Evening star., 1940-12-01
Naval Reservists
Move Activities
10 New Building
Quarters Assigned
In Structure
In Navy Yord

In Navy Yord
The first step In the plans to pro-
vide the local Naval Reserve bat
talon with new armory was taken
last week. when their activities were
moved from ito old buildings to the
FIRST floor Of the new Administration
Building IN the Washington Navy
Yard.
The headquarters for this district,
headed by Condr. McCrary, U. 9. N,
have been moved, together with all
OF the hles and records of the en-
hstments and activities of the or
ganization. The drill activities are
expected to be moved early this
week, and it was indicated that
probably the first drills would be
held In the new quarters on Tuesday
night. There still remains to be
moved much Of the training equip
ment. including the 4-inch drill
gun, the rifle racks and the DESTROYER
bridge" which the men use in their
battle problem training. There is
considerable other paraphernalia to
be transferred, including the uni
forms and equipment in the supply
officers store room, and the machin-
cry and boilers in the basement.
which have been used for the in
struction of the engineering forces.
Those who have examined the
new quarters say thay are far
superior to those which they have
been using for so many years. that
they would be in a very good shape
for training even If the new build
ing Is not constructed. But the
fact that the forces have been moved,
and plans are being made to raze
the old armory buildings and the
structure which houses the Navy
Music School, indicates that the
Government is going ahead with the
armory project which the local
Reservists have sought for so many
years. Officers also point out that
this indicates to a certainty that
the Naval Reserve activities will be
continued here even after the
present force is ordered to see under
the mobilization plan.
The drill hall is said to be three
times larger than the one they have
ben using, which was nothing more
than a frame lean-to around two
sides of the old brick building which
formerly served as commercial
warehouse. In additional to a separ-
ate room provided for the Reserve
headquarters, the local battalion
commander and the division officers
have been assigned separate rooms.
The proposed new structure,
which is to be built on the SOUTH
west corner of Eleventh and M
streets Sc, at the extreme north
east corner of the Navy Yard reser-
vation, In addition to the Naval
Reserve battalion, also Is to house
the activities of the Marine Corps
Reserve when that organization
returns after its period of a year
of training duty in the field.
1t is expected that the armory
will be completed by next summer.
Members of the local divisions
now expect that they will be called
next month. 1t still Is said to be a
probability that one division will be
called out at time, and the first
call will be answered by the Sd
Division which is the one which
stands highest in merit as a result
OF marks received on annual cruises
from the regular naval officers and
on the annual inspection before a
board of regular officers. The divi-
sion is commanded by 1t. r. s.
Kirk.
To give instruction to officers who
soon will be called into the service
1t. Robert j. Rice, naval aide to the
Secretary of the Navy, commander
of the Secretary of the Navyis yacht
Sequoia and assistant to Comdr.
McCrary, director of Naval Reserve
activities here. inaugurated a series
Of lectures on naval subjects.
He opened the series before large
group of organized and volunteer
Naval Reserve officers at the armory
last Thursday night. He spoke on
submarines on which he is an expert.
He formerly was commanding officer
of the U. S. s. S-34 He plans to
have other naval officers on duty
in Washington to give lectures on
subjects in which they have spe-
cialized, such as duties of watch
officers, executive officer duties, dam
age control work, seamanship, navi-
cation. signaling and radio COM
munication.
1t. John w. Shultz, supply officer
of the local battalion, has been re-
lieved of that activity here and has
been ordered to active duty. He has
been assigned to the u. S. 8. City
of Francisco, one Of the auxil-
iaries to the feet, and Is now on
his way to the West Coast. He
formerly was with the United States
Maritime Commission and is one of
the veteran members of the local
battalion. He also is secretary of
the United States Naval Reserve
Officers' Association.
Ensign ]. II. Alexander, Supply
Corps, has been assigned to duty as
supply officer of the local battalion,
filling the vacancy made by the
orders for 1t. Shultz to active duty.
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