
veloped serious engine trouble, which
necessitated the present lay-up.
Members of the Naval Communica-
tions Reserve Division here are TAX
ing advantage Of every opportunity
offered to make cruises aboard ships
Of the fleet. These men are not re-
quired to make annual cruises. but
opportunities are offered them from
time to time to make training voyages
Two Of the men now are on an eight
weeks cruise aboard the airplane car
rier Enterprise, their itinerary carry
ing them to Brazil
Twelve members of the command
have made applications to go on the
annual cruise of the Fleet Reserve
Battalion aboard the battleship Texas.
and it was indicated that probably
all would be permitted to 60.