Evening star., 1940-05-05

Navy Department
Authorizes One
For Eoch Division
Training in the three divisions Of
the lst Battalion, District Naval
Reserve, has advanced to the stage
where instruction will be provided
for torpedomen. Orders were re-
ceived from the Navy Department
last week to obtain men to be
trained in this highly technical rat
ing. 1t was said that as soon as a
seaman is sufIiciently trained 50 that
he will be able to carry on this duty,
the rating Of torpedoman will be
authorized for each of the three d.
visions.
The announcement was viewed
with considerable significance by
the local Reserve officers, as it fills
out the various ratings which will
be needed aboard destroyers Of the
feet in time Of . national emer-
gency. Under the plans Of training
each Of the three divisions Is Or
ganized to form the basis of q de-
stroyer crew, but heretofore 1t
has lacked this important rating.
which is one Of much importance
aboard a destroyer. AL Of this type
of vessel carry torpedoes and tor
pedo tubes. The rating requires a
highly technically trained man, as
this war implement Is q very fine
piece of mechanism, which works
with watch-like precision, and with
machinery just as intricate.
While the officers of the local di-
vision do not feel that they will
have much dimculty In finding such
a young man here, their field has
been somewhat limited because ma
chinists' in the Washington Navy
Yard are barred from being men,
bers of the Reserve. Those who for
merly were members were required
to take discharges from this serv-
ice. It was pointed out that the
Navy Department felt that 1t was
bad practice to continue to train
men for duty with the Naval Re-
serve, who. when q mobilization il
ordered, might be held here for more
important duty in their civilian
status in the Naval Gun Factory.
Little time will be lost in filling
the three billets here, 1t was said
If a likely candidate cannot be found
already within the three DIVISIONS
recruits will be sought, and 1t is
expected that the opportunity fol
rapid advancement will encourage
young men to enter the local bat
talon for this service. Technical
students at local schools, it was said
might be available, and this field
will be searched in the event the
men cannot be found In other
places.
1t. w. Croft Jennings, commander
of the local battalion, has been
authorized to attend the Chemical
Warfare School, for Naval Reserve
officers, soon to be opened at Edge
wood Arsenal, lid. It was said also
that a medical officer also viii be
selected to participate in this i'm
portant new training for the Naval
Reserve.
The $50 members Of the special
division Of the local reserve, COM
posed of young men seeking to ente,
the United States Naval Academy
through the Reserve, it was said, are
planning to show their appreciation
to the battalion for the aid given
them during the past year in theil
efforts to realize their ambition. The
division is commanded by 1t. H
Arthur Lamar. The group, 1t wa.
said, proposes to provide from con.
tributions from its membership fund.
| with which provide certain equip.
ment not authorized as regular issue
/ There are number Of articles te
be provided, among them a range
and course finder and a pelorus te
be used in taking bearings while the
training ship is cruising.
The training ship went out on q
cruise last week under command o1
1t. Lamar, and its crew was com.
posed principally of the members o1
the Naval Academy Division. The
instruction on the trip was provided
by Chief Boatswain's Mate Joseph
P. Slattery and Chief Boatswain's
Mate E. N. Hagerman. The vessel
went to Colonial Beach and Brettons
Bay for maneuvers.
The battalion has just had com.
munications from three of its forme,
officers who have accepted indefinite
active duty under the limited emer.
gency proclamation Of the President
1t. j. F. Carpenter wrote that he i,
now of the coast of Venezuels
aboard the Naval Survey Ship Bush.
nell.
Ensign E. d. Reddington is as.
sistant navigating ofncer aboard tn,
U. s. Cruiser Chester. He reported
that the war games which are beinf
engaged In by the ship are quitl
strenuous.
Ensign Charles Cundiff reported
that he now is serving aboard thu
| Aircraft Carrier Yorktown as "a.