Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-25
District National Guard

Jrict of Columbia is working in its
cramped quarters, which are nothing
more than a shelter, the officers are
to make a strong drive at the coming
session of Congress to obtain armory
training facilities befitting the Guard
at the Capital City of the Nation,
which should by all means he the
model guard Of the country. 1t
should lead in armory facilities, as
We'll as in training, and being Fed
eral institution, as recognized in a
recent opinion of ti-s Attorney Gen
eral, the Federal Government should
provide it with facilities which the
State Guards could take as models in
providing for their own organizations,
it was pointed out.
The building at North Capitol and
d streets. which was erected as hotel
by the Government for its female war
workers. is declared to be entirely I'M
EFttsi for armory purposes. The
rooms are small individual rooms,
used by the former hotel guests, and
are not large enough even for the
muster of the smallest company in
the command. In mastering compa-
MES, a company commander stands In
one room, while the ends Of his COM
pany disappear through the doors
of the several communicating rooms
men. There are no facilities even for
school assemblies, and no one spot for
drilling. The men are even prohibited
from marching in military step while
in. the building, for fear the cadence
might jar the structure from its foun.
dations. There is absolutely nothing
there to attract men to this unit.
Troopers are even prohibited from
smoking in the building, and
iS cor otrtf tn iNr
there after performing the drill duty
absolutely required by law.
Two stabS are to be made at the
coming Congress in the direction of
an armory, it was disclosed by the
estimates for the next fiscal year
which have just been submitted to
the District of Columbia Commission
ers for review before sending them to
the Bureau of the Budget.
One item is for $50, 900, an increase
Of $4,000 over the current appropria-
ton, for the rental of armory facili.
ties, with a proviso which would au.
thoriZe the commanding general to
enter INTO contract or contracts for
the lease of armory, drill and storage
facilities, in one or more buildings
for a period not to exceed five years,
renewable at the option of the COM
manding general for an additional
period not to exceed five years, at an
annual rental not to exceed $50, 900.
AT the present tirlNA the commanding
general is authorized to enter into a
lease for an armory for periods not
to- exceed one year at a time. and
during the recent efforts to find a
home for the local Guard 1t was found
that in addition to having insufficient
funds with which to rent a building
at the prevailing prices for structures
of the size needed to fulfill the de-
mandS of the guard, no one could be
found who would even consider erect
ing a building on a one-year lease.
The explanation contained in the esti
mates says that the increase is based
on the fact that 10 building suitable
for armory ana drill purposes is
available in the city. Proposal has
been made, it was further pointed
out, to erect a building for armory
purposes and lease the same to the
National Guard for $4,000 a year.
Temporary quarters have been secured
for the fiscal year 1927. Thew con-
tain no facilities for infantry drill, en-
gineer drill, target practice, special
list schools, recreation, etc. 1t is es
sentiaI, it was pointed out, that ade-
Guate armory facilities be secured in
order that the local National Guard
may prepare to fulfill its mission in
the scheme of National defense.
The other effort to get adequate ar
mory facilities consists of a provi-
sion in the estimates of 100000 for
commencing the construction on pub
lie grounds of the United States in
the District of Columbia, on a site
to be selected by the officer in COM
mand of the local Guard, and APP
proved by the Public Buildings Com
mission and the Commission of Fine
Arts, of an armory, the sum to remain
available until expended. 1t provides
that the plans and specifications shall
be prepared under the supervision of
the municipal architect and be APP
proved by the commanding officer of
the Guard, and authorizes the officer
in command of the Guard to enter
into a contract for the construction
OF such armory at a total cost not
TO exceed 100000.
In explanation of this it was point
ed out in the estimates that the de-
mands of commercial life have neces-
STATED the removal of the National
Guard from one building to another
until temporary quarters which are
now being occupied should be termed
as shelter only. The building, it was
added, must be of design peculiar to
the Guard, with assembly rooms.
locker rooms, storage rooms, large
drill hall, target gallery, etc, which
makes its use for commercial pur-
poses very limited, if vacated by the
Guard, so that adequate armory ia
cilities can be secured only through
a long time lease at an annual rental
of at least 10 per cent of the total
cost of the building and ground. An
expenditure of $4,000 to SIS, 900 per
annum will secure a passably suitable
building in more or less undesirable
location, it is pointed out, whereas the
appropriation asked for will provide
adequate facilities in a desirable loca
ton.
Provision must be made for hous-
ing 81 officers and 74S enlisted men
of units now organized. and for 76
officers and 1926 enlisted men for
units to be organized as a part of the
local Guard under the national de-
Tense act. Provision at the present
time must be made for headquarters
Offices, as this is the headquarters of
the 29th National Guard Division.
comprising the militia of this city,
Maryland and Virginia; property and
Siisb6rsing offices and storerooms: of.
fees for Regular Army personnel de-
tailed as instructors; one Engineer
combat regiment, 33 officers and Az
enlisted men: one Coast Artillery bat.
talon, officers and ITO enlisted men;
one Military Police company, Off.
Hers and SO enlisted men; one division
headquarters detachment, officers
and 81 enlisted men; one division
headquarters company, 3 officers and
so enlisted men, ana one division spe-
eial troops headquarters, officers
and II enlisted men.
The units to be organized as part
tnf tba local Guard under the national
defense act, and for which armory ia
cilities must be provided, are: One
Medical Department detachment,
nfficers and % enlisted men: one mo-.