Evening star., 1939-12-17
Most Efficient
Naval Reservist
To Get VT. ". Medal

Board Of Officers
Named to Select
Recipient Of Award
The outstanding member of the
1st Battalion, District Naval Re-
serve, will be selected this week by
a board composed Of the COM
manders of the three divisions COM
posing this unit. He is to be the
recipient of the medal awarded each
year by the District Of Columbia
Department, Veterans Of Foreign
Wars, the presentation to be made
at formal ceremony, by George J.
McLeish, department commander.
Each Of the three division COM
manders has selected a candidate
from his division. The officers will
go over the accomplishments Of each
man as reported by his division Off
Ger, and will vote on each name.
Among the matters considered in
making the selections are the drill
attendance Of the candidates, his
efficiency to the division as a unit,
his efficiency in his rating and his
manner Of performing his duties
during the annual cruise aboard
ships of the fleet.
1t. A. j. Benz, U. S. ~, director of
naval reserve affairs in this area,
and 1t. Robert Rice, U. s. N,
his assistant, inspected the special
division of Naval Academy candi-
dates last week, and it was reported
found 1t well trained and efficient
1t. q. g. H. Arthur Lamar. is
commander of this division, which
is composed Of enlisted men as
signed to the local battalion who
plan to take the examinations in the
spring for appointment to the
United States Naval Academy on
July l, next.
Under command Of 1t. H. Arthur
Lamar, the YP-47, the new training
ship of the local battalion, made a
training voyage down the Potomac
last week to Piney Point. The per-
sonnel was put through various
drills, including signaling and ship
operation. With 1t. Lamar on the
voyage were Ensigns C. J. Carroll
of the I'd Division and c. A. Appleby
of the Supply Corps.
At last the officers Of the local Re-
serve battalion have been confronted
with concrete facts that the build
ing which goes under the name of
an armory is no such thing, and has
not sufficient space to permit the
organization to carry on the work
which is assigned them by the Navy
Department.
At the beginning Of the year the
local battalion is supposed to put
into effect the new drill regulations
for infantry-the Navy uses infantry
ashore when on expeditions or on
parade. With some doubts as to
whether 1t could be carried out in
the armory, the officers had little
trial OF 1t last week and found that
division would not fit in the drill
hall under some of the movements
provided in the new regulations.
Therefore, it has been decided that
it will have to be modified somewhat
If the new regulations and the per-
sonnel are to remain in the building
More than anything else, the trial
) drills have served to bring force
fully to the fore the necessity of
having new armory here for the
Reservists. The officers association
has a committee now considering
the matter, and the drill problem
will be prominent in calling the
needs to the attention of those Off
cials who have authority to take
the matter to Congress.
Another thing which hampers the
local citizen sailors in their armory
efforts is an article in the bylaws
of the national association which
says that it shall be its mission to
cooperate with the constituted
naval authorities in maintaining an
efficient Naval and Marine Corps
Reserve and in advancing the in
tereStS of the naval service as a
whole. The chapter in list of
policies adopted says that it will
carry out the associations mission of
cooperation, in advocating only
matters which are not in conflict
with the departments policies af-
fecting the Reserve.
In mapping out a program Of in
terest to attract the members dur
ing the year. it is planned to have
at each session some matter of pro-
fessional naval interest presented
for advancing the knowledge and
interest of the membership, such as
lectures on various branches of the
service, speakers from the services,
congressional or civilian fields on
matters of national Importance and
interest to the Naval Reserve.
The chapter has taken the stand
that the dues paid to the national
association should be materially re-
duced in order to permit the local
chapters to maintain financial sta
bility and carry on more local activ-
tiles and increase membership. If
the present high dues are to be con-
tinued, the officers contend. then the
national association should COM
pensate the chapters by more fire.
quent publication of the Naval and
Marine Corps Gazette or through
other means keep the chapters con-
versant with events of Importance
concerning the Reserve and any
steps taken by the national officers.
1t is also the contention of the local
officers that the national association
should take cognizance of the ma
tional character of the District chap
ter and lend aid and support in
activities of the local chapter not
inconsistent with national policies.
The controller general Of the