Evening star., 1926-01-03
District National Guard

tlonal Guard Division, of which the
local force is a part, is recommended
Tor action during the new year by
Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan. command.
ing the local militia and the 29th
Division. The units recommended for
organization are needed to round out
the local forces and the divisional
forces of the 29th.
Notice has been received from the
War Department that favorable con-
>idCration will be given for the recog-
milton of 10 new headquarters and SO
units. entailing In all an additional
strength for the National Guard of the
country of not more than 2,211. But
there are several restrictions to the
matter of favorable consideration and
one is that there must be sufficient
funds allotted in order that the State
carrying them may have the money to
pay for their training.
The letter from local Guard head
quarters recommending the increase
IN forces, follows in part:
Units desired in order of priority
j. 29th Division Headquarters Detach-
ment; Headquarters, Special Troops,
18th Division; 3, Battery c. 26Oth
Coast Artillery Harbor Defense).
Battery c. 260th Coast Artillery,
was organized September 10. 1924, and
inspected for Federal recognition.
Letter of the chief, Militia Bureau.
dated October Is. 1928, authorized the
organization of this unit.
Necessity for units desired: l. The
29th Division Headquarters Detach-
ment will be composed of enlisted
specialists. who should be trained to
function with the 29th Division staff.
II is believed that the training of the
29th Division staff is progressing
satisfactorily and that the organiZa-
Jion of this unit viii materially as
sist in this training and will give the
necessary personnel to carry on de-
tailed work which should be carried
on within the division but which is
not carried on at this time due to the
inability of commissioned personnel
to devote the necessary time in ad-
dition to that required Of them in
perfecting themselves for their own
positions. In the event of a call into
Federal service without this detach-
ment. the 29th Division Staff would be
greatly hampered in its operations be-
cause of the necessity for training this
detachment after mobilization
The officers of the Headquarters.
Special Troops. 29th Division. operate
more or less as division staff officers
and their training should be coincident
with that of other members of the
staff in order that the staff will func-
ton properly when called into Federal
service.
Battery c. of the 260th Coast Ar
. tillcry will complete the organization
Of the lst Battalion of the regi-
nent. The Battalion Headquarters
are already recognized. The ma jority
of the personnel to form this battery
are already enlisted in active units
of the organization, as was the case
when this unit was inspected for Fed
eral recognition September 10 1924.
This unit yIn,IId ha to rI,r
defenses in the vicinity of Washing
ton and it is believed highly desirable
that the unit should be organized and
trained in that capacity, inasmuch as
the coast defenSeS referred to are not
now named by coast defense troops.
a part of the initial equipment re-
Quired for these units is now on hand.
The National Guard of the District of
Columbia agrees to all restrictions
placed on the recognition of new units
as specified in the Militia Bureau let
ter
The instructions of the Secretary of
War regarding these new units con-
tain certain restrictions, and the letter
in part follows:
The Secretary of War is prepa red
to give favorable consideration to a
request from you for the recognition
OF 10 new headquarters and % units.
entailing an additional strength OF the
National Guard in the aggregate of
not more than 2,2i1. under the follow
ing conditions:
The request VIII indicate a list of
units recommended by you in order of
priority of value to the efficiency to
the national defense. Special con-
sideration is desired toward including
In such list those units of a strength
less than battalion, and which We're
denied recognition by the present
suspension policy.
That within the 10 additional head
quarters and 53 additional units you
smay recommend recognition Of new
headquarters and units without in
creaSing the present allotted strength
to a State, provided that no unit will
be recognized within a State when as
result OF such recognition the total
maintenance strength. plus 10 per
cent of all units. including new units.
Will exceed the total strength author
lied for such State at the present date.
THAT before recognition of a new
headquarters or unit is extended the
State concerned will be informed that
such recognition is contingent upon
the fact that the Federal funds al
!otted to that State for the fiscal year
1926 will be sufficient for such new
headquarters or unit. and further
that should the funds allotted to such
State for the fiscal year 1927 be in
sufficient to support such new head
quarters or units for any purpose
other than armory drill pay, the
State will reduce the strength of
its Guard to the extent necessary to
bring the financial requirements
within the Federal funds allotted.
If. however. the -only item in the
allotment to the State for the fiscal
year 1927. insufficient to support the
drill pay, the State will be informed
prior to recognition that in such an
event it will be necessary for the
State TO so reduce the strength of its
Guard or so reduce the number of
arinory drills. or both. that the finan-
cial requirements come within the
Federal funds allotted"
Preparations were made some time
ago for the organization of the Sd
Battery Of Coast Artillery. Men were
enlisted for it. and the officers We're
ready to be commissioned: in fact, the
local Guard had done everything with
in its power and informed the War
Department it was ready, when word
came that the department would not
recognize II, it having fallen victim
10 the economy bug. This breach of
faith was Il distinct blow to a thriv-
ing organization. and efforts have
been made ever since to have 1t
righted In some way. and 1t Is the hope
that the department will see fit to
recognize il in its present plans for
an increase of strength.
The local militia headquarters calls
attention in its letter to the fact that
this battery is needed for the harbor
defenses but the Artillery heads in
the War Department have recon-
mended the abandonment of these de-
fHJ1EpE nd IL iS iIn1orStOOI that thew