Evening star., 1939-04-02


by signals of various kinds.
The Reservists are standing by for
orders to send crew down to
Charleston to bring the vessel to
Washington. 1t is understood that
the latest delay in sending vessel
here is due to the fact that last
minute decision was made to install
complete oil-burning heating plant
in the ship. For this the Reservists
are willing to secrifice little delay,
for they want to use the vessel dur
ing the winter months as well as
during the regular cruising season Of
spring and summer. The new YES
sci will have more speed than the
one now assigned to the battalion,
and will have twin screws, permit
ing better maneuvering.
The destroyer Benham, one of the
latest of 50-tonners. is due to ar
rive at the Washington Navy Yard
on April 13 to remain until April 18.
As it is. the latest word in naval
construction of a destroyer, it is ex-
pected that most of the officers and
men will avail themselves Of the
opportunity of inspecting her. At
least the provisional division, made
up of enlisted men who are COM
peting for appointments to the Naval
Academy next July, will go aboard.
Ensign H. Arthur Lamar, command
ing this division, contemplates TAX
ing the men aboard the ship and
instruct them in some of the equip
ment.
incidentally, Ensign Lamar, who
has charge of the training OF the
men for the Naval Academy ap-
pointments, announced that those
contemplating trying for the
vacancies to be available on July
l, 1910, should enlist in the or
ganization Immediately, So that all
of the preliminary paper work will
be completed by July l OF this year,
as the candidates have to serve at
least a year in the Reserve by the
date of entrance In order to be
eligible to take the examinations for
appointment. The battalion this
year has one of the largest groups
in its history trying for these coveted
posts, in view of the fact that the
new act has increased the number
from IS to 50. AS the local Or
ganization has the record OF taking
most Of the appointments, 1t is be-
lieved that this year will be no ex-
ception. Most of the men are at
tending the preparatory schools here
IN order to At themselves Tor the
tests.
The officers of the Naval Com
munication Reserve are planning a
dinner in honor Of Comdr. "A. L.
Clay, U. 8. NJ, who has been here
for some time as the officer IN charge
of naval activities in the District,
but who is being relieved. All
officers of the Naval Reserve in the
District have been asked to attend
the dinner, the time and place for
which has not yet been announced.
The officers of the local Organized
Reserve Battalion rendered Comdr.
Clay a review Of the battalion last
week.
The local battalion will cruise
aboard the destroyers Hopkins, Goh
and Reuben James, all destroyers
attached to the feet. Heretofore
they have been sent out aboard de-
stroyers OF the Atlantic Training
Squadron, and it is something Of an
innovation for them to be assigned
destroyers from the active fleet. It
also was announced that they will
leave here on July l. the destroyers
coming up the Potomac to the Wash
inrton Navy Yard for them to en-
bark. Each of the three divisions
will be assigned to a destroyer.
After cruising in the North At
lantic for a week the ships will put
into New York for the midcruise
liberty period, to give both officers
and men an opportunity to attend
the worlds Fair. Following this op-
portunity to 60 on the beach, they
will sail again for sea and en- route
back to the National Capital will
have their annual target practice,
which is expected to follow the same
system this year as was tried as an
Experiment last year when they were
riven an opportunity to fire at .
moving target, towed by tug, under