Mr. UMSTEAD. You have no information, then, relative to the allocation mentioned by me of $179,000?

Captain WILKINSON. No, sir. That must have been more recent than my information.

Admiral ANDREWS. That can be explaineds by "Yards and Docks." Mr. UMSTEAD. I should like for you to investigate that, and let such part of it as has been allocated to the training station appear at this point.

Captain WILKINSON. Yes, sir; I will do that.

Telegraphic advices from the Norfolk training station show:

"One hundred and sixty-seven dollars allotted to operating base, W. P. A. funds, first half fiscal year 1938. Six thousand five hundred dollars expended painting barracks, repairing swimming pools, and construction of two ready magazines training station. Allotment $179,000 not received at operating base; if granted for second half fiscal year $8,000 will be expended repairing barrack buildings, $4,000 for painting, total $12,000.”

This telegram indicates $6,500 for the training station of the $167,000 allotment, and a tentative allocation to the training station of $12,000 from the projected $179,000.

Mr. UMSTEAD. You said a moment ago that the Navy Department is now seeking to obtain authorization to replace the old buildings at the training station at Norfolk. The funds you are requesting in these items for repair are on buildings which would be replaced if the replacement program should go through?

Captain WILKINSON. Not the pending replacement program. sir, because they have not been incorporated in the pending authorization bill. So it is a matter of some years yet before they can be actually replaced.

Mr. UMSTEAD. Then, in the opinion of the Department, there would be no waste of these funds, if granted, for repairs on the buildings for which the requests are made?

Captain WILKINSON. On the contrary, they are absolutely necessary to keep the training station running in the meantime.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESERVE FUND

Mr. UMSTEAD. Yesterday it was developed in the hearing that a reserve fund of $4,500,000 has been set up by the Department, in keeping with the Executive order issued by the President since the beginning of the present fiscal year, out of funds appropriated for pay and subsistence of personnel.

Captain WILKINSON. Yes, sir.

Mr. UMSTEAD. I understood either the Budget officer or Admiral Leahy to say that the effect of setting up such a large reserve out of that appropriation would be that the enlisted personnel allowed for the fiscal year 1938 would not come along into the service until the latter part of the fiscal year 1938. If that is correct, then the load on each of the training stations which we have been discussing would be materially lighter during the first 6 months, at least, of the present fiscal year, would it not?

Captain WILKINSON. In one way, sir. In another, however, the reenlistments are not progressing at the rate that we had anticipated,

that we may have to take in more first enlistments this year than originally planned, so that the load will be lightened in one sense by the delay, but will be increased in the other sense, because we will have to have, perhaps, more first enlistments in total.

Mr. UMSTEAD. Then what is your opinion regarding the effect of the administrative reserve to which I refer upon the cost of the operation of the training station during the present fiscal year, if in fact that reserve necessitates a delay until near the end of the fiscal year in taking in the recruits?

Captain WILKINSON. Not a very large effect, sir, because the greatest expenditure possible on the enlisted men at the training station is in their pay and subsistence, which do not come under the training station appropriations.

The training stations have to be there; they have to be kept up: they have to be operated; and while there is some differential in the amount of heat and light appropriations that can be taken with a lighter load of recruits, yet the difference between the lighter and the heavier load, considering that you have to keep about the same overhead in every respect, would not be material, I should think.

FLEET TRAINING

Mr. UMSTEAD. The next item is fleet training. Commander Blandy. will you proceed to make such statement as you may desire relative to the estimate for fleet training?

PURPOSE OF THE APPROPRIATION

Commander BLANDY. The purpose of the appropriation is well covered by the language of the bill. It is used for

(a) Promoting interest in training by making suitable awards of trophies and badges for excellent performances, in gunnery, engineering, and communications.

(b) Obtaining data, analyzing, and publishing the results of practices and exercises in order to improve training.

(c) Formulating and publishing the rules and instructions for carrying out the training exercises.

(d) Establishing and maintaining small arms ranges and furthering the training in small arms.

GENERAL STATEMENT

Prior to 1933 the normal operating costs were about $48.000. For 1935 and 1936 the normal operating costs were about $35,000. The principal reduction in these operating costs was due to the practical elimination of small arms training during these years.

