Evening star., 1923-10-01
D. c. GUARD ARMORY
TOoE SOUGHT WHEN
CONGRESS MEETS
Gen. Stephan Launches Drive
to Obtain Adequate Build
ing for Militia.
PROPOSES STRUCTURE
TO HOUSE MANY BODIES
Would Have Room for Patriotic
md Veteran Meetings-Starts
Formation of Committee.

Provision for an arniory in this
city for the National Guard of the
District of Columbia is to be actively
sought from the coming session OF
Congress.
The machinery to bring about the
authority for such structure. which
would be designated as a memorial
for the soldiers and sailors OF the
city who sacrificed their lives during
the wars of the United States was
started today when Brig. Gen. Anton
Stephan. commanding the District OF
Columbia Militia. sent letters to heads
OF civic and patriotic bodies asking
them to name two members each for
O joint committee which will meet
this month to discuss ways and
means for obtaining the structure.
Would House Many Activities.
In addition to providing much
needed housing for the troops COM
posing the National Guard of the
District Of Columbia. the forces of
which are increasing monthly, it is
proposed now. according to Gen.
Stephan, to provide quarters in it
for the various veteran organizations
and TO make it available to the fed
eral government for assemblies and
functions of a national and interna-
tional character.
For many years there have been ef-
forts to have Congress provide ade-
quate armory facilities for the local
National Guard, but without result.
The organizations have been forced
into rented buildings entirely insult
ed for the work of training forces for
war There could be no more fitting
memorial to those who lost their lives
in the wars than to erect building
in which the youth OF the day would
be trained for service in war. and
where the veterans whose buddies
inGs, said Gen. Stephan. ~
The present armory facilities are
already cramped. and plans now are
being made fer the organization of
aatiitional units. including a military
police company and a battalion of
coast artillery Many times the local
guard has been unable to take federal
government equipment because there
was no adequate place to keep it.
win Head 2sth Division.
1t is the intention of Gen. Stephan
10 IOTm a pOWeTIui committee OF 10
cal and civic veterans organizations
to push the proposal before the next
session of Congress. In addition to
the uses already stated, it will be the
headquarters for the 2ath National
Guard Division, comprising all of the
organized troops Of the District of
Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.
Gen. Stephan soon will become com
manding general of the a9th Division,
with headquarters in this city. The
fact that this will be the headquar-
tiers for that unit is expected to bring
to the proposed committee in its es-
forts the support of the congressional
delegations OF Maryland and Virginia,
backed BY the military units of those
two states.
The letters asking for appointment
OF committeeman were sent today by
Gen. Stephan to the heads of the City.
Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions and Civitan
clubs, Disabled Veterans Of Foreign
Wars, Military Order of the World
War. Federation Of Citizens Associa-
Commerce and Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Association. AS soon as
Gen. stephan receives the names of
those designated TO work for the ar
Inory he will caI1 q meeting for the
purpose of organization and then will
lay his plans for getting the armory,
provided for at the next session of
Congress.