Evening star., 1939-04-09
Destroyer Roper
Here for TRAINING
Naval Resefyists
Vessel From Active
Fleet to Remuin
For Six Weeks

With six weeks OF training pro-
vided aboard destroyer Of the At
lantic Training Squadron, members
of the First Battalion, District Naval
Reserves. expect to be SO high on
their toes by the time that the an
nual cruising period comes around
to be able to make another record
on this sea duty with the Fleet.
Arriving at the Washington Navy
Yard last week, the appearance of
the destroyer Roper was a welcome
surprise to the local citizen sailors,
who had about settled down on their
armory routine in preparation for
the cruises, which will be made this
year on three destroyers, each of
the three local divisions going on
one ship.
1t. James E. Sullivan, battalion
commander, Immediately set .5
work to change his instruction
schedule for the next six weeks.
and perhaps the local men will
make more use of this ship than
at any time that one has been sent
heretofore. Previously the vessel for
training purposes has either been
sent here during the winter months.
when 1t was impossible to make use
OF it, or 1t came at time when
the organizations were preparing
for their annual inspections.
An elaborate drill schedule has
been mapped out by 1t. Sullivan.
providing for one division a week
to take turns aboard the vessel.
which will give each division at
least two drills aboard before she
leaves Tor another port. until the
time arrives to begin the annual
cruising schedule. However 1t was
indicated that this year the local
Reservists will not be taken on the
destroyers of the training squadron,
but will be assigned ships from one
OF the fotillas actively working
with the Fleet. vessels which have
been left on this coast this year
because of the desirability of show
ing them off at New York during
the Worlds Fair.
Plans are being made to have the
usual general drills aboard the
ship, including battle problems.
deck seamanship, fire and collision
drills. which ought to put the local
men in the prime of condition TO-
their summer sea service and aid
them in bringing back at least as
good a report as they developed
during the last cruising season,
which, however, was aboard a bat
tleship.
In view of the fact that they are
soon to get larger training ship
the men did not believe that a de-
stroyer would be sent here, but they
will make the full use of it until the
arrival Of their new boat on which
they will make week end training
cruises throughout the year. The
new vessel will not be limited to
spring. summer and fall cruising. it
was said, but will be used for work
throughout the year. as fine OIL
burning heating plant is being in
stalled. However, they will be lin
tied to one cruising vessel during
the winter, as the other cabin
launch will not be used owing to the
abserce of heating facilities, for
however much the men like to take
the week end trips there is nothing
more uninviting. even to man who
likes the water, than cold vessel in
the winter time.
The Reservists broke their all
time attendance records last week
when two Of the divisions. the 1st
and Sd, showed up with 81 per cent
attendance, and what is more ser
ious, these divisions are now tied
for the attendance record Of the
year. which ends this month. There
is bound to be some keen rivalry to
get out the men during the re-
mainder of the month, as the divis-
ion leading for the year will be
awarded the Admiral's Cup, trophy
donated to the battalion some time
ago by number of Reserve officers
who work for the United States
Maritime Commission. The I'd
Division has an attendance Of "a
per cent. The 1st Division now holds
the trophy.
1t. q. g E. H. Filter, U. S. N R..
engineer officer assigned to the Sd
Fleet Division has requested a
transfer to the volunteers, which
will leave a vacancy in this much
sought-after branch of the Reserve.
1t. Sullivan, battalion commander.
has recommended to the COM
mandant of the Washington Navy
Yard that 1t. q. g. William H.
Scnofeld. who formerly was en-
eineer officer of the I'd Division, be
transferred to the organized Reserve
for assignment to fill the vacancy.
He is son of Capt. James A. Scho-
field, one time commander of the
local battalion, but who for many
years, has been on indefinite active
duty in the Division of Naval Re-
serve Affairs at the Navy Depart
ment.
The local battalion now is operat-
ing without the aid of an inspector
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that one will be assigned before the
annual cruising period, but no in
formation has been received at the
local Reserve headquarters as to
who the new officer will be. He will
be assigned by the commandant OF
the Washington yard.
The Communications Reserve
Division has announced that there
are opportunities for the transfer
of officers and men of that division
to the organized group, where they
will receive pay for the drills they
attend. Those in the communica-
tions Reserve, while they drill regu-
larly, do not receive any remunera-
ton. According to the announce
ment, there will be transferred three
officers, one to each division, Of the
rank of either ensign or lieutenant
q. g.; three radiomen for each
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