Evening star., 1941-02-02
Naval Reservists
Getting Supplies
For Active Service
Organization May Be
Completely Outfitted
In Two Weeks

Completely Outfitted
In Two Weeks
Additional clothing ordered to out
fit the remaining members Of the
two divisions of the 1st Battalion
District Naval Reserves, for active
service, is beginning to arrive at the
armory in the Washington Navy
Yard. Considerable additional uni
form equipment was required and
many of them did not have full bags.
Officers estimated all of the neces-
sary material would arrive from the
Norfolk supply depot within the
next two weeks, after which the
organization would be ready for i'm
mediate service on short notice.
The men have expressed the hope
that each of the divisions will be
taken into the service as units, and
that they will be assigned duty
similar to that given the Sd Division,
which answered the mobilization the
first of last month. This division
was sent to man a destroyer engaged
in the neutrality patrol in the Carib-
bean. off the Panama Canals At
lantic entrance. However, In view
of the fact that the Navy Depart
ment called for II men from the
two divisions a little more than a
week ago leaves doubt in the minds
of some of the local citizen sailors
as to whether they will get duty
similar to their shipmates who an
swered the first call.
There are a number of radio op-
orators in this division who are said
to be fully capable Of handling a
full watch on naval vessel, and
they are ready to go to sea, although
they are members of the volunteer
branch of the reserve. However.
they can get active duty by merely
making formal application, it was
said
Officers pointed out that unless
| there is considerable speeding up in
the recruiting of the two remaining
divisions, that they are likely to go
to sea considerably short of their
allotted strength. which has been
| fixed at 100 men by the Navy De-
partment. They said that the two
remaining divisions have been keep
ing normally between 81 and 10 men.
and despite efforts to attract young
/ Fo 6vT
have been largely unsuccessful.
officials are concerned also over
the fact that physical tests to be
given on mobilization might elm
mate some of the men. and further
reduce the strength. Physical de-
fects which might result in some Of
the men being placed in the discard
/ do not mean that they did not
pass rigid physical examinations
when they we're enrolled Such de-
fects as they are rejected for are
/ likely to be minor ones. such as
teeth and weight. matters which
when corrected would still permit
them to be mobolized. AS far
as possible all members Of the bat
talon are being urged to have their
teeth examined by private dentists
| and anv needed work done. prior to
the time that thev are called up for
physical tests. The correction Of
teeth is rather important for the
local reservists, especially in view OF
the fact that they might have to
90 to destroyer duty, and there are
no dentists or medical officers on
these small ships to look after their
troubles.
The organization also has been re-
duce by discharges for various
causes including the expiration Of
enlistments. But these latter are
being encouraged to ship over in
the organization. especially if they
are within the selective service ages.
Instruction being given the two
divisions at this time deals largely
with the duties which they will be
expected to perform when they go
to sea, and also for any problems in
new sea warfare which might de-
velop. The 1st Division gave most
of its time last week to instruction
in defenses used in gas warfare and
in first aid. The I'd Division gave
its evening over to lifeboat drills
and to damage control-that is in.
struction in the methods followed by
the Navy for handling damage in
case of torpedoing. collision or other
causes due to battle.
1t. Comdr. Walter C. Lockhart,
chief engineer of the battalion, and
now on active duty. gave the men,
bers of the engineering force in
struction in that field. and there was
classroom instruction for the deck
officers.
The Navy Department is providing
additional training facilities for
members of the Communication
Naval Reserve. Although these men
receive regular weekly instruction,
the department has decided to give
as many as apply intensive training
for a period Of 80 days, after which
they will be sent to sea aboard a
cruising ship for practical work.
Two schools have been established,
one on the East and the other on
the West coast. However, only men
who volunteer for the duty are called