Evening star., 1938-03-13
DC. UNIT TO TRAIN
ON BATTLESH|P
Texas Assigned to Take
Naval ReserviSts on
Annual Cruise.

wv ~ stSS~s
Annual Cruise.
The 1st Battalion, District of Co.
lumbia Naval Reserves, will get big
ship training this year. the Navy De-
partment having decided they will
make their annual sea voyage on the
battleship Texas. The liberty port
will be Guantanamo. Cuba, where the
Government maintains naval sta
ton.
The Reservists, however, are not to
be sent there during the hot sum-
mer months. The schedule issued by
the Navy Department provides for the
three divisions composing the local
battalion to begin its annual cruise
on September 10.
The cruise comes rather late in the
year and the officers are hopeful the
enlisted men will be able to obtain
their vacations at this time. as they
are anxious to keep up their large
percentage of men who take the an
nual cruises, as this counts in the
markings for the annual inspection
next year. Business firms, however,
usually complete their vacations dur
ing the summer months, but they have
been given plenty of notice so that
steps can be taken we'll in advance
to make arrangements for leave in
order. All are required to take at least
two weeks sea training each year.
No explanation was offered as to
why they were ordered to take the
battleship cruise, as each of the three
local divisions is organized to form
the neucleus of destroyer crew in
time of an emergency. Although it is
known to be the departments gen.
eral policy to provide battleship train
ing for all Reservists, in order to give
them we'll rounded preparation for
any class of service in which they
might be needed in the event of being
called to the colors upon the occur
renee of a national emergency. It
was pointed out that although the
men might be assigned Immediately
to commission Reserve destroyers if
called into the service, a war of any
duration might necessitate their being
sent to battleships later to fill va
cancies as they occur In order to
have them thoroughly trained for
this duty and to avoid unnecessary
delay in time of war, they are given
the broadening instruction now. The
orders to 90 aboard a battleship is
not taken to mean that their present
status as destroyer crews is to be
changed
Furthermore. it was explained, the
Reservists will be introduced to a
new type of target practice, a feature
which they have been seeking for
some years. This involves the pro-
vision Of large targets towed by tugs,
so that the gunners will be able to
directly observe the results of their
work when the targets are brought
aboard the ship after firing. At the
same time, the provision of a battle
snip for the cruising will enable the
Navy Department to cruise a larger
number of divisions at one time. It is
understood the Pennsylvania Naval
Reserves will make the same voyage
as has been assigned to the District
of Columbia outfits AS q matter of
fact the present plans call for the
local Reservists to proceed to Philadel-
phia by train and board the Texas
at that port, and to debark there upon
completion of the voyage
As tho nau, forrot y,ro of;,z
will be rather in the experimental
stage so far as the Reservists are con-
cerned, it is probable that the de-
partment decided to place them on q
battleship where they could use the
secondary batteries, and where there
will be more Regular officers available
to assist in directing the Inauguration
of the practice. AS a matter of fact
not all of the Reserve uni. will have
this new target practice feature this
year. and it is rather distinction for
the local Reservists to be selected to
be among the first to assist in inaugur-
ating 1t. The new system would make
1t more economical for the larger
ship to be used. because If each division
went on a destroyer, 1t would be
necessary to send the target and tug
to the target grounds each time,
whereas with seven or eight divisions
to fire it would only be necessary to
send it out for the one time, to remain
until firing is completed. The present
plans call for target practice to be
held for two days during the first
week of the cruise and two days dur
ing the second period, after the mid
cruise liberty.
The radio station equipment of the
Communications Reserve will be con-
siderably improved. the Navy Depart
ment having allotted additional funds
to this outfit. The officers of the unit
are obtaining information on various
installations with view to determin-
ing how they can get the most for the
funds which have been allocated to
them.
This organization now is in sixth
place in the national competition, the
figures on standing being made up of
q number of factors, including over
the-air drills, drill attendance and re-
cruiting. A strenuous recruiting cam
paign now is being put on, and it is
the hope that the relative standing
OF the unit can be brought nearer the
top. At least the personnel is being
instructed to give special attention to
efforts to interest young men in the
organization, which is composed of
amateur and professional radio opera
tors. as well as those engaged in other
forms of communication. However. it
was explained that young men inter-
ested in this form of communication
may enlist and take the courses which
will give them radio operator status
The annual inspection of this
division is expected between April IS
and May Is.
Opportunity is to be offered to a
number of young men of the organiza-
tion to get higher ratings and ad-
vance toward the petty officers group.
All men who have held their present