Evening star., 1929-12-15
District National Guard

the construction of magnificent build
ing, but that was all. Nothing more was
ever done about bringing the project
into reality. Ever since that time there
have been made yearly efforts to nave
the money appropriated and in the
meantime the Guard has been forced
from one building to another, and each
time 1t has gone to worse quarters.
While the officials have not received
any formal notice that they must va
cate the Government Hotel Building on
the Union Station Plaza, which they
are now occupying 1t was said that
those in charge of the Guard believe
that they will have to vacate these quar-
ters In the Spring, in order to make way
for the improvement of this area as an
addition to the present Capitol grounds.
It is known that the officials have their
eyes on certain buildings which the
District plans to take over in the area,
which eventually is to be the new mu-
nicipal center in Washington. AS it Is
not expected that these structures will
be Immediately raZed to make way for
the planned new construction, the Guard
officials hope that they may obtain the
use of one of them for a time.
It is expected also that efforts will
be made to obtain legislation which will
give the local citizen soldiers a building
of their own so that they will not have
to be continually looking around for
some place in which to receive their
training. Even their drilling is ham,
pered in the present quarters. There is
no drill hall and the individual COM
pany rooms are so small that not even
good-size class may be assembled for
lecture purposes. When the weather is
but this is a handicap because of the
inadequate lighting, which prevents the
officers from checking up accurately on
the members of the command.
The influence of the National Guard
Association Of the United States is eX-
pected to be put behind any legislation
which is approved, as that organization
has instructed its legislative committee
specifically to give all aid possible to-
ward getting a structure here which
would be a fitting example for the
States. In this respect it has been
pointed out that the Federal Govern
ment expects the States to spend mil
lions of dollars for the construction OF
armorieS as a condition precedent to the
loan of thousands of dollars worth OF
Federal military equipment. Yet, here
in the District Is Federal Guard ano
which the United States Government
does not provide adequate facilities for
The present armory is so crowded with
troops at the present time that it is not
possible to have in the same building
a store room where the valuable equip
ment must be kept. OfacerS have tc
plan their withdrawal of supplies ahead
so that it may be taken out of the
building now used as a storehouSe, be-
fore it is issued to the individuals and
companies.
Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan delivered
an address on the armory situation
here before the Park View Citizens AS
sociation last week. while Lieut.. Col. F
H. Smith, adjutant general. spoke or
the same subject before the Devonshirt
Downs citizens body.
Pvt. Luther C. Beamer, who won thirC
place in the instructors match during
| the recent rife competition, was pre-
sented with a medal by Gen. Stephan