Evening star., 1940-10-27
Naval ReserVists
Feel Uncertainty
On Call 10 Duty
Awaiting Orders
PrecIudes Making
Plans for Activities

Uncertainty as to when mobiliza-
ton will be ordered has set the 1st
Battalion, District Naval Reserves,
on the anxious seat, in that they
find 1t difficult to lay down any
plans for conducting a training
schedule They also find they cam
not make plans definitely to leave
their civilian employment or give
their employers any idea as to when
they must go.
They have only received up to the
present time standby order"
which is nothing more than a notice
to them that some time in the fu-
ture the Navy plans to call them
to active duty for an indefinite pc
riod OF time. While many of them
have given notices to their employ
ers they expect to be called for
active duty, they cannot leave their
jobs because their pay in the Navy
does not start until the day they
report for duty under the mobiliZa-
ton order. Furthermore, it was
said, the system has served to in
convenience the employers.
This uncertainty as to action. T.
was said, has brought forth a num-
ber of designations of those holding
commissions in the Reserve and has
caused a number of enlisted men
to seek to separate themselves from
the service. These designations.
10
of the local Navy Yard, are for
warded to the Navy Department.
but it was said that a number Of
them have been up there for as long
as six months, without any action.
1t was said a number of resigna-
tions are coming from those who
obtained commissions in the va
rious branches of the volunteer
Naval Reserve, not, 1t was said, with
any intention of serving in time of
need, but purely for the opportunity
1t provided of mingling with the
Navy set. Many of those who Oh
tanned these commissions never
took any affirmative steps to edu-
cate themselves into the naval prac-
tices and customs, although cor
respondence courses were provided
for all branches of the service. For
this reason the Navy several years
ago started an elimination process.
But even the fact that some of them
came in for the social reasons. the
Navy now is said TO be not disposed
to let them off by the mere press
ing of resignation.
The problem in the cases OF the
enlisted men is somewhat different.
but it was indicated that man
seeking to separate himself from the
service would have to make out a
good case and about the only &C
ceptable reason is that he fills a
civilian job in the national defense
which is more important than his
service with the Navy. But there
are declared to be few in this class.
1t was said the demands for serv-
ice are likely to cause some hard
ship on the part of the enlisted per-
sonneL Not a few of them, it was
explained, came into the Naval Re-
serve when they were quite young,
and since have married and started
to raise families, and gave little
thought to the possibility that they
might be called out in time of peace
to serve their country. But they
apparently have just put it of too
long, until it is likely they have
helped to create an economic prob
lem which the Government will
have to step in and solve, and one
answer to which might be permit =
ting the men to be discharged from
further naval service. But from the
Nays side, it might be pointed out
that these members of the Reserve
are trained men, and a man cannot
be trained for service with the fleet
in the year that the Government ex-
poets to train the conScripts for war
service. The service is so technical
that almost every billet on a ship
requires a specialist of some kind.
Although large percentage of the
complement of each vessel can be
filled with young seamen from the
training station, nevertheless the
most of them are well-trained men
whose education in naval procedure
is needed to direct the talents of
the new men.
Reserve headquarters is being be-
sieged by young men from all walks
Of life who are seeking both ap-
pointments in the commissioned
grades and also in the ranks. Men
seeking enrolment in the lower
grades, particularly those who are
willing to go to sea Immediately. or
are willing to take the school courses
being provided for radiomen and
signalmen, are being given the right
of way, because the Navy is anxious
to I'LL up these shortages as quickly
as possible.