Evening star., 1940-09-08
Annual Cruisinu
Begins for Local
Naval Reservisfs
Battalion Quarters
On Three Destroyers
In North Atlantic

IN Nofrn Ari0ntIC
After Slstling week of prepara-
tions, the three divisions composing
the 1st Battalion, United States
Naval Reserves in the District of
Columbia, today are steaming in the
North Atlantic aboard three United
States deStroyers. While they are
getting their routine summer train
ing, they will nevertheless get it
under quite different conditions than
they had at any time since the World
War. They will have an opportunity
of ascertaining how the neutrality
patrol of the United States works,
and will get real instruction in the
operation of these speedy scouts
under veritable wartime conditions.
Because each division is organized
on the basis of forming the nucleus
of destroyer crew. one division was
assigned to each of the three ships
which came to the Washington Navy
Yard to take the ReservistS aboard.
All during the week of prepara-
tions, the enlisted personnel's cloth
Ing and equipment were closely ex-
amined by the officers to ascertain
that each one had sufficient to hold
out for the two weeks of cruis-
ing, during which any kind of duty
might be expected. They will re-
main at sea the first week, and then
60 to Charleston, S. c., for a week
end of liberty before starting the
target practice. They captured the
prize for gunnery last year. and they
hope to do at least as well this year,
but with better score.
While the local citizen sailors do
not have any facilities for torpedo
practice at their armory, it is ex-
pected that considerable attention
will be given by the Regular officers
aboard the ships to giving thorough
instruction to the Reservists in the
handling of this important and
highly dangerous engine of war.
But the members of the local bat
talon have been thoroughly in
structed under the direction of 1t.
w. Croft Jennings, battalion COM
mander, in all of the other details
of destroyer operation, even to the
details of manning and handling the
fire end engine rooms. They have
also made much use of the modern
4-inch drill and the new loading
machine in the armory for the pur-
pose of firmly co-ordinating all of
the members of the crew to insure
rapid service of the gun firing.
However, while the members of
the Organized Reserve are away on
their annual tour of duty, the ac-
tivities at the armory, which is also
the headquarters for all Reserve
activities in this area. are expected
to keep up, perhaps with consider
able acceleration. The civilian force
has been considerably increased in
order to handle the heavy increase
In applications from men of all ages
seeking to enroll in the Naval Re-
serve. Further, number of en-
listed men have been ordered to
active duty to serve as clerks and
stenographers to assist in keeping
the work incidental to enrollments
from begging down.
Much of the work now being done
is on the applications for cadetships,
which will eventually result in the
successful candidates being commits
stoned as ensigns in the Reserve.
The Reserve officers are receiving
any number of applications for COM
missions in the Reserve from others
who do not have the requisite two
years of college work. AS the Navy
Department has established that as
a minimum, the local Reserve officer
Is without authority to waive it.
The War Department has made
available to the Navy the facilities
for chemical warfare instruction at
Edgewood Arsenal for period. The
Navy has decided to make the IA
cilities available to Naval Reserve
officers. Naval Reserve officers in
terested in obtaining this training
are being sought by the Bureau of
Navigation of the Navy Depart
ment, and it hopes that four or five
from the local area will volunteer
for the duty. Those who accept
this duty will receive the full pay
and allowances of their rank.
1t. Comdr. j. H. Nicholson, COM
manding the Naval Communications
Reserve Division, said that informa-
tion has been received that the Dis
trict of Columbia organization fin
ished in second place for the last
competition year. Comdr. Nichol-
son announced that the American
Legion Post, No. /. had donated
medal to be awarded the enlisted
man who made the most progress
during the year. He said that
recommendations were being made
now. and that the award would be
made the latter part of September.
During the time that the three
divisions of the Organized Reserve
are away on the destroyers, the
members of the Communication Re-
serve plan to get two week end
cruises on the training ship of the
local battalion.
Plans are being made by the Of
ficers of the Communications Divi-
sion for tours of various naval ac-
tivities in and around Washington.
These will be taken when there is
a fifth Thursday in each month,
as the organization drills on Thurs
day nights. In addition to these
trips, it is also planned for the di-
vision to hold open house, with a
smoker, on some of these extra
nights in the month.
Ladies' Of 9. A. R.