Evening star., 1926-05-02

The War Department has just laid
| 1t down as its policy that it would en-
courage the establishment Of one
camp in each State and Territory, un-
der State control, either owned,
leased or held on revocable license by
the State, sufficient in area to pro-
vide a camp for all the troops or
that State, with the exception OF
: Field and Coast Artillery units In
those States where suitable areas for
target practice for Field Artillery ana
suitable armaments for Coast Artl-
lery units are not available WITHIN
the home State Of such units.
In general, the States will be re
uuired to provide the land and roads
and the Federal Government VIII
provide the essential camp utilities.
subject to certain conditions as to
length OF time available for military
use and subject to the right or the
Federal Government to salvage any
utilities constructed with Federal
funds when the land ceases to be
used for military purposes.
However, the War Department
points out that it is the policy 10
provide for each camp at Federal eX-
pense only the barest essentials Tor
the health and comfort OF the troops
~
the Summer camps, leaving the cost
Of providing roads and additional re-
finements to be borne by the States.
The office Of the quartermaster
general is now preparing standard
plans and designs for various build.
ings to be used on National Guard
camp sites. These plans. 1t was
pointed out, together with technical
advice, will be made available to the
Militia Bureau through the States,
thus saving this expense to the
Guard organizations. However. II
any State does not desire to follow
the standard plans, it must have
them prepared and pay for the tech.
nical advice, as it will not be allowed
from Federal funds.
Estimates for repairs, alterations,
improvements to structures and sys-
$500.
The order points out that barracks
are more desirable than tents for
training of troops in the field, and
these win be used wherever possible.
In that connection 1t may be pointed
out that the 121st Engineers, local
National Guard, will be housed in bar.
racks at Fort Humphreys this year.
and will not be placed in tents. The
tent camp was discussed in a. pre-
llminary way. 1t is understood. but
was abandoned after the officers held
some discussions with the camp au-
thorities at Fort Humphreys.
Naval Reserve.
Efforts of the members of the
United States Naval Reserve for the
District of Columbia to get some ship
training for themselves by taking
week end cruises down the Potomac
and Chesapeake Bay aboard the de-
stroyer Allen, assigned to them as a
training ship. has to some extent
borne fruit, but it is a compromise.
The Allen will cruise May %, leaving
her berth at the Washington Navy
Yard at s am. and returning at 5
o'clock. 1t will be her maiden cruise
as training ship of the local Reserves,
this vessel having relieved the U. S. S.
Eagle, No. Sc, which was here for
several years on this duty, but which
is now at Baltimore as training ship
for the Maryland Naval Reserves.
Lieut.. Comdr. Finney Bascom Smith,
commanding the local reserve unit.
has consented to this compromise. but
there is hope that it will be possible
later in the Summer, before the
annual cruises, to take the vessel out
Saturday afternoon and return Sun
day night or early Monday morning.