Evening star., 1940-07-28
Naval Reservists
Here 10 Train
Aboard Destroyers
Cruise to Stort on
September 7 for
Charleston, S. c.

Because of the need for battle
ships for use in the training of a
special group of college men for
commissioning as ensigns in the
United States Naval Reserve, a
changc has been made in the
original plans for training cruises
for the 1st Battalion. District Naval
Reserves. Instead of cruise,
aboard the battleship Wyoming, the
three local divisions will train
aboard the three destroyers com
posing Division No. 68.
1t was at first intended to send
them aboard the battleship, for two
reasons, one was to broaden their
training and give them some duties
and insight into the operations of
the larger vessels, in view of the
fact that their training has been
largely aboard destroyers, and the
further fact that the destroyers were
being used largely on the neutrality
patrol off the Atlantic Coast of the
Americas.
1t is now developed that the ships
are considered of more Importance
to the training of the young college
men for duty as ensigns. The Navy
Department is seeking the enlist
ment of 5000 young men, with at
least two years of college training.
They will be enlisted as seamen,
second class, and sent to sea aboard
vessels of the training squadron for
one month, during which they will
be under instruction. At the end of
that time, if they have aptitude
for the service and are desirous of
continuing, they will be designated
as midshipmen and given three
months of intensive training. Dur
ing this time they will be furnished
uniforms and paid sos a month. If
they survive the three months
forced draft" training, they will be
commissioned as ensigns in the Re-
serve, and Immediately placed on
active duty at sea in the neutrality
patrol, If they request such duty.
1t is the hope of the Navy Depart
ment that most of these trainees, if
1t is able to obtain the full quota,
will volunteer for this duty, as the
department has been unable to OBJ
tain anything like the number of
officers which it needs from the
commissioned grades of the Reserve.
This, 1t was explained further, is no
reflection on the Reserve officers, as
the service in the Navy, at this time,
is definitely limited, and as many
of the officers have civilian positions
they are not deSirous of giving them
up for a temporary period of duty
in the Navy. OF course. it was said,
in the event that the President pro-
claims full emergency the Reserve
officers will be called to active duty
without further ado. But under the
Reserve Act they cannot be COM
PEELED to serve on active duty, even
for training, without their consent.
Since the orders for the training
cruise to be held aboard the de-
Stroyers Branch, Satterlee and Hunt
1t. w. Croft Jennings, commander
of the local battalion, has intensi-
fed the drill schedule of the local
outfit. These destroyers are sched-
uled to take the three divisions
aboard at the Washington Navy
Yard on September 7 and 90 to
sea. After six days at sea, during
which the divisions will receive in
tensive training. with special en-
phasls on target practice, the de-
stroyers will put in at Charleston,
S. c.. where liberty will be granted.
The ships are expected to remain at
Charleston until the evening of Sep
tember IS, when they will again
put to sea. cruising off the coast,
and returning to the Washington
Navy Yard the following Sunday.
The group recently devoted a full
drill period to a lecture on gas de-
fense by 1t. Jennings. He and 1t.
kerst, division commander, this
spring underwent a special course
in gas defense at the Edgewood
Arsenal while on active duty, which
especially qualified them for tnstruc-
tion in this important branch of sea
defense.
1t. Jennings discussed the vari-
ous types of gases now in use by
the worlds sea powers and the meth
ods developed by the United States
Navy to protect personnel against
their effects. Particular attention
was devoted to the proper use of
gas masks, protective clothing and
the chemical agents which will off,
set the effects of the gases. The
battalion was instructed in the
proper steps to be taken in the
event of gas attack and in the
administration of first aid. 1t is
anticipated that similar lectures on
other special problems of sea de-
fense will be given during the Pc
riod remaining before the training
cruise.
Division officers expect to embark
on the cruise with full compliments.
They have called attention that
men who enlist during the next
month will be eligible for the cruise
because the ruling of the Navy De-
partment that II training drills
must have been completed before
being permitted to 60 on the cruise
has been rescinded This indicates
the need of the Navy for new men
and that it intends to give every
opportunity to any applicant who
desires to enter in the Reserve to
take advantage of the cruises for
training purposes.
n..~Ll II k.: NI