Evening star., 1926-06-06

| low the SuarOSmen 10 lei the CdAlScAi
out by contract.
| Authority has been given for the
expenditure of $4,000 for the purpose
OF preparing the camp site at Fort
Humphreys for the use of the local
troops during their annual encomp-
ment. The money will be used for
the repair and renovation of barracks,
to make them habitable for troops,
such as screening, installation of cleo
trio lights, installation of water
system etc. With the expenditure OF
these funds, it was said, efforts VIII
be made to retain the area SO I'M
proved as a permanent training sec.
ton for the Nationl Guard. Citizens
Military Training Camp. and Reserve
Officers Training Camp. Since the
local guard was last there a large
bathing pool has been installed in
The area where the troops will live,
for the use of those who do not de-
sire to use the Potomac River, which
borders the camp.
Steps are being taken by the Militia
Bureau to equip the National Guard
with modern flying equipment, look
ing to a complete replacement Of the
JN training planes now in use. AT
the present time fifteen of the sixteen
federally recognized National Guard
souadrons are equipped only with the
training type of planes. This type
of plane already has been replaced in
| the regular service. These planes are
a wartime product, and. in fact. those
now in use were all purchased dur
| ing the period of the World War.
| 1t was pointed out that the Ma
| tional Guard has been hampered by
| the lack of sufficient funds with which
| to replace these obsolete training
planes with q later design and one
more suitable to it's needs.
The new program will authorize
three standard observation airplanes
and five airplanes of advanced tram
| ing type for each squadron. The
| standard observation planes will carry
| the auxiliary equipment adopted by
the Regular Army, and this VIII en-
able q training schedule for the
armory drill periods Of the Natlonai
| Gurd squadrons Of moro advanced
nature than heretofore practicable
with the old equipment.
The Militia Bureau Of the War De.
partment has sent out instructions
outlining the policy Of the bureau In
the construction of convenient and
| accessible rifle ranges for the use
of the National Guard. 1t was
| pointed out that considerable diff
Guilty has been experienced by the
| bureau in the past in securing data
relative to the use or r1f1e ranges
| other than during the field training
period. This information Is Vltaiiy
necessary for the preparation or
uniform nolicv relative to marksman-
shin training. 1t was said to be the
opinion in the bureau that a care
fl.l check made at each range during
the present target year would pro-
| vide data of inestimable value not only
| in formulating q training policy. but
| policies relative to the operation and
care of such ranges. This check
| should be made by the regularly au-
| thorized caretaker and included IN
monthly report. The local guaIa was Va
| among the first to supply this IN
formation.
| Authority has been granted by the
| War Department to- state ad)utants
general to approve requests 1Or anu
| to authorize crosscountry nights OF
| the National Guard air service squao
rons. However, officers on such trips
will not be on travel status ana
claims for damages arising from such
| flights cannot be considered as claims
against the United States.
The chief Of the Air Service has
been notified by the militia olVislon
| that there will be sufficient militia
| Funds available this year to send ap-
rroximateIy 20 National Guard oh-
| GERS to the primary flying school at
Brooks Field, Tex. It is not known
whether this course Will be avaaiaDio
| for this class of officers, nor whether
| thew can be accommodated, but II 1t
Is found practicable it seems quite
! certain that this number or guato
| officers will be sent to receive TINS
| instruction.
Naval Reserve.
In view of the fact that 1t now
seems probable that there will not be
sufficient enlisted men to fill the COM
| plement aboard the U. s. destroyer
| Allen when she makes her three an
nual cruises with the reserves of this
| city aboard this Summer, efforts are
| heinp made by the local officers TO
obtain recruits for the organization,
according to Lieut.. Harry j. Nichols,
| executive officer and acting in COM
rnand during the temporary absence
of Lieut.. Comdr. Finney Bascom
| Smith.
There are many opportunities Ior
| Young men to obtain promotion I'D
the reserve, eventually reaching the
| commissioned grade, 1t was pointed
| out, and, in fact, they may enter the
United States Naval Academy tnrougn
II. After one year OF service In tne
| reserve they are eligible to take the
| examination for one of the 20 ap-
| nointments allowed to be made from
the reserve each year, in accordance
with authority given In the recent
act of Congress reorganlZlng THIS
! branch of the service.
| While efforts are made to give the
members of the rerserve an intensive
| training during the drill period, one
! night a week, it was pointed out that
it is not without its recreational ad-
yantages. for Comdr. Smith plans
each month to hold a smoker and
entertainment for the men, following
the system practiced in the regular
service. The first Of these was given
last Tuesday night and was largely
attended. There were eight interest
ing boxing bouts, and music was fur-
| nished by the Reserve Jazz Orches-
F. ira, composed of mess attendants in
| the local outfit. This orchestra, 1t
also was announced, will furnish the
entertainment at the annual dinner
of the Naval Reserve Officers Asso-
ciation of the District of Columbia, to
be held at the Wardman Park Hotel
on June 16, plans for which now are
being formulated.
Lieut.. Junior Grade II. o. Eimers,
athletic officer of the local reserve.
has been placed in charge of the en-
| tertainments.
The L. S. destroyer Allen. training
ship of the local reserves, will leave
| her berth at the Washington Navy
Yard tomorrow morning for Norfolk.
Va, where she will go in dry dock at
the navy yard there for her annual
period Of overhaul, preparatory to car
rying out her strenuous training
] schedule with the local reserves