Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-21
District National Guard

Support for new and adequate armory
facilities for the National Guard Of
the District of Columbia was sought
last week, when Mai Gen. Stephan,
commanding the local militia brigade
and chairman of the National Guard
Committee Of the Washington Cham
Der Of Commerce, called a meeting at
the main armory of the local outfit
The members Of the chamber commit
tee, 1t was said, were shown the ia
cilities there.
The need Of new quarters was ex-
planned to the committee and that
body promised its whole-hearted sup
port In the movement to have Con-
greSs provide for facilities BETTING the
dignity Of the militia at the Capital
Just what form the plans for &C.
quiring a permanent armory here
would take, it is understood, has not
been determined, but the commanding
general and other ofhcialS of the Guard
are said to be working on the pro-
posals which probably will be pre-
sented to the present Congress before
adjournment. However, with the
crowded conditions, the indications are
that 1t might be difficult to get through
any legislation at this time. 1t was
said at the brigade headquarters during
the week that the Guard officials are
awaiting the receipt Of certain in
formation from the District Of Column
bia Commissioners and the Public
Buildings Commission.
The Federal Planning Commission
has recommended that the present
Pension once Building in Judiciary
Square be turned over to the Guard
for the purposes of an armory. The
Guard for some time has been seek
ing this building and would prefer It
to other structures already up, but
there was some doubt aS to whether
1t could get the building when oppo-
sition developed in Government cir
cles. The question being STUDIED now
is as to what authority will be neces-
Sary to permit its transfer to the Dis
trict troops for training purposes. The
opinion has been given, 1t was said,
that it would require an act OF Con-
Qress to permit the transfer OF the
Pension Building for this purpose.
The proposed armory Is located in
the Government square which borders
on the area now being acquired by the
District of Columbia Government Tor
the purpose of establishing a munich
nal center. and it was declared to be
quite appropriate for the local mill
tary activities to be located there. AS
a matter Of fact, at the present time
the armory is located on q part OF
the municipal center site.
While It Is known that the officials
would prefer to have building erected
especially for militia training purposes,
which would include certain features
considered most desirable in an arm
ory. It was said that the Pension once
Building would be most acceptable, and
that it does have something which the
Guard does not now have and has not
had for years. drill hall. The entire
first floor of the building would be suit
able for a drill hall, and the companies
could have the rooms in the upper floors.
At the present time, In very severe
weather, the troops have to confine their
training almost entirely to class room
instruction. The only drilling place
they have available is q section of park
food lights for night drilling,
The following have been ordered
honorably discharged from their re-
spective units because Of removal from
the District: Sergt. John w. Coffman,
jr.. Battery z. 260th Coast Artillery, and
Pvts. Charles w. Dowden and Stanley
Z. Hawkins, both Headquarters and
Service Company, 12lst Engineers.
Pvt. Albert p. Mccullough has been
ordered transferred from the reserve to
the active list Of the Headquarters and
Service Company, i2lst Engineers.
The following, on the reserve list Of
the Headquarters and Service Company,
i2lst Engineers, have been ordered hon.
orably discharged: Pvts. Joseph M. Bar
ker. Joseph @. Bergling, Edwin 3. Cox,
Harry M. Ensor, Berkeley T. Heas,
James v. Houghton, William l.. Moore
and James J. Sicily
The following have been ordered
transferred from the active to the re-