Evening star., 1930-11-30
District National Guard

and field training. Attendance at both
armory and field training camps nave
increased. Militia Bureau training dl-
receives and notes on training nave
been generally followed in the prepara-
ton of training programs, resulting IN
a more uniform system of training and
the direction of all training activities
toward definite objectives.
He reports also that the interest IN
command post exercises as medium OF
command and staff training continues
to increase. This form of training, he
says, is now being used quite extern
sively and with very satisfactory re-
suits. During the past year the head
quarters, 9th, and 44th Divisions and
the headquarters of all brigades be-
longing to these divisions were assem-
bled at Camp Dix, N. j., and partici-
pated in an Army command post eXer-
else conducted under the direction OF
the commanding general, I'd Corps Area.
During the field-training period Of
last year the following divisions were
assembled: The 28th, 33d, 36th and
38th Divisions. He asserts that the
complished without unduly increasing
the cost of transportation. However,
it is considered that such increase as
was necessary was justified by the
training value of the results.
There has been noticeable improve
ment in the care and conservation of
military property in the hands of the
National Guard. This is due in large
measure to the provision of better
armory facilities in the States and to
additional storage installations at the
various field training camps. The
storage of heavy equipment at field
training camps has been stressed, and
every effort Is being made to reduce the
costs of transporting equipment from
home stations to camp, with view to
utilizing the savings thus made in con-
struction of additional storehouseS at
these camps.
There is much to be desired, Gen.
Everson continues, with respect to the
States providing adequate armory
facilities, and in some States the out
look is not very encouraging, due to lack
Of State appropriations for armory
purposes. The situation, he says, is
improving, however, with the building
of every armory.
He points to an ever-increasing de-
mand for additional National Guard
units. This not only acts as an in
centive to existing units to maintain
the required standard Of efficiency, but
tends to assure them of the support of
their communities. A decrease in the
number Of units disbanded on reports
of unsatisfactory status is the conse-
quence.
The Militia Bureau head says that
the National Guard now is closer to its
objective in all classes of equipment
than at any time in its history. It
should not be assumed, however, that
entirely satisfactory conditions prevail
in this respect, as there is still much
to be desired. especially with regard to
motor transport, animals and anti
aircraft materiel.
While he says that motor vehicles.
except passenger cars and motorcycles,
were obtained during the fiscal year
1880 in sufficient quantity to give the
National Guard its peace-time allow
ance of cargo vehicles, these, especially
the heavier types, being Of wartime
manufacture, have been in use so long
and repaired so often that they have
now reached the stage where economical
maintenance is no longer possible and
the procurement of new motor vehicles
OF all types must be undertaken within
the next few years.