Evening star., 1926-05-09
District National Guard
camp paraphernalia each year to and
from the training camp site.

camp parapnernalla each year to and
from the training camp site.
For the purpose OF keeping more
accurate record of the drills and duty
performed by members Of the Ma
| tional Guard, improved methods OF
keeping these records have been
adopted in the Militia Bureau of the
War Department. The system, 1t was
said, has reduced clerical labor by the
installation Of tabulating machinery
to the extent that where it formerly,
under the abandoned methods. re-
quired several weeks to obtain the in
formation, it is now q matter Of few
hours.
The reports sent into the Militia
Bureau from the units Of the Nationa:
Guard come directly to a section in
the bureau and are run through nra.
chimes, which enable the determine.
tion Of totals in a short space of time.
| These statistics are Of the greatest
value, and the errors in statistics. 1t
! was pointed out, have been enormous
| ly reduced. Out of the 5000 units of
the National Guard, less than 200 have
failed to make reports. The reports
| themselves show practically no errors,
and 1t has been found unnecessary to
return them, as was formerly the case,
for revision or correction.
This method Of tabulatinG strength
returns has given more accurate in
| formation than is possible by any
other means and requires the time OF
| about three clerks a month. 1t has
eliminated all work between the units
of the National Guard and the Militia
Bureau, in which respect, it is esti-
mated, that from 1000 to 1900 people
are employees.
| The form used in the report of Ma
| tional Guard duty performed shows
| the number and date Of drill or eXer-
| else; q brief description of each drill
or exercise held during the months;
the names of the participants with a
record of individual performance. to-
gether with any changes in status
| that have occurred individually dur
| ing the month. When the form
reaches the Militia Bureau. the infor-
! nation contained on it, as to strength
of the units, is cut into a card, one
| for each unit. By the use Of sorting
and tabulating machines, the infor-
| nation contained in the punch card
may be arranged in any desired order
and then printed, also automatically,
| showing the sub totals and totals.
Not only is this new system valuable
| in revealing statistics without delay
| in q number of tabulations desired.
| but it is valuable in arriving at esti-
mates OF clothing, equipment, ETC..
and in making periodical reports to
| the War Department.
The War Department has an
nounced that National Guard regi-
ments cannot succeed to famous vol
unteer organizations unless they can
prove historical connection with them.
~ iorI1f f,tJ nf
| Guard units ito certain regiments,
which attained fame has come before
Secretary Of War Davis as a result of
the submission Of designs for regi-
mental coats of arms for approval of
the department.
a case in point is a request from
the State of Ohio which issued an or
der designating the 134th Field Artil-
lery as successor to the lst Regiment
Of Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery of
the Civil War, and requested the de-
partment to embody the old coat of
arms Of that regiment in the regi-
mental colors supplied by the Federal
Government to the 134th Field Ar
tillery. While recognizing the right
of any State to issue an order rela-
tive to National Guard regimental
succession the department holds that
it does not entitle a unit to inherit
the history of a previous one having
that number. The rule is that the
organization itself will be traced
through all it's changes regardless of
numerical designation.
The War Department desires to
carry out the wishes of the States.
and in this case has asked the State
of Ohio to establish sufficient connec-
ton between the Civil War unit. and
Al IAYs foh f=I1
! in 1886, to which the 134th Field Ar
tillery is successor.
If the State can prove rightful sue
cession between the two. the War De
partment will accept the design for
the coat Of arms, which embodies
Civil War emblems.
The District National Guard now is
working on it's history, efforts now
being made to trace it back to the
days when the band of militiamen
headed off the British at the famous
skirmish at Bladensburg.
Naval Reserve.
Members of the Naval Reserve of
the District Of Columbia last week
held their first drill on the L. S. De-
stroyer Allen. their training ship. now
lying at the Washington Navy Yard.
During the Winter the units have
been training at the armory in the
navy yard.
Lieut. Harry. j. Nichols. executive
officer of the battalion. said that the
men settled down we'll to their as
signed duties on the ship, which only
recently relieved the Eagle Boat No.
Sc. which has been sent to Baltimore,
Md, as training ship for the Re-
serves there.
Considerable interest was manifest
ed by the engine and fire room gangs
in the intricatesmachinery aboard the
destroyer, and many Of them ex-
pressed themselves as quite anxious to
proceed to sea for their annual train
ing cruises, which soon will start.
The Destroyer Allen will leave here
on June Z for the navy yard at Nor
folk, Va, where she will undergo her
annual overhaul. AS her machinery
is said to be In the best of shape, it
was added that the work will consist
mainly of dry docking her there and
scrAping and painting her bottom
that she will be prepared to maintain
her speed with the scouting fleet de-