Separations from the service have caused a serious loss of men skilled in the use of small arms. This situation is aggravated by the growing necessity for the use of small arms as a defense against dive-bombing aircraft. Increased small arms training is urgently recommended by the fleet.

In 1937 small arms training was resumed at surface targets, but due to lack of target facilities, on a somewhat less extensive scale than in use prior to 1933, and, in addition, comprehensive training in the use of smal larms against aircraft was inaugurated. For this latter purpose it was necessary to establish training ranges convenient of access from the fleet bases and that, at the same time, furnished a sufficiently wide safety zone for the use of high angle fire. In the absence of suitable sites on the California mainland, the antiaircraft small arms ranges have been established on San Clemente Island, now under Navy jurisdiction. Small arms and

ånd

intiaircraft training is being conducted on an increased scale during 1938 due to these added range facilities on San Clemente.

In 1939 it is proposed to continue small arms training on the same cale as in 1938. Continued increases in enlisted personnel and in umber of midshipmen at the Naval Academy result in a slight ncrease in the cost of small arms training at surface targets on xisting ranges.

The resumption of small arms training in 1937 caused an increase n the normal operating costs of the Fleet Training Division from $35,000 in 1936, to $46.220 in 1937, and to $48.000 in 1938. (Expendiures in 1931 were $46,300 and for 1932 were $46,654.) In addition o the normal operating costs of $46,220 for 1937, a special nonrecurring item of $20,000 for material for establishing small arms anges on San Clemente raised the total appropriation to $66.220 for 1937. Three special nonrecurring items, totalling $9.000, primarily for photographic equipment, raised the 1938 appropriation to a total of $57.000.

Using $48,000 as the normal operating cost, the statement for 1939 includes (a) a net increase of $340 for labor and material due to increased number of officers and men to be trained in small-arms firing, and (b) a nonrecurring increase of $7,350 for photographing quipment. The increase under (a) above brings the normal operating cost for 1939 to $48,340, and the nonrecurring items of $7,350 make up the total estimate of $55,690.

PURCHASE OF ENLARGING CAMERA

Item 9 is for the purpose of purchasing an enlarging camera at $450. This camera will facilitate greatly the work of the fleet camera party, because available equipment is obsolete and worn out. Enlargement of fall-of-shot photographs and other pictures, where great detail and accuracy are necessary, has assumed great importance. That is just to replace existing obsolete and worn-out equipment.

PURCHASE OF CAMERAS AND PROJECTORS

Item 10 is the purchase of 16 mm cameras and projectors therefor. This is an extension of an idea that started a year ago of photographing destroyer target practice. At one time destroyers fired only at large, slow rafts, and material hits were recorded. With the introduction of small high-speed targets, towed by other destroyers, it was impossible to base their performance upon material hits, because the targets were too small; so it was quite necessary to get photographs of the firing.

What we actually use is a camera on the stern of the towing ship; a motion picture camera, in conjunction with aerial still pictures. In that manner we can find out where every shot goes, which is quite ecessary, particularly for the batteries of the new destroyers, to see st how good they are and what the state of training is of the indi- . vidual ship's crew. That was tried out last year and found successful, and this item is to purchase a sufficient number to take care of the needs of the United States Fleet and the Asiatic Fleet.

Mr. UMSTEAD. How many were purchased last year out of the $9.000 carried for that purpose?

36929-38-9

Commander BLANDY. That $9,000 was primarily to make repairs and alterations on some larger surface triangulation cameras. Those are not motion picture cameras; they are still cameras which are used for photographing the practices of the large ships, the battleships and cruisers.

Mr. UMSTEAD. If you should receive the appropriation of $5,500 requested for the purchase of cameras, would that complete the project?

Commander BLANDY. It will; yes, sir.

Mr. UMSTEAD. Then you will not have to have any additional cameras in the next appropriation bill?

Commander BLANDY. Not of that type. Of course, we use a considerable number of types of cameras. For instance, we have to have these large surface triangulation cameras, operated by radio. They have a reference ship in addition to the towing ship; sometimes two reference ships, if a large number of ships are firing at a large number of targets.

