Evening star., 1940-12-15
Naval Reserve
Division Hit Hard
By Physical Tests
Large Group Here
Eliminated by
Medical Officers

Medical examinations took an un.
explainable high toll Of members of
the local Naval Reserve when the
service medicos began their exam
nations to determine whether the
members were physically fit for
active service at sea, 1t was disclosed
last week. The results were unex-
plainable, it was said, because all
Of the men had annual physical
tests before and after they returned
for their annual cruises, and at
Rthat time had been physically fit
for service. Not only had they been
found physically fit for sea duty at
these times, but they had served on
the duty under all kinds OF condi-
tions.
The results have been keenly felt
by the Reserve officers, particularly
the Bird Division which now has been
selected to 60 on active duty on jan
uary /, leaving that night for Nor
folk, Va, where 1t will be embarked
aboard the U. S. s. naval ammuni-
ton ship and transport Nitro for
transportation to the Panama Canal
for further assignment to other
duty.
The medical examining officers, IL
was said, practically wrecked one
platoon of the Sd Division, and
there probably will not be enough
time to recruit it up to its full
strength before its departure. How
ever, officers saw ray Of hope for
some Of those rejected. mostly those
in need of dental work. They will
be given an opportunity to have
these defects corrected, and may be
given another examination. There
was not any one cause found for the
reflections, 1t was reported. Two men
went out for stomach ulcers, few
for lung defects, believed to be due
to smoking. 1t was said, and one
case Of athletes foot.
Tentative orders received here pro-
vide for the officers and men of the
Sd Division to report aboard the
Nitro before noon on January 2.
They then will proceed as draft to
the eastern entrance to the Panama
Canal, where they will take over
the U. S. Destroyer j. Fred Talbot,
now In commission. Members Of
the local command will furnish the
greater part of the complement Of
the ship. Only enough Regulars will
be kept aboard to fill ratings which
the local division does not have.
For instance, 1t was said the local
division does not have any torpedo
men and no ship filters. These will
have to be supplied by the Regular
force.
Although the officers will be as
signed to destroyer duty. it was said,
only three of them will go to the
Talbot The fourth, Ensign Robert
Hoffman, is scheduled to be assigned
to the Destroyer Barry, which is in
the same division as the Talbot.
Neither has 1t been determined
what duties the local officers will
perform. Their specific orders have
not yet been received. but it is prob
able that the division officer either
will be assigned as executive officer,
navigator or gunnery officer. The
vessel will be in command Of an
ofilcer Of the Regular establishment,
at least for the present.
The other officers of the division.
first selected to answer the call to
duty, are 1t. F. S. Kirk, division
command, who is in charge of cadet
training at the U. S. Maritime
Commission; Ensign Thomas H
Davis, jr., a special agent of the
Federal Bureau Of Investigation.
and v. c. Royster, correspondent
here for the New York Journal Of
Commerce. Mr.. Hoffman is civil
ian employe of the Bureau of Ships
of the Navy Department
1t was said that the Navy Depart
ment has been very strict in con.
sideration Of applications for defer.
ment. both from officers and men.
But there appears some differences
of opinion even among the various
bureaus of the Navy Department on
this question One civilian employe
of one bureau of the department, It
was asserted, had been told by the
chief of the bureau to resign his
1Ndfdl INGSSlfC NOlAl4ll1ooAoAi bSShAoS
his duties were considered more inn
portant in the Navy Department.
He camplied with the request, but
when the resignation reached the
Bureau of Navigation 1t was denied.
The stand has been taken that the
Navy is sorely in need of officers to
man the ships going into commits
sion, and particularly to relieve
Regular officers now serving on aux.
iliaries so that they may be sent to
combatant ships now coming of the
ways and being placed In commits
sion Their places on the auxiliaries
are being taken by the Reservists.
In the case of the local division
aboard to proceed to sea duty, 1t was
reported that only two men had
been granted deferment on account
of dependents.