Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19
District National Guard

Of1icials of the National Guard last
week expressed themselves as being
very, very hopeful that there would be
some definite results to the efforts now
being put forth to obtain an armory
for the training of the local troops. The
movement to have the Government
purchase outright the washington Au-
ditorium and remodel 1t for armory
purposes would be most desirable In
the opinion of many Of the officers and
men, but at the same time the Guard
could make use of the old National
Hotel until a permanent structure Is
provided.
The National Hotel is to be &C
quired by the District government as
a part of the site for the proposed new
municipal center, and efforts are be-
ing made to obtain it for armory pur-
poses until the time arrives when II
will be RACED to make way for the
new municipal building. Offlcers OF
for armory purposes, some Of the large
rooms being suitable for drill purposes
while the guest rooms could be used
for company quarters and storage
rooms for the valuable equipment
which the organization must keep or
hand at all times.
However, it was asserted that loca.
ton of the Guard in the hotel building
would eventually mean that It must
move again, which Is about all that the
| organization has done for the past
quarter of a century, moving from one
rented building to another. and finally
ending up in the worst quarters 1t has
ever had to use, those In the old hote
buildings on the Union Station Plaza
The members of the Guard would much
prefer to see the legislation passed
which would result in the acquisition OF
the auditorium, as that would near
the end Of the moving, at least fol
many years.
forum project say that 1t could be re-
modelled for armory purposes, anc
would provide space for the drilling OIL
troops in all kinds of weather. At the
present time the rl:litiamen do not
have a room in their armory large
enough for drilling, and during the
Winter months practically all Of the
training must be confined to class
room instruction.
The hotel property would be as
signed to the Guard for training pur.
poses without special legislation, but
the plan to acquire the auditorium re-
quires the passage by Congress of a
bill authorizing an appropriation, and
OF course, this must be followed by the
provision Of the money. The whole
matter could be taken care of In q
rider on an appropriation bill.
Capt. Alton B. Ames, United States
Quartermaster Corps, stationed at Fort
George G. Meade, Md, has been au.
thorized to make three trips here TO,
the purpose of instructing the new
school for bakers, cooks and mes.
sergeants, which has been established
at the Coast Artillery Armory. Thi.
school was established for the purpose
Of training these men In feeding the
troops while in the field, 50 that they
will be able to function from the mo.
ment they arrive In camp.
The 26oth Coast Artillery has estab.
lished recruiting station at TIC +
street northeast, which will be main.
tanned until February I, next, 1t wa,
said at the brigade headquarters. Thi,
organization is making an effort to re.
cruit enough men to fill up the present
batteries, and for the organization of q
machine gun battery, which has beer
allotted to it. 1t is to be mustered into
service.
An interesting exhibit has been estab.
lished under the direction of Mai Wal.
ter w. Burns. commanding the organi.
cation. Much artillery equipment ha,
been placed in the room, together with
many war trophies. The searchlights
of the organization are operated every
night, and 1t was said that the plans In.
clude taking the anti-aircraft gun there
Pvt. Mervin w. Lucas has been hon.
orably discharged from the 29th Divi-
sion Military Police Company on &C.
count Of removal from the District.
Four organizations Of the local Guard
succeeded in mastering sufficient men
at drill last week to be classed as SUI
perior in attendance. The report shows
a general improvement in the attend
ance Of all units, with an increase In the
number classed as satisfactory, and only
two classed as unsatisfactory.
The four units classed as superior
with their respective percentages, fol.
low: Headquarters Detachment, 29tf
Division, 1882; Headquarters Detach.
ment and Combat Train. 260th Coast
Police Company. 1856; band, 12lst
Engineers, Gilt.
Following are the other organizations
in their respective classifications, with
percentages:
Excellent-Headquarters and Service
Company, 121st Engineers, 1885; Head
quarters Detachment, goth Division
Special Troops, 8T.51; Quartermastel
Corps Detachment, 1898; Medical De.
partment Detachment, 260th Coast
Artillery, Sl.81.
Very satisfactory-Battery B, 260th
Coast Artillery.
Satisfactory-Battery A. 260th CoaSi
Artillery, 500; Company F, 12lst En-
gineers, 67.21; Company A, 121st Engi-
neerS, 1888; Company G, 121st En-
gineers, 6l97; Battery G. 260th Coast
Artillery, 81 "a; Company A, 372d In
fantry, Gill; Company D, 121st Engi-
neers, 60.94; Company B, 12lst Engi-
neers, 60.33.
Observation-Disclosures Department