Evening star., 1938-01-16
RESERV|STS HOPE
FOR DESTROYER.
Training Squadron Ship May
Be Sent Here About
March !.

In the absence OF any definite In
formation as to whether . largeA
training ship will be permanently as
signed to the 1st Battalion, United
States Naval Reserves, in the District,
the officers are hoping the Navy De-
partment will send one of the training
feet destroyers here during the spring
months so that they and the enlisted
men can get training which will prime
them for their annual two weeks Of
active training during the summer
months.
The U. S. destroyer Leary was iers
during the early part of the winter,
but the divisions of the local bat
talon were not able to take full ad.
vantage of the opportunity at that
time because of the necessity of using
every moment in armory drills to
prepare for the annual inspection be-
fore a, board of regular officers from
the Navy Department. Inclement
weather also makes it impossible dur
ing the winter for the men to get the
full use out of ship assigned heIs
for an indefinite period
The local Reserve headquarters re<
ceived letter last week from I'd
Navy Department announcing I'd
annual tests will be held in the loci
armory on the night of March /.
1t is understood either the Lean
or some other destroyer of the At
lantic Training Squadron is scheduled
to arrive here about March fo<
training purposes.
During the period that the vessel
will be here, it was said, she will be
available for weekend cruises, in ad-
dition to being available for Use on
drill nights, when the officers and
men carry out their battle problems
and make further preparations to ac-
quaint themselves with the armament
so that they can make good marks
while on their annual training cruises
this summer.
| Plan Indoctrinati0n.
Systematic plans for the indoctrina-
ton Of Naval Reserve officers after
| they receive their commissions in the
| organization should be followed, 50
that when mobilization day comes
every one will be thoroughly familiar
| with the duties he is expected to per-
| form, according toa recommendation
of Naval Reserve officers which Is
before the Navy Department.
The suggestion was made that q
short pamphlet of information on the
Navy and Naval Reserve and the re-
| lationship of one to the other should
| be prepared. together with bibliogra-
ply for further study, should be pre-.
pared and given to every officer upon
appointment. 1t was recommended it
include information regarding the nas
ture of the duties he may be required
| to perform and the procedure in
qualifying therefor.
Many officers, it was asserted. are
| appointed to the Volunteer Naval Re-
serve. because of some special line
OF their civilian occupation which
| would make them valuable to the
naval service either ashore or anoat
in time of war. But no provision
Is made for training these officers
as general thing, although the Reg
ular Navy instructors here have
started on plan of their own ofs
getting these officers together at fre-
| quent intervals for the purpose Of
| listening to lectures on naval matters.
That these are desirable is evidenced
by the fact that all of the talks
| which have been given have been
largely attended by volunteer officers
| in Washington and vicinity. At the
same time naval officers have realized
| that to be able to use the members
Of this branch to the utmost, in time
of emergency, steps should now be
! taken to give them some instruction
as to what would be expected of them
if called to the colors.
| If indoctrinated during peace times,
it was said, these volunteer officers
would be ready to take their station
and carry out the duties expected of
them without further instruction.
Special Course Prescribed.
In this connection it was said every
applicant for an appointment in the
Commissioned Reserve, except avia-
ton cadets and r. o. T. c. graduates,
should be required to complete q pre-
scribed course in Navy regulations and
customs during the first two years Of
service. For this purpose this rec
ommendation was followed up with
another that there be prepared by the
Navy Department series of lectures
to be delivered to officers of all classes
of the Reserve by designated, WELL
qualified lecturers. on other than the
regular drill nights of the Fleet Re-
serve. and with special lectures on
confidential and other subjects to
those officers requiring instruction in
such subjects. Officers who take these
lectures, in addition to their regular
duties, should be given credit on their
records. which would be examined in
time of war to see how well they have
qualified in time of peace to take their
places with the fleet in time of war
AS part of the training Of Reserve
officers, the latter believe number
of the senior officers of that group
should be brought to the Navy De-
partmenta for short periods for in
doctrination. Many of these officers.
it was pointed out, will have i'm
portant administrative duties in time
of conflict, an dthey, like the volun.
teer officers, should be given an OPP
portunity to get the necessary train
ing in time of peace instead Of under
the stress of immediate preparation
for war. Furthermore, 1t was recon-
mended that when officers Of any class
of the Reserve are ordered to training
duty ashore, they should be given
systematic instruction and indoc-
trination, preferably by means Of
regular classes, in the duties which
they will be expected to perform, II
modified.
To Make Awards.
Some method of recognizing service
in the Naval Reserve should be pro-
vided, 1t is said, as Is done In the