Evening star., 1931-12-27
District National Guard

The seasons greetings were officially
extended to the officers and men of the
National Guard of the District of Co.
lumbia by Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan
commanding the local militia brigade
The commanding general and his
staff, said the communication, extend
the seasons greetings to the officers and
enlisted men Of this command"
Greetings also came to the Guard
from Maj. Gen. George E. Leach. the
newly appointed chief OF the Militia
Bureau Of the War Department.
1T is my privilege and pleasure" he
said, Ito extend to the commissioned
and enlisted personnel Of the National
Guard my sincere good wishes for a
merry Christmas and a happy New
Year
The record Of the National Guard
for 1881 will endure as one of sound
achievement. In 1882 it is my hope
that exceptional care be taken in filling
vacancies among the commissioned and
enlisted personnel. Only representative
men with high ideals and qualifications
can have place in the National Guard.
chief deeply sensitive Of the high re-
Sponsibility which has been placed upon
me.
The Militia Bureau is the clearing
house for the National Guard, which is
distributed over the Al States and Ter
ritories of the Union. The National
Guard offers front-line component Of
our national defense Of approximately
10000 officers and enlisted men. The
maintenance of this CON ponent involves
the expenditure of some S32, ,000. 600 of
Federal funds and sl5,ooo,0oO Of State
funds.
1T is the duty Of all members Of the
National Guard to Justify this generous
expenditure Of public funds by uatri-
ctlc devotion to training, utmost Nigi-
lance TO prevent deterioration, waste
and losses in the use of Federal prop
erty, and having what is called esprit
de corps in the pride Of being a Ma
uonal Guardsman.
Ability meets its just reward in the
National Guard. The great majority Of
our National Guard general officers were
once privates. The National Guard
offers splendid career to all forward :
looking young men"
A second check-up Of Federal prom
erty In the possession Of units of The
National Guard of the District of CO.
Iumbia has been directed in general
orders just issued by the brigade head
euarters. This follows closely upon a
check made short time ago by the
regular Army instructor assigned to the
local militia. " '''0
Under corps area instructions saws
the order, Regular Army instructors on
DUTY with units of the National Guard
are required to make a check of the
condition, completeness and correct
ness OF organizational records; also
whether the files and orders and circu-
lars are complete, properly filed and
posted to date, and whether missing
copies have been obtained prior to the
annual armory inspections to be held
during March of next year.
A preliminary and informal check
was made by Regular Army instructors
some time ago. This included property.
Each organization commander has been
furnished with lists of shortages and
discrepancies with view OF having
them corrected at once. This action by
organization commanders, the order
says, Will be expedited.
Beginning January Is, 1882, a second
check will be made by Regular Army
instructors. Battalion commanders have
been ordered to be present and ia
miliarize themselves with the progress
and results of these inspections. Upon
completion OF each inspection, the order
continues, the battalion officers will sub
nit to brigade headquarters their
recomme endations as to action that
should be taken to adjust the organiza-
tion commanders account. 1t is also
directed that the inspections take place
at night, on dates determined by the
senior Regular Army inspector, Maj.
Sylvester, and may be on any night
except Saturdays and Sundays. No
schedule of inspections will be issued
The object of this second property
inspection, the order explains, is to as
sure the commanding general that Dis
trict of Columbia troops have brought
their property accounts up to date, and
to impress upon all concerned that the
easiest way to handle property Is to
keep it up to date at all times. Some
District Of Columbia units, it. was
pointed out in the order, maintain
their property in this efficient manner,
while others have not succeeded to date
Organization commanders who de-
sire to have the second inspection made
prior to January Is, 1882, are directed
tc notify Maj. Sylvester, who will CO.
operate with them.
In the future, the order further di-
rects, unit commanders must check
with the United States property and
disbursing officer, or his assistant,
Capt Bernsdorff, once every six months,
and bring all property accounts up to
date.
Capt. Fletcher F. Bernsdorff, Quar-
termaster Corps, has been appointed
summary court officer, with authority
to administer oaths for administrative
purposes.
The goth Division Military Police
Company headed the list of organiza-
tions in the matter of attendance at
drill last week, it being placed in the
classification of superior with q per-
centage of 1927. Two other organiza-
tions also were placed in the same
group. With their percentages, they
follow: Headquarters Detachment, 2sth
Division, 95.45; State Detachment, co.
The other units, in their respective
classifications, follow in their relative
order with percentages:
Excellent-Headqua Detachment
and Combat Train, 81.8l; Company A,
372d Infantry, 1888.
Very satisfactory-Band, 121st Engi-
neers, 1857; Company E, 12lst Engi-
neers, 7705; Battery E, 260th Coast
Artillery. 1886; Headquarters Detach-
ment, Special Troops, 29th Division, rs;
Company F, 121st Engineers, 1888;
Company A, 121st Engineers, 71.66;
Medical Department Detachment, 12lst
Engineers, 10.
Company D. 121st En-
gineers, 65.56; Battery A, 260th Coast
Artillery, IS; Battery B, 260th Coast
Artillery, IS; Medical Department De-
tachment, 260th Coast Artillery, 1888;
Headquarters and Service Company,
12lst Engineers, 63.46; Company B,
12lst Engineers, so.
Unsatisfactory-Company G, 121st
Engineers, 81; Battery G. 26oth Coast