Evening star., 1941-01-26
War Game Training
Features Activities
OF Naval Reserve
Two Divisions
Preparing for Duty
With the Fleet

rePor'n9 TOT Uuty
With the Fleet
Intensive instruction IN war games
and problems are being given the
members of the two divisions of the
lst Battalion, District Naval Reserves,
while awaiting their turn to be called
to active duty, TO follow the Sd
Division, which already is in the
Federal service. While they have
received the preparatory order from
the Navy Department to stand by
for a call, officers of the battalion
say that they have not received any
definite information as to when
| they would be mobilized. or whether
they will go as divisions or in small
groups.
Last week II of the enlisted men
we're ordered mobilized and sent to
Baltimore, Md where they boarded
| the U. S. S. Cubahama, merchant
| ship which formerly operated in the
United Fruit Line. This might have
given some indication that the re-
naming two divisions might be
/ broken up to fill billets on various
ships as they are needed On tle
other hand, the officers received
orders last week to send man to
the torpedo station at Newport,
r. l., for instruction. This course.
it was explained, will require four
months D. j. Vicino, a seaman,
first class. in the I'd Division. was
selected to attend the course of in
struction.
Members of the local battalion
are learning gas warfare operations,
including defense and offense. Spe-
cial instruction is being given each
drill night. for one period, the other
being devoted to battle problems.
Stimulating warfare in which the
local divisions operate a destroyer
IN a battle.
AS the drill activities have been
moved to the new headquarters i
said 1t may also be an indication &
an early mobilization day. For
organization TO move TO the adm
istration building would require
shifting and relnstallation of gre
mass of drill material, incIud4i.1
large guns and even guns and oollr.
and machinery. the latter OF Thlc.l
is used regularly on drill nights to
train the members of the engineer
branch.
The calling for men In small
groups, it was indicated, would put
a heavy task on the officers in al
tempting to keep complete WORKING
organizations to properly carry ou.
the war game schedules which ha
been mapped out. Fortunately. II
was said, in the group which v"
sent away last week there were 3
petty officers. but it was added IL
if call does come for petty e
GERS 1t will be necessary to fill (
vacancies as promptly as posi- .
The examining board of offC'
will have to work overtime in orCe,
to provide for these promotions r.
fore the organization is called or,
Several calls may so seriously
q
said, that the remainder may Just
have TO stand by and await orders
as little effective battle training
work could be carried out. How
ever. it was indicated that the Of
ficers would take every possible step
: to keep the divisions up to the
strength authorized by the Navy De-
partment which is 100 men each.
There are scores of men in the VOL
unteer branch of the Reserve who
,, could be transferred to the Fleet
., Reserve on their own application.
But it was said that it was not the
policy to transfer such men without
their consent.
1t was explained, however. that
with every call for men by crouns IT
simply WeakeNS the rcTainde" -
= the division. which has been built
f up over period of years as a fe.l =
: ing team. and it would take month
I to train the members of the team
t once it is completely broken down.
F.. While the Navy Department
: pointed out that Congress did not
! provide sufficient funds during the
: current year to provide for carry
3, ing out the legislatively established
5 policy to maintain an adequate
trained Naval Reserve. it reported
, that the Reservists who have been
. called to active duty in connec-
tion with the current emergency
have given a good account of them
, selves, according to reports reaching
! the department.
! Most of the funds which were
t provided by Congress we're set aside
r fol the development of the aviation
branch. A special board has been
appointed by the Secretary of the
Navy to make comprehensive sur
+. vey of all matters concerning Reg
; ular and Reserve aviation personnel
OF the Navy and Marine Corps.
: Recommendation have been made
= to Congress that legislation be
: passed providing authority for COM
missioning large group of Reserve
, naval aviators in the Regular es-
tablishment. Also. it was said that
amendments have been urged for
the Improvement of the status Of
: Naval Reserve officers on active
duty with reference to their pay,