Evening star., 1926-10-10

band must necessarily be. due to the
three other regular service bands ana
their natural prestige, the 343d En2l'
neer Band has enjoyed SLOW but
healthy growth, due largely to the ef'
forts of Capt. John w. Davis, its com
mandins officer.
Numerous difficulties have retarded
the progress of the band, such as the
lack of a proper meeting place, lack
of suitable uniforms. limited FUNDS,
the most serious of all: lack OF thor
oughly competent leader with the
prestige and technical ability to build
up a high grade unit. With respect to
instruments and music. the Govern
ment has been very liberal, as the
band has excellent instruments for SO
musicians and a splendid library of
music Due to the interest taken in
the local reserve musical organization
by the Army Band and Music School,
the training of the band has been
along most thorough military lines.
Much credit is due Capt. r. G.. Sher-
man, commandant of the Army Band;
Capt. Stannard, its leader. and War
rant Officer Simmons. Master Sergt.
Baxter and Staff Sergt. Gsell Of the
Army Music School. as we'll as Capt
John w. Davis. commanding the head
quarters and service company, OF
| which the band is a part.
Eight members of the band have
had the opportunity to take a short in
tensive course of musical training or
| from two to four weeks at the Army
Music School, but this has now been
eliminated by the adverse decision OF
| the controller. who ruled that men,
bers of the enlisted reserve corps We're
not entitled to military leave. This de-
cision was the result of the lack OF
necessary legislation to put the en-
listed reserves on the same status in
| law as members of the Officers Re
| serve Corps and National Guard,
thereby emitting them to military
| leave.
No special effort is being made by
| the recruiting officer. Capt. Davis. to
enlist musicians only, the type of man
most wanted being a musician who is
non n-commiSsioned officer material,
suited to technical unit such as a
general service engineer regiment is,
and preferably men with World War
| or Regular Army service. 1t has been
| the policy Of Capt. Davis, commander
| of the headquarters and service com
pany. and 1st Lieut.. Frank NJ. Stuart,
| second in command, to intersperse the
musical training periods with military
and engineering subjects, such as map
reading, reconnaissance, rifle lnStruc'
| ton, duties of engineers and courses
| Of home study to fit the higherrank.
ing non-comnlissioned officers for their
duties in the event of mobilization
Band practice at the Graham Build
ing, Fourteenth and r streets, has
been suspended until further notice,
but will be resumed at an early date,
- %1,A
! nights, when the organization VIII
have new quarters which will be av<il
able for those nights. Negotif Dns
are now under way to obtain vacant
| temporary Government building for
| this purpose, preferably in conjunc'
ton with the National Guard of the
District Of Columbia. if possible,
which will be an excellent thing for
the esprit of both components of the
civilian army forces.
With the instructions sent to all
corps area commanders pertaining to
the inspection of reserve division head
quarters, the War Department has
taken the first step in the orderly and
systematic organization, instruction
and inspection of those headquarters.
In the past, it is pointed out in the
! department, the inspection reports OF
Organized Reserve division and regi'
mental headquarters that have been
| forwarded to the War Department
| have not given as much information
| regarding the progress of the reserve
project at the headquarters inspected
as is desired. But with the instruc'
| tions which have been sent to the
corps area commanders outlining the
| things which will be the subject for
| future inspections. a great deal of
good will be brought about in the Or
| ganized Reserve structure.
The following changes in the as
| signment of reserve officers residing
| in Washington were announced last
| week by Organized Reserve headquar.
| terS: Second Lieuts. Lawrence P.
Johnston, Herbert B. Monroe and
| Cyrus B. Thomas, Infantry Reserve
! attached to the 41st Infantry: Capt.
George f. Romer, Quartermaster Ae-