Then there is this motion picture camera, mounted on the stern of a small towing ship.

Then we have also antiaircraft triangulation cameras, mounted on the bow and stern of a large ship, taking triangulation pictures of

bursts.

Mr. UMSTEAD. Are all of the various types of cameras that you ar now discussing taken care of under this appropriation item?

Commander BLANDY. They are all taken care of for the next year. yes; both for replacements and for repairs. That is, by this group of items, not by that one item. You see, all four items are photographic equipment. The next item is two cameras for photographing fire-control instruments. Those are small cameras electrically operated, with a very fine lens and are mounted in a space where a man cannot get, and during firing they are used to photograph dials of certain gunnery instruments to test their functioning, and also the functioning of the men operating them. The last item is two antiaircraft viewers. Those are merely to view antiaircraft triangu lation pictures; they are somewhat like projectors. It is part of the process of determining just where the burst was with relation to the target sleeve.

Mr. DITTER. Was the amount you requested greater originally and subsequently reduced by the Budget department of the Government? Commander BLANDY. No, sir, it is exactly the same.

SEPARATIONS OF ENLISTED MEN FROM SERVICE

Mr. DITTER. As to the separations from the service that you spoke of in paragraph 2, are any of those separations caused by separation. of officers!

Commander BLANDY. No, sir, enlisted men.

Mr. DITTER. Enlisted men?

Commander BLANDY. Yes, sir.

Mr. DITTER. What is the cause of the separation of these men fo the service: is it voluntary withdrawal?

Commander BLANDY. The separations referred to there are over-all separations, covering all causes of separation from tla service.

Mr. DITTER. Have they been more serious in the past year than n other years?

Commander BLANDY. No, sir, not to my knowledge. I do not believe I am fully qualified to answer that question, sir.

Mr. DITTER. So that should not be the cause for the increased ppropriation requested. There is nothing unusual, in other words, bout the matter of the separations from the service this year as ompared with other years?

Commander BLANDY. No, sir; and that is not the point I was trying o bring out here, but the fact that there have been separations from he service during the period when there was greatly reduced smallirms training and in which new men have come into the service who ave had no training in small arms.

Mr. DITTER. That is the usual procedure, and it happens year after fear, does it not?

Commander BLANDY. The separations happen every year; yes, sir; out if we continue the small-arms training, we can take care of new men that come in.

REDUCTION IN SMALL-ARMS TRAINING IF REQUIRED TO REDUCE ESTIMATE

Mr. DITTER. Commander, if you were required by the Budget Bureau to reduce this estimate or appropriation by 25 percent, what item would you suggest should be reduced? If the Budget Director requested you to cut this by 25 percent, what would you cut?

Commander BLANDY. In general, it would be the small-arms training, because the most important work we do is the firing of big guns in the fleet. Small-arms training is necessary but relatively less important than the firing of the big guns.

Mr. DITTER. How much would it save?

Commander BLANDY. Twenty-five percent of the whole amount? Mr. DITTER. Yes.

Commander BLANDY. Well, it is 25 percent of $55,690. That is about $14,000.

Mr. DITTER. That is all.

Commander BLANDY. But, of course, that would practically cripple small-arms training.

Mr. UMSTEAD. Is there anything further?

Mr. DITTER. NO; that is all I have, Mr. Chairman.

INSTRUCTION

POSTGRADUATE INSTRUCTION OF OFFICERS

Mr. UMSTED. The item of instruction is next.

Admiral ANDREWS. Captain Yates.

Mr. UMSTEAD. All right, Captain.

Captain YATES. This project provides for the following:

14) Maintenance and operation of the Postgraduate School, United States Vyal Academy, Annapolis, Md., including the Naval Finance and Supply School Philadelphia, Pa.

(b) To cover expenses incident to the special instruction of officers at home abroad, which covers:

1) Postgraduate instruction of officers at civilian institutions at home.

(2) Instruction at Edgewood Arsenal Chemical Warfare School.

(3) Language instruction abroad.