Evening star., 1931-12-06

plan, will participate during the year
in number of map problems, and
other instruction as mapped out by the
battalion headquarters. The enrolment
Of commissioned and enlisted personnel
in the Army extension courses Is to be
encouraged. Non-commissioned officers
schools are to be conducted by the unit
commanders.
A school for commissioned oficers oi
the Engineer Regiment was held III
the armory Friday night. These
schools are held at various periods by
| the Engineer Regiment and the next
will be December Is.
General improvement in the training
OF the National Guard of the country
is noted in the annual report of Maj
Gen. William G. Everson, chief Of the
Militia Bureau of the War Department
which was prepared prior to his resig-
nation as head Of that bureau.
He said that during the last fiscal
year covered by the report the develop
ment of the National Guard in its gen
eral efficiency has steadily continued
The aggregate strength in officers, war
rant officers and enlisted men Is
1877 1885.
THE National Guard is now recog-
niZed as an established part Of the
community structure" the report says,
"and occupies popular place in the
scheme OF national defense. Under
these conditions sterilization in or
ganiZation has been reached that means
fewer changes In personnel and in loca-
ton Of units each year. There is no
longer any particular effort required TO
maintain the existing strength. The
difficulty lies, rather, in keeping within
the limits permitted by appropriations.
With maintenance and organization
no longer a problem" the report con-
tinues, more time and attention have
been given to training and to the pro-
motion OF general all-round efficiency.
Training programs and schedules are
prepared with greater care and With a
better understanding Of what Is needed
to enable the National Guard to prop
erly carry out its mission and fulfill
the purpose for which is is organized
and maintained. Officers are becoming
more efficient instructors and are max
ing the instruction better and more
interesting, with the result that at
tendance at armory drills has steadily
increased and organizations go to the
camps better prepared to engage in
field training of the desired character.
With this improved foundation and the
high percentage Of attendance, there
has been a marked advancement in all
field training, and this should con-
tinue."
The report noted a slight increase
in the number of National Guard off,
GERS whose names appear on the
emergency officers retired list. 1t Is
believed, however, that the number
will show a gradual decrease in the
future, as no Federal recognition are
now granted to applicants whose names
are on the emergency Officers retired
list and who are not now in the Ma
tional Guard, the report says.
Further commenting on this situa-
ton, the report says that the problem
of how to utilize to the best advan-
tage the services of these officers is
still unsolved. The plan for assigning
those desiring it to war strength organ
izations has not proven a success. Only
very small proportion Of these off,
GERS take any active interest in mill
tary affairs after they have been
transferred to the National Guard Re-
serve, Gen. Everson reports. He says
further that as they may enter into a
scheme OF mobilization, 1t is believed
that their failure to keep up their
military studies makes them, In reality,
liability rather than an asset. He
reports further that q committee of
three state adjutants general Is now
making O. study Of this matter.
Figures were presented to indicate
that there are total Of 5000 enlisted
men, assigned and unassigned, In the
National Guard Reserve. Gen. Everson
reported that the enlisted Reserve is
considered q valuable adjunct to the