Evening star., 1941-07-04
27O Needed, Only s.
In Hand Waesche
Report Shows
Asks for Bouts Between
40 and 50 Feet With
l2-Knot Average
BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.

DN MALSOl@M LauDonNL, JEs
An appeal this week by Rear Ad-
miral Russell r. WaeSche, Coast
Guard commandant, for American
yachtSmen to lend their boats to
that service for duty in the Coast
Guard Reserve has disclosed the
fact that only SO OF the 27O yachts
urgently needed this year have been
enrolled to date.
Boat owners of Washington still
are afforded an opportunity to VOL
unteer their craft, with or without
the skipper, according to Coast
Guard headquarters, although only
one local yacht has been commits
stoned for duty with the Coast
Guard thus far.
Admiral WaeSche, in an appeal
Wednesday, explained the princi-
pal need was for boats between 40
and so feet and capable of making
an average speed of y knots.
The 53 boats now on active duty
in various Coast Guard districts
are only small percentage of the
total number required for harbor
patrol and other emergency duties.
1t is a well-known fact that Uncle
Sans most faithful service is over
burdened with new assignments
growing out of the defense program.
Ingratitude Is Hinted.
After years of 24-hour-a-day
service to many a distressed boat
man. the Coast Guard is turning
to these same shippers for assist
ance. The small number of yachts
taken into service has officials Won
dering if they are going to be left
in the lurch. A number of reasons
have been advanced for the appar-
ent lack of interest among boat
owners.
One factor which it is believed
has made yachtSmen reluctant TO
offer their boats and their own
services is the small pay given en-
listed Reservists as a result OF a
provision in the Selective Service
Act. Under it. an enlisted Guards
man receives the same pay for his
first four months as an Army Sc
lectee-S21 a month. This now is
being remedied under bill which
would give regular and temporary
Reservists the same pay as Naval
ReSerViStS.
The bill has passed Congress and
now awaits the signature of the
President.
There also is a belief yachtSmen,
aready planning their summer cruis-
ing are reluctant to offer their boats
until the fall. But meanwhile the
Coast Guard remains urgently in
need of qualified vessels.
Turn Down Many Craft.
OF course. the number now in
service does not represent the total
yachts originally offered. Coast
Guard districts have had to turn
down many craft because they were
too small or required extensive over
haul. The service is not interested
in collecting doWn-at- heel boats
which would provide only headaches
and expense.
But if your boat is over 40 feet
long with good power, and whether
you wish to join up with your boat
or not, the Coast Guard would be in
tereSted in hearing from you. So
far no authority has been given
the Government to commander
privately y-owned vessels, and officials
are hopeful it will not be required.
Much Of the personnel of the new
Reserve is being drawn from the
military Coast Guard Auxiliary,
although you do not have TO be a
member to apply for a commission
in the Reserve or to volunteer YOUR
boat. When offering your craft
much time will be saved If YOU
write direct to the district head
quarters in Norfolk. Washington is
not headquarters for the district
which manages these affairs.
Temporary Reservists have been
given assurances they and their
boats will be used only in this dis
trict. The Coast Guard has no
intention of transferring men and
boats to unfamiliar waters.