Evening star., 1925-02-22
District National Guard

organization of the 260th Coast
| Artillery Club was completed by the
| officers and men of the Coast Ar
| tillery of the District National Guard
| at the Armory, Sixth and Water
| streets southwest, last Wednesday
| night committee on rules and
regulations was appointed, including
| Maj. Walter w. Burns, commanding,
| as Chairman; Capt. Louis NJ Gosorn,
| Capt James D. Eggleston, Lieut.. Jack
| Heale, Lieut.. John p. Shepherd, Dom
aid j. Mccarthy and Perry O. HUFF.
The officers of the club will be elected
at a meeting next week and commit =
| tees appointed to begin Immediate
plans for the Spring activities of the
club. The social program will in
clude d number of dances, a club ban
quet, and other entertainments
Clubrooms are being furnished and
| maintained, with recreation and read
ing rooms and other club features.
In an address at citing after
drill Wednesday night, Maj. Burns
stated that the primary purpose of
the club is to develop a closer con-
nection among the officers and men
or the organization, to increase the
drill attendance and TO develop
morale in the regiment Mai. Burns
explained that something must be
done to Increase the attendance at
drill. While the average attendance
or all organizations of the 260th Ar
tillery since the formation has been
higher than most National Guard or
CARNATIONS there is room for i'm
proVement, he explained, adding that
the purpose is not to make each en-
listed man feel that he is merely per-
forming duty when he attends drill.
Efforts will be made to make the
drills so attractive that no. enlisted
lran VIII want to miss a drill under
any circumstances. Maj. Burns ex-
planned that it was this theory and
the development of company spirit
which made the record of the old 1st
Company, District of Columbia Coast
Artillery, which was commanded by
him before the war, so high and
which in turn, resulted in the fine
war record Of that organization.
While the commanding officers of
National Guard units have the auS
thority TO enforce drill attendance. il
is not believed to be the most effec-
tive method of developing an organi-
cation. If the execution of court
martial sentences are relied upon, as
is done In some guard units. two
things happen: ID A man is made to
suffer for the disregard of his obli-
cations, which makes him sore" and
(2) the fine or confinement that may
be imposed does not help the organi-
zation. The best way to enforce drill
attendance is for the men to do II
themselves. By organizing a social
organization within the regiment
which Will naturally be supported by
the best and most active men of the
regiment, the men themselves are
given the responsibility Of determin-
ing what action shall be taken to en-
force drill attendance, which Is usu-
ally done by the club as a whole and
consequently unified pressure is
brought to bear on any members of
the command who may be disposed
to stay away from drills by all of
their friends IN the organization
Some of the club activities which
have already been suggested for the
benefit of the regiment and which
Will be taken up at early meetings
for consideration are: Some form of
amusement after drill at least twice
each month, equip and maintain the
clubrooms with pool tables, library
facilities, games, etc; buy and main
tain a. large motor boat for the use
of members for week end trips. and
Sundays, and for use of the organi-
cation between Fort Hunt and Fort
Washington and the "260th" wharf:
an annual banquet, the greater part
of the expense to. be paid from club
funds; conduct parties, dances, etc,
at least five times each year, vita
ladies present and invitations extend
ed to relatives and friends of the ar
tillerymen, and to buy such equip
ment as needed for the organization
which is not furnished by the Gov
ernment.
A large number of the artilIerymen
have already Joined the club and
with the enthusiasm shown at We'd
nesday nights meeting it is evident
that the organization will be one of
the strongest within the District Ma
tional Guard by the next annual en-
campment. Representatives from
headquarters, 260th Coast Artillery
Corps, Medical Detachment, Batteries
A, B and c have been initiated.
Lieut.. John P. Shepherd and First
Sergt. Cecil w. Burden are in charge
of the clubrooms.
Headquarters and Service Company,
121stt Engineers, has obtained per-
mission to furnish and. decorate a
room in the National Guard Armory
to be used as a clubroom for the
company. Arrangements have been
n.
One of the features of the proposed
decorations will be a series of pencil
and water color portrait sketches OF
all commissioned and non-commis-
stoned officers of the company, plans
being made to add portraits of all
new officers on appointment. Capt.
Sidney Morgan will be in charge OF
the arrangements for the clubroom,
assisted by a special committee OF
the men. A small library will be in
stalled and a clubroom manager ap-
pointed. The club will be formally
opened with a small social affair.
The War Department Glass A
medal for excellence in rifle team
Workmanship was awarded to the
members of the District National
Guard rife team. The team won dis
tinction at the national rife matches
held last September at Camp Perry,
Ohio, having attained eighth place
| among teams from all over the
country.
An examination for the placing of
| men on the eligibility list for COM
| missions in the 121st Engineer Regi-
| ment, District National Guard, will be
held April II, according to an
nouncement made last week at the
| Armory by Col. John w. Oehman,
comm anding. In a short talk to the
| men after drill last Tuesday night he
| urged them to study hard in order
| that they might pass a creditable
| examination in April.