Evening star., 1939-02-05
New Commander
For Naval Reserve
To Be Selected
Hope Expressed
Appointment Will
Come From Battalion

DlStrlCC naval reserve, are con-
siderably concerned as to who the
new commander will be to succeed
1t. James E. Sullivan. The selection
is to be made by the commandant
Of the Washington Navy Yard.
In probably what was his last
official address, It. Sullivan, who
has asked for transfer to the volun-
teers, told the members that while
he did not wish to convey the i'm
preston that he did not appreciate
the import of the approaching in
spection, he had decided to issue
no special instructions for the an
nual tests, an important feature Of
each years training, when the
organization is put through its
PAGES by board of regular officers
from the Navy Department. Ono
reason for not issuing special in
structions, he asserted, was that the
training policy of the local outfit
was based on its being ready for
a searching inspection by any one
at any time, with or without notice.
In other words, it was ready for
immediate service.
However, he added that there
was one point that he wished to
emphasize merely as reminder
of what is expected of them, and
that was to look their best, act alert,
go to all drills on the double but
quietly.
1t is understood several officers
Of the reserve corps, who are not
attached to the battalion nor have
they been serving with it, have
evinced a desire to be appointed
to the post. Under the system in
the reserve, any reserve officer may
be assigned to take command of the
organization, with his consent.
Furthermore, an officer OF higher
rank could be selected for the
organization.
Because of the single promotion
| list in the organized reserve, some
| officers have found it more to their
desires to leave the actively drilling
units in order to go into the volun-
teers where promotion has been
found quicker Because of their
qualifications they have been given
advanced rank which they could
not get in the organized reserve,
| although they do not receive pay IN
the volunteers as they do in the
organized reserve. But neither are
they required to give up any Of their
time for drills and other organiza-
ton activities AS matter OF fact,
| there are officers in the volunteer
reserve who have not had anything
like the naval training as those in the
organized branch; in fact. many of
| them have never served aboard
ship with the fleet, who have higher
rank than those in the organized
branch.
The local battalion had an unex-
pected taste of drill under night
| conditions, such as they would have
while serving aboard ship during
war maneuvers when the lights are
darkened, when while preparing for
their regular weekly drill last week
the lighting system In the armory
failed. It had been planned to have
an inspection under Comdr. A. T.
Clay, U. S. Navy, inspector -instruc-
tor assigned to the local outfit. just
as the inspection was about to begin
the lights went out. But these
sailormen did not pack up and go
home. They went right ahead, as
they would be expected to do aboard
ship.
| The men went to their positions
| in an orderly manner, in the dark
ness. and Comdr. Clay. accompanied
by the battalion commander and his
staff. made minute inspection of
the uniform and equipment of each
man with the aid of hand flash
lights. The lights of the armorY
remained out during the entire drill
period, but every drill and exercise
which had been planned was car
ried out in detail. After the inspec-
ton other emergency drills which
they will be expected to perform for
the Board of Inspectors for the Navy
Department were carried out. The
officers of the battalion expressed
themselves as we'll pleased with the
resourcefulness shown and the man
ner in which the men adapted them
selves to the emergency.
While in Charleston. S. c.. In con-
nection with the area conference
over the proposed new regulations
for the government of the Reserve
under the new Naval Reserve Act
1t. C. H. Williams of the local bat
talon, who represented the District
Reserve in the conference. inspected
the new vessel which is to be sent
here as training ship for the local
| organization. He said that the work
on the vessel is practically finished
and she will be ready to be cruised
to the National Capital within a
short time.
The vessel has received complete
overhauling and she will be like
new vessel when she arrives here in
time to start the spring and summer
week end training cruises on the
Potomac to supplement the small
launch which had inadequately
served the local Reserve for a num-
Der of years. A crew of officers and
men will be sent from the local bat
talon to man the vessel and bring
| her 10 washington. IL mas not YET
been decided who will command the
vessel on this trip, but it was indi-
| Gated that probably only one officer
would be called to active duty for
the voyage. Those who are selected
for the trip probably will take their
two weeks of sea training. bring the
vessel to Washington by leisurely
stages.
1t probably will be we'll into the
spring before the new regulations
for the government of the Reserve
under the act of Congress passed
last year is completed. The tenta-
tive regulations were sent out to the
various naval district, with instruc-
tions to call district conferences to
get the viewpoint of the Reservists