Evening star., 1939-06-04
Training Ship
For Local Reserve
Arrives Here
Yp-47 Is Tied Up
To Dock at
Washington Yard


The YP-47. the new training ship
assigned to the 1st Battalion, Naval
Reserve. arrived at the Washington
Navy Yard early last week, after
an uneventful voyage here from the
Charleston, S. c., Navy Yard, where
she has been fitting out for the
past six months. 1t replaces the
small cabin launch which has served
as training ship here for the
past several years.
Opinions among the officers and
men vary as to the value of the
new craft for training purposes as
an improvement over the old craft.
All admit that she has better facili-
ties for quartering the crew, but
some doubt was expressed as to
whether more men could be accom-
modated on weekend trips for train
ing, the purpose for which the new
craft was assigned here However.
1t is believed that she will be
able to cruise farther each wee.-
end than the former vessel. because
OF her fuel capacity and her speed.
During the voyage northward, 1t
was said, she was not cruised
greater than 10 knots. but it may
be possible to get IL knots out Of
her on regular cruising. The old
vessel made only eight knots or less.
The new vessel, which was brought
here under command of 1t. C. H.
Williams, a member of the local
battalion, has twin screws. being
driven by two gasoline engines.
Although she has been undergoing
an overhaul at the Charleston yard
it was reported that she will need
much additional work on her before
being taken out on the regular week
end trips. 1t was not known last
week when she will be started on
I her regular training schedule but
it was said to be probable that she
would be put in service as quickly
as possible.
During the holiday the vessel laid
over at Colonial Beach, when the
men were given liberty for a short
peroid, before starting the final leg
Of the voyage to washington.
The cruise of the Reserves starts
on July l, on three destroyers of
the fleet, the Hopkins, Reuben James
and the Golf. All the men have
to be given a physical examination
before entering upon this duty.
The three destroyers will come to
the Washington Navy Yard to pick
up the battalion of three divisions.
Each division will be assigned to a
destroyer They will cruise in the
North Atlantic, going into New York
on the week end in the middle Of
the cruise to give the Reservists
liberty and an opportunity to visit
the Worlds Fair there.
| Upon the conclusion of the cruise
period it is expected that the YP-47
will be ready for the regular series
of weekend training cruises.
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet
Reserve Association has presented
the local battalion with silk bat
talon flag to replace the one which
has served for a number of years
and shows signs of deterioration.
The same group about six months
ago-presented the organization with
silk colors.
1t was said the emblems were pre-
sented to the local unit because
of the assistance it had given the
auxiliary on a number of occasions
when 1t has held ceremonies at
Arlington. On those occasions the
local outfit has furnished an honor
guard of bluejackets.
Young men contemplating trying
for appointments to the United
States Naval Academy. through the
Naval Reserve. are urged by Ensign
H. Arthur Lamar of the local bat
talon to take prompt steps to have
their enlistments completed prior to
June Is. He pointed out that the
young men who enter early and
have all details of entrance COM
pleted may be taken into the Acad-
emy earlier, If they enter the Re-
serve sooner. Otherwise, they would
not be permitted to enter before
July l. 1910, as they have to have
at least one year of service in the
Reserve at the time of entrance.
July is the deadline for those
who wish to enter with the class
of 1940
AS soon as the candidates enlist
in the local battalion they are
formed into separate division and
their training carried on distinct
from the regular training of the
battalion. This division is under the
command of Ensign H. Arthur La
mar.
Some resentment of the local
chapter over the failure of the
United States Naval Reserve OFF,
GERS Association to support the local
outfit in its efforts to obtain an
armory here suitable for its needs
was displayed at the meeting. 1t
was contended that although dues
have been constantly increased and
the national association takes q
greater part of this money there has
been no recompense to the local
outfit. 1t saw little advantage in
providing it with magazine con-
tanning Reserve news when what it
needs is some action in providing
more adequate housing facilities
here. Obviously, it was said, the
local Reservists cannot take any
action themselves directly concern
ing an armory but must work
through official channels, but they
point out that it is the function
of the national association to take
up their fight for them and attempt
to get some definite action.
At the last annual convention Of
the association here, when local
delegates attempted to have the as
sociation take some definite action
on the armor proposition, aid was
definitely refused, it is said, and has
given rise to the present resentment
against the activities or rather lack
Of activities by the association on
behalf of the local members. The
associations feeling on the matter