Evening star., 1941-03-30
Naval Reserve Battalion
Faces Inspection April !
Tests Will Be Conducted by
Washington Navy Yard Officer

ordered to duty at the Navy De-
partment.
Although the officers have been
trained largely for service as sea-
going officers, particularly for service
aboard destroyers, a great number
of them, instead of being sent to
sea. are being given shore billets.
This is believed to be due to the
need of the reservists to take the
places of regular officers who are
badly needed aboard the ships of the
fleet for training work for the large
increase in personnel which is being
taken into the naval establishment.
Naval officers in close touch with
the situation have pointed out that
the Navy Department does not know
at this time just when more of the
reservists would be needed, there
being so many factors to be con-
sidered in the light of present day
Developments in Europe, where con-
stantly changing conditions make it
necessary even for the naval author
Ab4So W AlolO L4lCA4 IAdllo 4lolll OdJ W
day and from week to week.
However, it is believed that as
ships now under construction are
being readied to be placed in COM
mission there will be an increasing
need for the reServists. At the same
time, it was pointed out there are
thousands of young Naval Reserve
officers being trained in the naval
schools being held in various parts
of the country, and many of the
billets will be filled by them. While
many of the Naval Reserve officers
who are members of the Organized
Reserve divisions have business re-
sponSibilities in civil life, practically
all of these younger officers are
young college men who have not
established such standing, and are
much more available than the others
The two divisions still remaining
on the inactive list are trying tc
bring them up to the increased
strength. 1t was said at the loca,
battalion armory last week, thai
each has about three-fourths ot
the men necessary toward their full
strength of a 100 men each which
was authorized by the Navy De
partment few months ago. Three
or four men are being enlisted eacl
week, it was said although it was
added that the divisions can still
use a number of apt men, who
would like to get into the nava
service. Up to the time of the
arrival of the current emergency
none of the divisions had any
trouble in getting men to maintain
the divisions at full strength.
The battalion will be represented
in the Army Day parade next Sat
urday by platoon.
While awaiting the call to active
duty, the members of the local bat
talon will have to confine thei1
training activities during the spring
and summer to armory work entirely
as the training ship which was as
signed here has gone to Other
places. 1t is not thought possible
that the department will senc
another ship here at this time.
This brings up the question as Il
whether the local citizen sailors vii
get an annual cruise this year
Under the law they are required t
make two weeks cruise aboard
vessel of the fleet to maintain thei
efficiency, but in view of the fac
that most Of the vessels Of the Navy
in full commission. are engaged ol
neutrality patrol and other duties
it might not be possible for tn,
Reservists to comply with this fea
ture of the law.
On the other hand, it was ex
planned, the Atlantic training squad
ron might be pressed into Servic
for Reserve training work Thes
ships are the ones which take tn
members of the Naval Academy o.
their annual training cruise. The
are expected to have the furthe
task this summer of taking on train
ing cruises the thousands of youn
college men who are being invite
into the service, with a view to late
taking courses which will bring ther
commissions as ensigns in the Nava
Reserve. These cruises are of
month duration each and if the de
partment obtains any thing like tn
number it expects, it is possible tha
this squadron will spend most of tn
summer in taking out these youn
men.
Although it is the usual practic
in training cruises to take the di
visions out as units, 1t may be nee
eSsary to send them to various ship
for their training.