Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-18

Some idea OF the uselessness Of the
present building assigned to tho
National Guard Of the District Of
Columbia for arnlory purposes is OBJ
tanned from orders issued to the
troops at the first assembly in the
new building, one OF the Government
Hotels on the Union Station Plaza, at
the first troop assembly there Tues
day night, The orders strictly pro-
hil,it troops from marching In cadence
In the building. This, of course, Is d
safety order forced on the Guard, and
Is issued for the purpose Of removing
any danger Of the building colIapsing
from q large body Of troops marching
In step.
But, it was pointed out, the troops
need an armory to drill in, but the
condition OF this building, with It's
small corridors and cut up rooms
have to take to the streets, but when
they come In the building they must
break the military step, and proceed
thus to their company rooms. About
the only soldier training that can be
obtained In the new arrnory Is the
theoretical training in school that viii
be conducted, and these troops must
wait until the annual field training to
be able to stretch out and get the
practical end.
The moving of the troop parapher-
MALTA was completed last week, and
all branches of the Guard which were
Quartered in the L street armory now
are in the newly assigned building.
AS the building was used for hotel
purposes. only small rooms are there,
and q series is assigned to each com.
pany or unit. The motor equipment
Of the Guard is now stored in private
garages.
oficials Of the Guard are by no
means pleased with the situation, but
1t was all that was left open to them,
Congress having failed to provide SUI
ficient funds with which TO rent an
armory on q long lease plan or TO pro.
vide for the erection of a building on
Government property as the perma-
nent home Of the local citizen sol.
diery.
The conditions under which the
National Capitals Guard Is operating
II is expected, will be brought strongly
to the attention Of Congress ct its
next session, and every EFFORT VIII De
made to have individual members OF
Congress, particularly those who have
been members of the National Guards
to view the handicap under which the
local troops are trying to train them.
selves for the country's protection IN
time of war.
plans now are being formulated to
10 to Congress at the next session and
push with all vigor possible the fight
extending over many years to have
money appropriated for the erection
of a permanent building. and the pres
emit situation viii be strongly pointed
out as one OF the great blots on the
country.s military defense scheme.
when men who are willing to give
their time and energy in fitting them
selves for field service for the country
in time OF war are refused facilities
for doing so.
The Guard oliicials have received
little help from the District Of Column
for an armory, and it Is probable that
they will have to wage the fight alone.
backed by the Guard organizations of
various States in the Union interested
In seeing that the National Capital
Guard has an armory which should
be a model. With the Attorney Gen.
erals ruling that the local Guard Is a
Federal activity, 1t Is probable that
the Federal Government will be looked
to to finance the bill for the erection,
thus relieving the District Of Colum.
bia Of this charge in the event that
Congress authorizes it.
STAFF Sergt. Leo j. Koepfle has been
ordered transferred from Company F
to Headquarters and Service Com
pany, 121st Engineers. and assigned to
duty as sergeant major Of the I'd Bat
talon. He relieves Stan Sergt. John