Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-07-02
Naval Reseryists
Head for Sea
On Annual Cruise

Three Divisions
Of Local Battalion
On Troinine Jount
Nearly 200 members Of the First
Battalion, District Naval Reserves
today are aboard three destroyers,
which, with fourth, bearing q d.
vision of reserves from Pittsburgh,
Pa, are, according to schedule,
heading out through the Chesapeake
Capes for the Southern drill grounds
OF the Navy. There, they will put
IN several days maneuvering and will
fire their regular target practice, to
snow to the regular officer observers
the results Of their armory training
during the past year. After spending
most OF the week carrying out this
most important detail, the division
OF destroyers will head for the North
River, New York, where the divisions
VIII be given the next week end
for sightseeing and an opportunity to
visit the Worlds Fair there.
Drills and exercises were passed
last week, but the officers believe
the men have performed so we'll
during the armory drill period that
they will be able to show the regular
officers that they have been well
trained.
The local divisions are aboard the
destroyers Hopkins, Reuben James
and the Goff, which with the Barry,
form Division 20 of the Atlantic
heet-one division of naval reservists
TO each destroyer.
More than 20 years after the per-
Torrance of an heroic act by a naval
reserve officer, the Navy Department
has commended him. The letter
from the Secretary of the Navy
has just been sent to Henry c.
Denyse. former lieutenant, Junior
grade, in the Naval Reserve.
Report has been received" said
the letter, concerning your out
standing performance of duty on
% March, 1919, while serving on &C
tive duty with the Navy as a lieu
tenant Junior grade) U. S. Naval
Reserve force. 1t appears that on
that date five harbor barges. which
had broken adrift from Brady's
Pier, Tompkinsville, Staten Island,
had been sighted blowing to sea in
a northwest gale and heavy snow
storm. Numerous persons. includ-
Ing women and children, were re-
ported as being aboard these barges.
Immediately upon receiving knowl-
edge OF the incident, and upon your
own Initiative, you boarded the
tug Sea Bright. and, ordering two
other tugs to follow, proceeded under
| adverse weather conditions TO Am
brose Light vessel, at which point
you took bearings, judged the di-
rection in which the barges should
have blown and further proceeded
through the heavy snowfall to an
approximate distance of Is miles
southeast of the light vessel. where
three OF the missing barges with
10 persons aboard were located and
taken In tow; you then proceeded
and located the fourth barge in q
sinking condition and removed
therefrom, under difficult condi-
tons, five persons; you then pro-
ceeded and located the fifth barge
with two persons on board and took
1t in tow and later overlook and
safely piloted the two tugs and three
other barges to safety.
The department hereby COM
mends you for your prompt and ef-
nclent action on the above occasion.
which was in keeping with the best
traditions Of the naval service"
The Navy Department has an
nounced that the new regulation
does not permit the enlistment of
radlomen, signalmen, telegraphers
or yeomen above the rating of ap-
prentice seaman, except under spe-
clal conditions. 1t also pointed out
that physical examinations are no
longer required for the transfer of
officers from the Volunteer Re-
serve for general service to the
Organized Reserve.
In connection with the appoint
ment OF offices to the Naval Reserve.
under the terms of an agreement
TO complete correspondence course
and qualify for general service BY
professional examination, the Navy
Department said that upon compile
ton of the probationary period, or
prior to the expiration of such pc
ROD. upon request of the officer
concerned, the Bureau of Naviga-
ton will authorize professional and
physical examinations for reap
polntment as ensign, and assign
ment to the Organized Reserve or
to the Volunteer Reserve for general
service. If found qualified, a new
commission, with the date of quail
flcation, will be issued the officers.
The new commission will auto
matically supercede the probation
airy commission. Service under the
probationary commissions will not
count towards the required service
In grade for promotion to lieuten-
ant, junior grade. On the other
hand, if found not qualified, or If
request for such examination Is not
submitted within the probationary
period, the officers concerned will
be discharged.
The department particularly
pointed out that the responsibility
for initiating action regarding the
examination rests with the officers
concerned. Probationary officers