50 NAVAL RESERVISTS JOINED RADIO COURS

The training course in radio-telegraphy and other forms of signalling for men enrolled in the Naval Reserve opened at the Cruft Laboratory on Monday, April 16. The course is under the direction of officials of the navy and is conducted according to the naval regulations. A detachment of the Naval Reserve of about 50 men has been assigned to this station by the Boston District Communication Superintendent of the navy. Another detachment of about the same number of men will report for training soon.

H. D. Kent, chief electrician, who is in charge of the training course at the Cruft Laboratory, has made the following statement in regard to it to a CRIMSON reporter:

"On Thursday, April 12, the Harvard University authorities offered the Cruft High-Tension Laboratory for the use of the Navy Department in training the radio branch of the Coast Defence, class four, Naval Reserve Force. On the following day, Lieutenant Gawler, U. S. N. R. F., Gunner Dame, U. S. N., and I made an inspection of the premises with Professor G. W. Pierce '99 and found great opportunities here for this work. On the next Monday the class was started.

"This class is now one of three such schools in the United States, the others being at Mare Island, Cal., and Brooklyn, N. Y. The members of the class are all regularly enrolled members of the United States Naval Reserve, and the class is composed, of men from the University, Dartmouth, Rhode Island State, Amherst, and other colleges.

"Only men who can send and receive 15 words per minute, Continental code, are accepted. Some previous radio experience, such as would be obtained by an amateur operator, is expected but not compulsory.

"Men who fulfill these requirements are enrolled here and sent to the navy yard for physical examination, to take the oath, and to draw uniforms. They are then ordered here for active duty. The instruction is on radio apparatus, tactical signals, and code practice. The handling of secret code work will also be taken up. As soon as the men become familiar with these things and proficient as operators, they will be ordered to patrol boats and coastal stations in the Boston district for radio work.

"All men detailed here are under military discipline and regulations of the navy, and must take the military drill of the navy."