Evening star., 1940-06-23
Navy Announces
Need for More
Reserve Officers
Sea Bi|Iets Ready
Aboard Active Fleet
For Large Group

For Large Group
Naval Reserve officers here have
been informed by Rear Admiral
George Pettengill, commandant of
the Washington Navy Yard, that a
number Of additional officers will be
required by the Navy in the very
near future. Particularly, line officers
will be required, it was said. 1t Is
desired to obtain these officers from
among ensigns, lieutenants, junior
grade and lieutenants, and it is de-
sired to obtain them from the or-
ganized branch, the actively drill
branch of the Reserve. and the VOL
unteer branch, where they are quail
flied for general service, which
means anywhere, ashore or afoat
1t was indicated most of the Of
ficers would be needed for duty
afioat. Officers who contemplate
responding to the Nays cali are
urged to apply for active duty i'm
mediately, so that assignments may
be given them.
1t was added that officers of other
classes, whether line or staff, Who
so desire, may forward requests for
active duty, as present indications
are that the Navy Department shall
be able to order considerable num-
Der to active duty at an early date.
Under the terms of the naval
statute, it was explained, Naval
Reserve officers cannot be ordered to
active duty in time of peace, with
out their consent. But they can be
ordered forthwith into active aerv-
ice if the President issues a promla-
nation declaring the existence of a
national emergency. Up to the
present time, however, he has Issued
only limited emergency proclama-
ton which permits the Navy to call
in officers with their consent.
With the great expansion of the
fleet impending, together with the
fact that number of vessels now
out of commission are to be placed
on full commission, in order that
their crews can be fully trained for
any eventuality, the Navy is being
confronted with gigantic problem
of filling the officer billets. 1t has
only the Reserve to draw from. and
then these officers must be those
who have had ship board training
and can take their stations ard
duties alongside the regulars who
also would be assigned to the vessels
in small numbers. There are hun
dreds of men holding commissions
in the Naval Reserve who have had
no ship board training. and would
not be available for sea duties afoat.
Many of them, however. might be
fitted for this service after a long
period OF intensive training.
But among these volunteers are
many in the specialist groups. in
cluding naval intelligence officers.
lawyers, naval architects. communi-
cations officers. supply officers, Goc-
tors and the like While some CT
the last named, such as commun1-
cations, supply officers and doctors
could be used afioat tthey would not
| fill the Nays need for line officers,
who are the officers engaged iu op-
Grating the vessel while cruising
and man the batteries in an emey-
gency. The other groups, intelli-
gence. lawyers, and naval architects
are strictly shore material.
The training ship Of the local
battalion spent most of its cruising
period last week in checking up the
new radio installation aboard the
vessel. The ship was in command
OF Ensign c. F. Carroll, with Ensign
G. c. Royster. The vessel also had
aboard 1t C. H Williams and
Radio Man, Third Class, H. ].
Quinn. who had charge of the cali
bratlon Of the radio installation.
During the checking a naval re-
serve plane from the Naval Reserve
Station at Anacostia, piloted by
1t. Comdr E w. Rounds. with
Ensign c. F. Coleman as radio op-
orator. flew up and down the Poto-
mac and the Chesapeake Bay, keep
ing in constant contact with the
training ship by voice and code
for the purpose of giving the new
installation a thorough checking.
The installation includes a So
watt transmitter for phone and Is
watt transmitter for code, with a
modern high-frequency receiver.
During the trip the ship and plane
were in constant contact. 1t also
maintained contact with the Ana
costa Air Station radio and with
the Naval Reserve network.
1t. Comdr. J. H. Nicholson, for
mer commander of the Naval Com
munlcatlons Reserve Division here:
Lit. E. j. Lovejoy and Ensign John
kltelle and John Colomaris have
been returned to inactive status
after two weeks of training each.
A new study class of Naval Re-
serve supply officers was formed a:
the local Armory on Thursday night.
1t was announced that this group
Will hold classes throughout the
summer on Thursday nights of
each week. They will specialize in
the study of supply problems and
learn the rudiments of naval GUS
toms.