Evening star., 1939-08-06
Naval Reserve
Battalion Here
Gets New Instructor
1t. Robert H. Rice, U.S.N..
Ordered to Duty
At Local Armory

inspector ana IN Cnarge OF all naval
Reserve activities in this vicinity,
including the volunteer classes
which include the Naval Communi-
cations Reserve.
1t. Rice has seen extensive sea
service and came here from the U.
S. Submarine $50, of which he was
the commanding officer. He was on
the battleship Texas when that
vessel was flagship of the United
States Fleet, on the flagship Pitts
burgh in the Asiatic Fleet and on the
flagship Luson of the Yangtze River
patrol in China.
With two officers assigned to the
local battalion, it was indicated that
the drill schedule will be vigor-
Gus one during the current year
leading up to the annual inspec-
tions.
There is understood to be a move
ment to do away with the annual
inspections as means of deter
mining the efficiency Of the readi-
ness of the Reserve units to take
their places in the fleet in time OF
national emergency. 1t has been
contended that the true picture OF
their value cannot be obtained by
an inspection board which spends
only about two hours with them
once a year and then must make
their observations under armory
conditions rather than shipboard
conditions. 1t is asserted that the
better idea of the relative efficiency
of the units can be obtained through
observations by the regular officers
and enlisted men during the actual
performance of duties of the officers
and men while they are at sea on
their annual tours of duty aboard
active ships of the fleet. After all,
it was pointed out, these officers
and men are being trained for sea
duty, and the best way to find out
If they can fill their billets is to
watch them under actual service
conditions with the equipment and
machinery which they would be ex-
pected to handle in time OF a ma
tional emergency which necessitated
calling them into active duty.
1t. q. g. j. w. Shultz, supply Of
ficer, has been called to active outy
at the Washington Navy Yard, and
is attached to the Office of the COM
mandant. While on active duty he is
supervising the transfer of clothing
and equipment of the local battalion
to new storerooms in the local
armory. Because of the crowded
armory conditions, the paymaster
has been assigned only small cubby
hole in the cellar of the local armory,
which was not considered satlsfac-
tory either for the proper care OF
clothing and other stores or for its
proper issue, which includes giving
the enlisted men proper fit.
Therefore, new and larger store
rooms have been constructed on the
second floor. In order to provide
this the wardroom in the officers
quarters has been reduced in size
and the space included in the new
storeroom.
The arnory problem is becoming
more and more serious to the local
citizen sailors each year, it was said,
and the crowded conditions make
1t difficult for them to carry out
their drill schedules with the dis
patch and efficiency which would be
possible with larger and more ade-
quate quarters, especially fitted for
their needs. 1t is probable that re-
newed efforts toward an armory
will be made during the coming fall.
Interest in the armory project has
been further increased by the in
formation which was received this
week that the Baltimore Reserve
battalion is to be provided with
new armory. The Baltimore Reserves
have for the past several years taken
their annual tours of sea duty with
the officers and men of the local
battalion.
The local reservists were informed
that the Maryland Legislature, at its
last session, provided an approeria-
ton in the State bond-issue bill for
the acquisition of a site and the
erection thereon of building for
an armory. The amount was given
as 100000. 1t is understood that the
preliminary floor plans have been
drawn for the structure and indica-
tions were given that actual con-
struction would be started this fall
The site has been made available
by the city of Baltimore 1t has an
approximate water frontage of TAO
feet, and has been used for several
years as wharfage for the U. S. S.
Eagle Sc, now assigned there as a
training ship. This vessel was put
in commission by officers and men
of the local Reserve battalion at the
Portsmouth. N. H., Navy Yard sew
eral years ago and brought to Wash
ington. where it served for several
years as the training ship here. The
city of Seattle is building an armory
for naval reservists as a w. P A.
project and proposes to turn it over
to the Federal Government when
completed for permanent use as a
Naval Reserve armory.
The local reservists have tried
several times to get w. P. A. funds
and even an appropriation from
Congress for an armory, but each
time their efforts have been met
with distractions at the Navy De-
partment, it was said. Only funds
for actual construction would be
needed here, it was explained, as a
site on the Anacostia River water
front has been allocated for it's con-
struction. Plans provide for it to be
used also as an armory for the Ma
rine Corps Reserve, which also has
most unsatisfactory quarters here.
Members are awaiting word from
the commandant of the Norfolk
Navy Yard as to when he will be
able to take their training ship in
for an authorized overhaul. 1t was
said that word was received mere
that the yard was full at this time,
but that it is possible that the sta
ton will be able to take the vessel
in week or so. 1t is estimated that
the overhaul period will require at