Evening star., 1926-04-11

hnd l.. of the 5th <E $% 4
United States In @-sa---~-''-- S----h
fantry. and from Iieut r. A McNahon
a9t4 to 1916 as a
korivate in the 69th Coast Artillery.
During this period of service, he put
fWo years of the time with the out
pit on Cuban soil. and left the Army
20 accept civil employment in the
Eanal Zone. He now is studying law
Rt the National University Law
School, and is in the class of 1926.
He Is employed as an auditor in the
general accounting office.
Arrangements have been completed
by the Military Service Legion of the
plstrlct of Columbia, made up large
~ of members and former members of
the National Guard of the District
pt Columbia, for its annual dinner
April "A at 1880 o'clock at the New
Ehbitt Hotel, Tenth and II streets.
The guests of honor will include Mai.
Gen. Anton Stephan. commanding the
District of Columbia Militia and the
S9th National Guard Division; Brig.
Zen. Lloyd NJ. Brett, adjutant gen.
eral Of the District of Columbia
Militia, and Lieut.. Col. c. Fred Cook
Firm arraignment of the officers of
the various units comprising the local
Guard for what is declared to he out
standing laXity in the handling of
personnel of the units. which is hurt
dul To the morale and efficiency and
foStlX to the Government is contained
IN general order issued to the COM
lOands by Adjt. Gen. Lloyd NJ Brett
&t the direction of Gen. Stephan.
The order, it is understood. grows
put of the large number of discharges
for various reasons which have been
hade recently and also the unusual
number of summary courts-martial
ht enlisted personnel for failure to
attend drills. The order seems to inti-
mate that there has been some dis
examination in selecting victims to go
before these courts for it specifically
Galls on the commanders to fix and
adhere to a policy which will be ap-
piled alike to ALL
one effect of the order it is believed
will be to prevent hurried and ill-ad-
Eised recruiting of various units just
before camp time with undesirable
personnel, who enlist only for this
purpose. and who then want to get out
when the camp is over, and fail or re-
fuse to attend the regularly prescribed
drills in the armory during the winter.
Some of the companies in the past
have taken a large percentage of new
men to camp, men hurriediy gathered
an order to make up the requisite
strength which the War Department
SequireS in order that the organiza-
tion may be recognized as a field train
tng unit.
Much laXity exists as to the en-.
listment, re-enliStment and discharge
bf enlisted personnel" says the order.
''Enlistments are frequently made for
b period of one year, where there is
ho authority for the one year enlist
n ininp IN
s,e, duties and responsibilities of en-
siSted personnel of the National Guard
Rre not explained to applicants for
enlistment prior to their actual en-
listment. This results in applications
3.eing flied for discharge and increases
the annual turnover of personnel in
the organiZa tion. whereas very fire.
Huently it would be possible to elimi-
nate. prior to enlistment, undeSirables
md those unable to attend regularly
pr otherwise satisfactorily perform
thnir duties.
"In connection with application for
discharge, National Guard regulations
should be completely complied with.
Implications from the individuals con-
Cerned should be filed, together with
Hecessary affidavits or supporting evi-
tience Where this is not filed full
explanation should be made by the
unit commander.
1T is noted that personnel is fire.
Huently court -martialed following
continued absence of several months
tnd in some cases years. This con-
slnion should not exist and each COM
manding officer should adopt and
strictly adhere to policy which will
tend to increase and regulate attend
RnCe Action should be taken against
each man after a definite period of
absence or failure to maintain a GER
tain percentage of attendance, or
pther method should be established
Whereby all personnel of the unit con-
cerned will be treated alike and no
one individual singled out for example.
THE turnover in personnel is one
(which seriously affects the morale,
training and efficiency of any unit.
The Government invests a certain
amount of money in overhead, ad-
sminstration, training, etc, in enlist
ing member of the National Guard
and unless the majority of these in
tlividuals remain in the organization
end properly perform their duties for
@ three-year enlistment period the
Government is not receiving full re-
turn on its investment: neither is the
morale and efficiency of the organiza
fiOn concerned receiving proper bene-
sit.
Commanding officers will take the
h.ecessary action to correct the con-
dltions mentioned"
\ number of promotions and ad-
HitonS to the staff of the 29th National
Guard Division, including the assign
anent of two AIDES de camp to replace
Vacancies on the personal staff of Maj.
Gen. Anton Stephan, have been made.
srhe officers are members of the Nlr-
Sinia and Maryland National Guards,
pnd necessary orders for the assign
ments have been issued by the ad-
jutants general of the two States.
Mai George Henderson, Cumber-
land, Md, Maryland National Guard,
has been promoted to lieutenant col
bnel in the ordnance department and
assigned as assistant chief of staff
6.3. filing the vacancy caused by the
i designation of Lieut.. Col. F.. Brooke
lee of Silver Spring, Md, former
secretary of state of Maryland.
Mai. Carey Jarman. Frederick, Md,
list Maryland Infantry, has been pro-
lnoted to lieutenant colonel and as
signed as division machine gun and
howitZer officer.
Capt. Henry c. Stanwood, Maryland
National Guard. has been relieved as
blans and training officer of the 5Sth
Infantry Brigade and assigned as aide
10 the division commander.
Claude w. Hopper, formerly sec
bnd lieutenant, u. S. Infantry, has
been appointed a captain of infantry
In the Virginia National Guard and
Resigned as aide to the division COM
elander.
The new unit of the District Guard,
which has been in the course of or
kanization for several weeks, IT was
announced, will be inspected and mus
kered into Federal service Tuesday