Evening star., 1940-11-03

loeoI BottoIion
May Get Active
Duty Next Year
While awaiting orders for mobil-
ization, 1t. w. Croft Jennings, com.
manding the 1st Battalion, Dis
trict Naval Reserves, is planning to
set up q schedule of drills and ex-
ercises to keep the organization in
prime condition for any service.
Since the first stand by" order was
received, the organization has been
f1guratively marking time, in the
belief that orders for mobilization
would soon be received When the
Baltimore, Md, battalion was or
dered into service few weeks ago,
1t was believed that the local or
ganization, or at least part Of 1t,
would be next, especially in view Of
the fact that the organization has
been selected by board of officers
from the Navy Department as the
best In the country as a result Of
the inspections and cruise perform
ances Of last year.
Little has been done in the way of
drilling. But the time has not been
lost, it was explained, as recruiting
has been continued, and steps have
been taken to see that each mem
ber of the organization has been
y ~
material necessary for him to have
before proceeding to sea for tour
of duty.
1t Is not expected that the call
for the local men will be deferred
for some time. But certain changes
are being made in the divisions,
which would indicate that they,
when called out, be expected to per-
form the functions for which they
have trained over period of years
and that is to form the nucleus of
destroyer crew for service either on
this type of ship or any other yes
sells which the Navy desires to put
in commission.
While in the past the battalion
has functioned as such, with certain
officers attached only to the staff of
the headquarters, now it is planned
to attach such officers, including
medical and supply officers, to each
division. When this organization is
completed, then each division will
be able to 90 into service as a COM
plete unit, and form the basis for
expansion with other members Of
the reserve either from the volun-
teers or from recruits who may
come in. In this connection. every
effort now is being made to fill each
division up to the newly assigned
strength Of 100 men each, which Is
81 men per division more than it
has had in the peace-time organiza-
ton. 1t is the hope of the officers
/ that each of these can be built UP to
/ full strength before a call Is re-
ceived for active duty.
In preparing for sea duty with the
feet, the examining board for en-
listed men is meeting regularly to
examine qualified enlisted men for
promotion.
With an increase of 81 for each
division. it will provide for quite a
large number Of additional petty Of
f1cers, and the commanders of the
local divisions are ANXIOUS that the
qualified men be given the ratings
before the organizations are called
to active duty.
Considerable attention now Is be-
ing given by the local officers to
training all members of the COM
mand in gas defense. Last week
they were given instruction under
the direction Of 1t. Comdr. J. p.
Wetherill. a Naval Reserve officer,
on active duty at the Washington
Navy Yard and who has just COM
pleted a course of gas defense in
struction at the Edgewood Arsenal,
Md. One division went through the
instruction last week and all MEM
bers of the command were required
to 90 through the gas chamber at
the Washington Navy Yard, with
gas masks, to learn how to adjust
them for full protection. 1t was
oesA0 tAde WlAilC lOAlC kdS was IlOU
used a very foul-smelling product
was released in the chamber, so
that If mans mask was not ad-
justed properly he was able to sense
it quickly by the odor, which COM
PEELED him to make quick adjust
ments. During the next two weeks
the other two divisions will be given
the first lesson in the course.
The members of the command also
were given demonstration in how
to deal with gas out of doors. Gas
bombs were released in the Navy
Yard, so that the members could
see the atmospheric effect on many
of the gases, and how it was af.
fected by the wind and weather.
Battle problem practice was re-
sumed at the armory last week in
order to keep the division person.
mel up to topnotch in their train
ing. These drills are considered
important at this time, as it is the
elimination of training being able
to fight the ship against an enemy.
The Sd Division, commanded by
1t. F. s. Kirk, the division selected
to answer the first call when the
Navy orders 1t out, spent the entire
drill night in working out a mimic
war plan against an enemy, with
Comdr. A. B. McCrary, director Of
Naval Peservo ocfivities IN fbie arao