Evening star., 1915-02-28

three days to attend to several
several matters relating to the National
Guard of the District Of Columbia which
are pending and which require his per-
sonal attention. A telegram from the gen.
eral received at brigade headquarters in
The Star building contained the informa
ton that he would start east within a
week.
The most important matter which will
require the generals attention while
here is the selection of an army officer as
adjutant general to succeed Lieut.. Col.
Almon L. Parmerter, who has been or
dered to duty with troops on the Mexican
border. AS soon as he arrives In the city
he probably will go to the War Depart
ment for a conference with officials there
concerning the selection Of q new adju-
tant general.
Gen. Harries, while in the city, also
probably will set the date for the presen-
tation of the medals won by members of
the Army, Navy and local National Guard
at the target matches held at the Con-
gress Heights rifle range last fall The
medals to accompany the trophies have
arrived and are in the possession of the
quartermaster general of the local guard.
Capt Horace P. Hobbs, 17th Infantry.
now on the Mexican border, has been
ordered to Washington as inspector-in-
structor, National Guard of the District
of Columbia. He succeeds Lieut.. George
A. Lynch, United States Army, recently
relieved. Capt. Hobbs is ordered to re-
port in Washington on or about March
4, next.
A n1oa for new arrnorv hera was
voiced by Winfield Jones. chairman of
the militia committee of the Washing
ton Chamber of Commerce, in state
ment issued last night:
There is not city of the same size
as Washington in the United States
that does not have adequate housing
facilities for its National Guard, he
said, and some cities much smaller
than Washington possesses magnifi-
cent armories
"Thes District National Guard is a
first-ciass organization numbering ap-
proximateiy 1000 men, but it is fear
fully Handicapped by lack of armory
arrangements. The different organi-
! cations are scattered all over Wash
ingtoA, all of them in badly lighted,
poorly ventilated and cramped quar-
ters. The Center Market armory is
| totally Inadequate for the two regi-
| ments which are housed there, the one
and only drill hall not being large
enough to maneuver properly even
| one battalion. while there are six bat
| talions and two regimental headquar-
| tiers. Company commanders actually
T, have supplies for their active COM
panies stored in rooms which are not
| much larger than closets.
THE District Guard is now dis
! tributed in nine different buildings,
| and in only one of these buildings is
F., there any kind of drill hall. For
| these buildings the guard Is paying
| approximately $l7.o0o annual rent.
iS of
| ernmen. property stored in these build
+, ings which is uninsured These build
| ings are insecure from theft and many of
| them are not fireEroof.
For many years the guard has been
| trying to get Congress to pass a bill to
build an armory. but this effort has been
= unsuccessful, and there is no prospects
! in the near future of obtaining any legis-
| lation from Congress for an armory.
1.-The problem is now to Gevise some
method of obtaining a new and suitable
! armory here without the assistance of
Congress-, which up to date has been
| refused.
| whether this can be done, basing the
! investment on the $4,000 annual rental
now paid by the guard, remains to be
seen.
| "since my appointment as chairman Ct
the militia committee of the Chamber of
| Commerce have been endeavoring to
organize some movement to build an
arrnory, and several plans are now under
| way, which we hope will soon result In
something definite toward securing an
armory.
! 1.-The plans discussed concerning a
! building for a great public auditorium
which some have proposed to also use as
an armory deserve encouragement. Such
i buiid ng coulG be built here and would
! serve double purpose, that OF provid-
ing place for great conventions and for
| an armory."
X * X
| Company G, LIST Infanry. Capt. T. E.
Fawcett. commanding. gave a smoker
lin the company rooms at the Center
( Market armory last Thursday night
There were several entertainment fea-
lures, including several monolo CUES
Refreshments were served
Capt. Fawcett delivered q brief ad-
dress to the company and urged the
men to be present at the annual in
Il Ianection, pointing out that it was alb