Evening star., 1941-02-23
Reserve Candidates
For Naval Academy
Increased Here
Baltimore Contingent
Is Sent Here
For Drill Purposes

TOT DIiIl TuIpOSeS
The Naval Academy Division of the
1st Battalion, United States Naval
Reserve here, has been materially in
creased by the addition of ST enlisted
men from the Naval Reserve Battal-
ion in Baltimore. All Of the members
of the latter outfit, except those try
ing for the Naval Academy appoint
ments, have been called to active
duty and have been sent to the
United States Naval Station at
Guantanamo, Cuba, for service as
coastal patrol units.
Because of the requirement that
candidates for the Naval Academy
must attend regular drills With some
actively drilling unit, 1t was neceS-
sarv for the Baltimoreans either to
be sent here for their drill work,
with the two remaining organized
Reserve divisions, or to go on active
dutv on the basis of one month OF
service counting as three drills. the
addition of these men increases the
size of the local division to more than
$50. who will soon take the eXamlna-
tions for the so appointments al
lowed each year from the ranks OF
the Reserve.
The organization drills each
Thursday night, under the direction
of 1t. Il. g. H. Arthur Lamar, who
is on active duty at the Navy Depart
ment, but who has handled this
branch of the local Reserve work Tor
a number of years.
The question has been raised by
local reservists as to what is to be
done with those who will be seeking
appointments next year in the event
that the local battalion is called to
active duty in its entirety. AS long
as one drilling division remains II
will be possible to comply with the
requirements of the law. On the
other hand, 1t was said the Navy
Department has made it possible Tor
the men to comply by seeking active
duty. but in view Of the fact that
thev will not be eligible to be sent to
naval schools while on active duty,
MANY of them would rather stay on
the inactive list so that they can at
tend the preparatory schools While
making plans to take the competitive
examinations for entrance.
In the event that all divisions OF
he Reserve are called to active duty,
and the young candidates feel that
thev cannot take active duty 10
comply because of the necessary OF
studying hard for the examinations,
the Navy is likely to find itself with
no one to fill these vacancies. IN
view of the demand for officers, and
the desire to fill all of the blllets at
the Naval Academy, it is possible
that if this situation confronts the
naval authorities they may find they
will have to make some provision
either for providing schools for the
men on active duty or make plans
for them to comply by attending
weekly drills with some outt1t Whlch
it will leave immobilized.
There is another matter OF COM
pliance and that is that the candl-
dates have to make at least one
training cruise, during the year they
are serving in order to qualify for
the appointments. No plans have
been announced for cruises during
the approaching summer, but II
some of the Reserve divisions are
left immobilized it will be necessary
to make provision for this, as they,
too, are required to make an annual
cruise in order to maintain efficiency
and comply with the law on the sub
iect.
At the assembly for drill last
Thursday the entire division, IN
Guiding the new contingent from
Baltimore. was inspected by Comdr.
r. M. Thieg. U. S. N. and gave them
a brief talk on the Naval Academy.
The District Chapter of the United
States Naval Reserve officers AsSo-
citation appears to be getting some
support for its efforts to prevent the
national association officers from
suspending the activities OF the as
ISOLATION during the period OF the
emergency.
1t. H. B. Atkinson, national dl-
rector of the association, who mas
been handling the matter, which was
started by the local chapter, read
a report at meeting of the othcers
on Thursday night. He told them
that the first naval district, OF
which Boston is the center, was
much in favor of continuing the
association.
Officers in the Navy Department
we're contacted concerning the mat
ter and. while for service reasons,
these officers did not take side to
The extent of saying that the assocl-
alton activities should be continued
.hev nevertheless indicated that
there was no objection on the part
IF the Navy Department to the body
continuing to function during the
0eriod of the emergency.
There will be the matter OF leglS-
lation coming up from time to time
affecting the Reserve in the service,
and it was believed that there
should be a group formed to watch
the legislation. There is proba-
bilitv that there will be measures
introduced in Congress, which Will
have for their purpose the trans
fer of officers of the Naval Reserve
to the Regular establishment. .
1t. Atkinson said he had received
a letter from the president of the
association indicating that he was
willing to call a meeting OF the
Board of Directors, or even a con-
vention, if it was believed possible
to gather sufficient officers to take
part in the proceedings.