Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-21
District National Guard

Conversion of the 260th Coast Artil-
ley, National Guard of the District of
Columbia, from a harbor defense unit
into a mobile anti-aircraft regiment, has
Just been authorized by the Secretary
Of War, according to an announcement
received at the brigade headquarters
Of the Guard from the Militia Bureau
of the War Department. This, 1t Is said
will increase the number Of units now
allotted to the local Guard by six,
This action, according to q letter
from Col. John w. Gulick. In the
Militia Bureau, will authorize the or
ganization Of the present headquarters
and units according to the Army tables
Of organization for mobile anti-atr-
craft regiment. It was also said In
the communication that the organiza-
ton of a machine gun battery is con-
templated In the Militia Bureau pro-
gram for this fiscal year. None OF the
remaining headquarters or units to
complete the anti-aircraft regiment ap-
pear in any program OF development
according to Col. Gulick.
The consent of the Guard officials TO
the change and the increased allotment
of units is requested. with the additional
information that II 1t Is approved au-
thority will be given to organize the
machine gun battery after January /
next. The letter also says that the
29th Division Headquarters Company is
of lower priority in the list OF units Tor
organization this fiscal year. and that
the local Guard officials will be rotlneo
later If 1t can be authorized Tor Or
SANITATION.
The Militia Bureau has been in
formed by local Guard officials that
the proposed change Is acceptable 70
them
The local Coast Artillery unit now
has three anti-aircraft units, Two
searchlight and one gun battery. 1t Is
practically the only organization OF tne
local Guard fitted, from an armory
standpoint. to have additional unlts
It has an armory. owned by the DIS
trict, on the water front, built express
Nv for the use OF the Naval Militia
when that organization was part Of
the National Guard.
Although other units have been AL
lotted to the local Guard, they nave no'
been organized, mainly, 1t was SAID, De-
cause of the lack of armory space
which has become more serious since
the Housing Corporation demanded the
use of one of the buildings occupied py
the Guard on the Union STATION Plaza
The troops which were in this struc-
ture have been crowded into the one
remaining OuuulllB ocSuPA 4La-r
Guard, and will have to remain tneIe
until Congress sees At to provide build
ing for the use of the Guard:
This matter is expected to be strong
~ pressed at the coming regular session
Of Congress, in an effort TO get rellel
for the troops who are prevented IRON
getting the full measure OF training De.
cause the armory space Is inadequate
and entirely unsuitable Tor framing
So far as could be learned. no oennl1'
program for seeking the necessary reg
islation has been mapped OUT py III,
oficers charged with this duty. Dut II
is likely that they will try to have Con.
gross provide SUFFICIENT funds, at ieas
for the purpose Of starting 6ullolnS
with an assurance of an annual appro
nriation until it is completed.
II is desirable 1t was said, 10 nave
oil If the troops located under on'
roof for eficiency in training them IN.
stead of being scattered in various parI:
Of the city in rented buildings nene,
intended for the purpose OF LlsI1n.e
troops for field service. WINE tne pnes
emit quarters are but a maKeenlls, nI Ioss
ths,ess much valuable training IN class
roon1 instruction Is obtained. but tneI'
is M Mace where a regiment or Dat
ta,ior can be drilled. The only traln'
;nn ~ this kind that can now De 90
tanned is at the Summer training camp
which covers a period OF two week. -,
The time for the troops to take tn
Aald Is, RAPIDLY approaching. the IiIs
80 the contineents will leave next Sat
,,riav This is the 260th Coast Artlilery
commanded by Mai. Walter w. BUTTS
and it will receive its instruction q
fort Monroe. Va, where 1t goes eaci
wear. under the guidance OF the regula
Coast Artillerymen. Preparations nov
are being made for the departure o
fhie INIT which probably will be b.
boat. although 1t is planned to SEM
the other units to camp by train. a.,
When this organization returns tn
mist Regiment Of Engineers, Compan.
A. 372d Infantry and the 2Stn DlVisloi
HEADQUARTERS units will depart Tor tnel
annual field training. which IS 10 o
held again this year at Camp Alder
G Ritchie at Cascade. Nd. the perma
nent camp Of the Maryland Natlona
Guard. This contingent also Will re
main in the field for two weeks.
The 1st Regiment OF the Marylan'
National Guard last week rounded on
its two weeks of training there, ant
is to be followed bv the 5th Regimen
from Baltimore. The District troop
will follow the latter outfit into camp.
According to information received
here. the dam which backs up the waite
on the camp site, forming Lake Roger
is completed, and when the D1stric
troops arrive they will have facilitie
for boating and swimming right OF
the camp property. The dam broke sew
eral weeks ago, releasing all of the waite
in the lake. This lake was one OF tn
principal attractions for the Distric
troops when they were there last year.
Officials of the local Guard requested
that announcement be made that en-
listed men will have until July rs u
make reservations in the clubhouse OF
the camp property for their families
they desire them. Preference Is mrs
given to the enlisted personnel for tn
use Of this structure, it was said, AM
officers are not allowed to make reSer
vations for their families until the en-
listed men are taken care OF. A yer
small weekly charge Is made for tn
enlisted men, but officers are require
to pay a higher cost, increasing with tn
rank of the officer. The clubhouse
situated on the edge of the lake, an
of easy access to the Summer resort
nearby.
Pvt. Alexander Goodkowitz has bee
| transferred from the reserve to the &C
| tive list of Company E, 121St Engineer:
The following have been ordered hon
| orably discharged on account of re
moval from the District: Pvt. Leo S
| Goodman, headquarters detachment
! 29th Division, and Pvt William !
| THOMPSON, Headquarters and SerVic