Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-26

the National Guard of the District OF
Columbia several weeks ago to man
who had attended 100 consecutive drills,
persistent and consistent claims have
been made of better records. The head
quarters very carefully made no refer
ence to such a record being unsurpassed,
and thus kept itself in a neutral at
titude. Since the publication others
have made claims to better records, but
there came one to the attention oil the
headquarters last week, which, II not
the best. will be hard to beat.
Sergt William H Scott of the Medical
Department Detachment, 121st Engi-
neers reported that he had not missed a
drill since he enlisted on September II
1920 At 48 drills year, that would
make a total for the period OF 408 drills,
and it meant coming to the armory one
night a week; Employees Of brigade
headquarters checked back the at
tendance records to January, 1926, and
they found that Sergt. Scott was mark
ed present every night. 1t was further
explained that the attendance forms
prior to that date were not available,
but there was no reason to DOUBT the
statement of the sergeant. He originally
enlisted in Company B, 12lst Engineers,
when that unit was organized. and later
transferred to the Medical Department
Detachment.
Oficials of the local Guard were in
terested spectators at the recent hear
ing of the Public Utilities Commission
of the District of Columbia on the
matter of a central terminal for all the
bus lines running into the city The
interest of the local militiamen was TO
ascertain any result OF the meeting,
as they have a suggestion that II SUCH
farr 1iYla ic mt that the Guard
would be interested in negotiating Tor
the upper floors for armory purposes
1t was pointed out that if the COM
panies finally get together and agree
to finance the construction OF build
ing, they might be interested in ADDING
a story or two which could be rented
to the Guard for armory purposes. ii
such a plan were worked out ahead OF
time, then certain specific arrange
ments could be made in the construc-
ton for special features needed by the
Guard in it's training, including provlS-
ION for a spacious drill hall, something
that it lacks now.
OF course, If such a plan were en-
tertained by those who might be en-
Outraged to construct the building, IL
is probable that a long term lease
would be wanted This, however, could
not be given without special act OF
Congress, as the Guard now has author
ity only for the making of lease from
wear to wear Presentation of such
request to Congress, of course. would
bring up again the matter OF the con-
struction of a special building for the
training of the local citizen soldiers, in
stead of putting out thousands OF dol
lars annually in rental for private
buildings. 1t is also probable that il
such a proposition were to be enter
tanned, it would be necessary for the
local Guard to obtain vastly more money
for rental purposes than it now obtains.
While the local Guard officials do not
anticipate that they will have to get
out of the Government Hotel buildings
within a short time, nevertheless they
have been prohibited from doing any
remodeling of the buildings, particularly
T-U building, i'll order to make rooms
large enough for training and recreation
purposes. 1t was said to be probable
that this building might be taken away
from the Guard when 1t is necessary
to close the present building adjacent to
the Capitol grounds to make way Tor
the improvement of that area into a
park. However, as no money has yet
been appropriated for improvement pur-
poses or for razing the buildings in
that section, officials of the Guard will
feel little easy until that time. al
though they have not relented in their
efforts to have Congress provide salts
factory building.
Facing such unsatisfactory conditions
as 1t does. the Guard Is preparing to
make further efforts at the next Con-
gress to have some kind of legislation
passed which will better its facilities
for training purposes. Just what form
this will take has not been determined
it was said, although it is probable that
efforts will be made to have introduced
and passed a bill which will provide q
structure on Government-owned ground,
something that will serve the Guard for
many years to come and relieve it of
the necessity of moving from place to
place, each worse than its previous
quarters.
Supply sergeants of the local Guard
have been busy during the past few
weeks getting ready to issue the Sum-
mer cotton uniforms to the members of
the Guard, and taking up and storing
the Winter uniforms. Orders have been
issued for the appearance of the men,
bers of the Guard in their Summer
dress next month. it was announced.
The rife range at Camp Simms, Con-
gress Heights, D. c., is proving very
popular on Sundays to members of the
Guard, it was said at brigade head
quarters. Scores of the officers and
men may be seen there every week
firing their scores on the range some
OF them in an effort to obtain an APP
pointment to the rife team which will
represent the local Guard at the ma
tional matches to be held at Camp
Perry, Ohio.
Capt. Hobart T. Walker, Headouar-
ters' Detachment, Special Troops, 29th
Division. has been detailed as summary
court for the goth Division Military
Police Company, it was announced,
while First Lieut.. William T. Roy, 29th
Division Military Police Company, has
been detailed as summary court for the
Headquarter's Detachment, Special
Troops, 18th Division, and the Head
quarters Detachment, goth Division.
For the purpose of enabling members
OF the Headquarters Detachment. Spe-
cial Troops, 10th Division and Head
qaurter'S Detachment, 29th Division. to
complete pistol instruction at Camp
Stnms before the 1929 Summer training
encampment, split drills have been or
dered on the following dates: Nav 10
y, rs and %, June 2, 4. 9, IL, Is, Is.
rs and rs, July z, 9, IA, Is, 81 and %.
Groups scheduled for instructions
nave been ordered to assemble at the
armory not later than 8 o'clock on
the morning of the Sundays on which
their presence is required.
The ceremonies incident to the pres
entation Of flag to the local Guard
by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, to
be competed for each year, which were
scheduled to have been held last
week at the Central High School
Stadium. were postponed until Tues
day. The time Of presentation is
70 be announced later. At that time,