Evening star., 1941-08-03

battalion at the time OF moblllza-
ton, is commanding a converted
yacht which the Navy has taken
over. She has been on the East
Coast, and now is being overhauled
at an East Coast navy yard, after
which she will be assigned to South
ern waters.
1t. John Shultz, Supply Corps,
former supply officer of the local
battalion, is aboard one of the naval
transports on the West Coast, serv-
ing as her supply officer. While
serving in an inactive status with
the local battalion. 1t. Shultz was
with the United States Maritime
Commission.
Reports from the destroyer J.
Fred Talbot, which has aboard the
first contingent of local Naval Re-
ServistS, is operating in the Carib-
bean. Reports received here from
1t. F. E. Kirk say that the men of
the former local Sd Division are
making good and are virtually OPP
Grating the ship as a unit.
With the prospect that men who
enlisted in the Naval Reserve to
become candidates for appointment
to, the United States Naval Acad-
eniy for the class which is sched-
uled to enter on July next soon
will be coming to Washington from
the training stations to which they
have been assigned subsequent to
their enlistment. orders are expect
ed to be announced within a short
time for the training program for
these young men, who will be among
the selected few who will be placed
on an inactive status after they
have once been called to the service.
Many Expected Here.
1t was indicated that in addition
to the men who were enlisted from
Washington and nearby Maryland
and Virginia that large number
of men from the States even as far
away as California will be trans
ferred to the local battalion on their
own requests to take advantage of
the preparatory school facilities
here. The transfers for this group
are expected to be here within
short time, when those in charge of
the local headquarters will start
making preparations for their re-
ception.
While no figures have been re-
ceived on the number of prospec-
tive candidates, it is expected that
perhaps enough will come here to
form at least battalion of three
divisions.
1t was explained that once hav-
ing enlisted In the Reserve, even
with the desire only for trying for
the Naval Academy, the men will
be required to serve out their en-
Istments In other words, if they
fail the examination they will be
ordered to active duty in their reg
ular ratings, most of them being
seamen, second class. However, If a
man is still within the age limita-
ton, If he fails for the group next
year he still may stay on an mac
tive status and try again, by at
tending the regular drills for an
other year.
Many men just graduating from
college are seeking commissions in
the Naval Reserve to enter the first
. classes which start in September.
Schools will be at Northwestern
University. at the Naval Academy
and the other on board the U. S. S.
Prairie State, which is docked in
the North river, New York.
The men must serve one month
at the schools without pay, and if
they pass through this probationary
period, they will be appointed re-
serve midshipmen. receiving the
same pay and allowances as the
regular midshipmen. This course
will last for three months, and for
those who successfully complete it,
there will be commissions as ensigns
in the Naval Reserve and, if the
emergency is still in force at that
time, orders for immediate assign
ment to active duty.