Evening star., 1940-12-22
Two Naval Reserve
Divisions Await
Call 10 CoIors
Citizen Sailors Hope
For Assignment
To Destroyers


For Assignment
To Destroyers
With one division of the local
battalion of the District Naval Re-
serves about ready to answer a call
10 the colors, the other two divisions
are standing by, hoping that they
will be the next to be called. Mem
bers of the Sd Division, which has
been selected to answer the first call,
are enthusiastic that they are to be
given the duty for which they have
been specifically training during the
past few years.
Under the plan formulated some
time ago by the Navy Department,
each Of the local divisions was or
ganized to form the nucleus of q
destroyer crew. When the first
mobilization order came there was
some question as to what duty would
be assigned them, but this has been
settled by the fact that the local
division has been designated to man
the destroyer j. Fred Talbot, now
operating in the Caribbean out Of
the Panama Canal.
There will be considerable activity
at the local Reserve armory this
week as the men prepare to depart
for their new duty Under the present
plans they will leave on the evening
New Year Day aboard the Nor
folk and Washington steamer to be
taken to the Naval Operating Base
at Norfolk, Va, where the U. S. s..
Nitro will receive them for trans.
portation to Panama.
AS yet no indication has been
received as to when the 1st and I'd
Divisions will be called, but 1t is ex-
pected to be within a short time.
| AL of the divisions are striving to
bring their compliments up to the
newly allocated strength of 100 men
each. But 1t is not believed now
that any Of the divisions will take
their full compliments. Physical ex-
aminations have served to reduce
the Sd Division personnel, and there
is not time to fill the gaps before
the division leaves. Also, it was said
that it is not now contemplated that
men will be transferred from the
other divisions to make up the full
complement for the Sd Division be-
fore it leaves the city.
While the forces of the Nation are
uniting in national defense, it now
appears that the United States Naval
Reserve Officers Association is on
the verge of another split over the
question as to whether the organiza-
ton should continue to function dur
ing the current emergency. The
national convention, which was
scheduled to be held in Baltimore,
Md, next month, has been called of
by the national officers. The local
chapter has passed vigorous resolu-
ton of protest against this action.
In the case of the national con-
vention, it was pointed out that the
Baltimore battalion was to be the
host next year, but that organiza-
ton already has been called into
the service in its entirety and there
will be no one in Baltimore to make
plans for the convention. The local
chapter also opposed the announced
plan of the national officers to turn
the affairs of the association over
to a board of trustees during the
present emergency.
Members of the local chapter
pointed out that the association
has within it the means of render
ing important service by bringing
the problems of the Reserve to the
attention of the department, even
during the emergency.
They recall that during the last
war there were many questions
which came up, in which the reserv-
lists needed some one to fight their
battles for them, not the least Of
which was the constant changes in
the uniforms, which became expen-
sive. Largely this involved changes
in the expensive gold insignia, until
finally the then Secretary of the
Navy called a halt on the constant
changes, and that the reservists
were performing the same duty as
the Regulars, and, therefore, should
wear the same uniform, including
the insignia, which did not distin-
guish between the Regulars and the
Reserves.
Resolutions which were adopted
at the annual meeting, and which
are to be sent to all chapters
throughout the country, as well as
to the national association, point
out that the critical world situation
of today which has caused the
United States to engage in national
defense program greater in scope
than ever before in the history Of
the country and which has necessi-
tated the ordering of the Naval
and Marine Corps Reserve to active
duty, now justif1es more than at any
other time, the existence of a strong,
unified, national organization Of
Naval and Marine Corps Reserve
officers which can present the prob
lens of its members to the consti-
tuted naval authorities.
The local chapter believes that the
suspension of activities of the ma
tional association is not in accord
ance with the best interests Of
Naval and Marine Corps Reserve
officers and should not be permitted
| to stand.
1t was urged by the local chapter
that the board of directors be au-
thorized to proceed with the election
of officers and to conduct any other
business that might normally come
before a regular convention. It.
recommended that the directors, if
on active duty at places where they
would be unable to attend, that they
be permitted to vote by proxy or by
mail.
While some of the chapters ale
ready have suspended activities, the
local chapter recommended against