Evening star., 1939-10-22
Lax Volunteer
Naval Reservists
Being Weeded Out

Lack OF Interest
Reason Given for
Voeating Commissions
Many who have received commits
sions in the United States Naval Re-
serve largely through the asking,
merely because their civilian occu-
pations fitted them for some special
service which the Navy could use in
time of national emergency, are
finding to their sorrow that the COM
mission meant more than just an
association with the Naval Estab-
lishment. Hundreds of men have
been placed on the commissioned list
of the Volunteer Reserve, in which
the law does not require the per-
formance of any duty or to take part
in any naval activities, but those who
did not do this and have shown lit
tie interest In the Navy beyond that
Of obtaining their commissions now
are going into the discard. The
Navy Department, it was learned, is
cleaning its lists of these officers to
make way for those who do have an
interest in learning about the jobs
they might have to fulfill in time
OF national emergency. should it
be necessary to call them to the
colors.
The discharges have come as a
shock to many holding commissions,
particularly at this time, when the
Navy Department is attempting to
bolster up all branches of the es-
tablishment under the limited emer-
gency proclamation of President
Roosevelt.
Although the Navy is not permit
ted to require officers of this branch
to attend drills or participate in any
activities, or to order them to active
duty for training. because 1t did not
have the funds with which to pay
them, 1t nevertheless has provided
instruction courses which it has
urged the oVlunteer Reservists to
take part in. 1t also has encouraged
them to take part in the regular
drills of the Organized Reserve and
to attend lectures on naval activi-
ties in order to indoctrinate them
against the time when it might be
necessary to call them into the serv-
ice. 1t also has provided them with
opportunities to cruise aboard YES
sells of the fleet, but, of course. it
has been necessary to inform them
they would have to pay their own
expenses, including those of trans
portation to and from the embark
alton and debarkation points of the
vessels. Many have seized these op-
portunities and have attended the
lectures, and not a few drill along
with the Organized Reserves, for
getting the matter that the latter
receive pay for each drill. 1t is these
men which the Navy is keeping on
its rolls, while clearing the lists of
those who have shown substantially
no action.
While many new officers are be-
ing commissioned. it will not ma
terially increase the percentage of
Volunteer Reserve officers, it was
indicated, because many of the old
ones are being thrown of the lists
at time when there is a possibility
that they might be called into the
service.
Strengthening of the Naval Re-
serve communication system techni-
cally and by this means increasing
the efficiency of the operating per-
sonnet has been decided upon by the
Navy Department. The Importance
of having group of personnel we'll
trained in naval practices and pro-
cedure has been stressed for a long
time by the department. which has
been striving to organize these VOL
unteer units throughout the coun-
try, made up as they are largely Of
amateur radio operators who are en-
thusiasts at this work.
The department is taking steps to
provide Naval Reserve amories
throughout the country with modern
low-power, high-frequency radio
transmitters and modern high-fre-
quency receivers. After the armories
have been equipped it will be possi-
BILE for the members to take part in
District drills conducted by the Sec
ton control stations.
In connection with these Naval
Reserve units the department point
ed out that the abolishment or es-
tablishment of Naval Communica-
ton Reserve sections and units must
be approved by the chief of naval
operations. Commandants of naval
districts contemplating either one
of these moves must first contact
him.
1t was pointed out it is considered
desirable that new units be estab-
lished only in localities where it is
probable that they can be success
fully recruited and administered.
The order of preference for quar-
ters for communication units is as
follows Naval Reserve armories, Fed
eral buildings, State buildings,
county and municipal buildings,
commercial or other space donated
by civic organizations.
It was announced that the Judge
advocate general of the Navy has
held that in the computation of
service requisite for transfer to the
honorary retired list of the Naval
Reserve after 30 years of service,
service in the Army in the Philip
pines, in China, Puerto Rico, Cuba,
Island of Guam, Alaska and Pan
anna, which under certain condi-
tions is credited as double time
for retirement in the Army and for
transfer to the Fleet Reserve, may
not be counted as double time for
transfer to the honorary retired
list of the Naval Reserve.
He also has held that the term
Service" includes all service in
the Naval Reserve regardless of
whether such service was rem
dered in an active or inactive duty
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