Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-01-03

With the suspension of drills during
the holiday period, the officers and
men of the National Guard of the Dis
trict of Columbia will return to their
duties this week to prepare for the an
nual inspections before the Regular
Army officers sent here for this pur-
pose.
These inspections are given as tests
by the War Department to determine
the state of efficiency of the National
Guard units to take the field for service
in case Of national emergency. In
addition to the discipline and drilling
of the personnel, the property records,
property and condition of the arnories
are taken into consideration.
The property held by the local Ma
| tional Guard is expected to be in bet
! ter condition this year than ever before,
as already two inspections have been
| held by the inspector instructor as
signed to the local units, and officers
have been directed to have their &C
counts adjusted so that everything will
be in the best of condition by the time
of the annual inspection.
Legislative stipulation that the num-
Der Of armory drills for the next fiscal
year be restricted to the number which
| will prevent request for deficiency
! appropriation Is contained in the esti-
mates recently sent to Congress. The
estimate for next year calls for an ap-
preparation of s11 .584,868 A proviso
says That for the fiscal year 1888
armory drills shall be restricted to such
number as can be provided without ex-
ceeding the amounts made available in
this act for such drills"
The national defense act says that
there shall be held not less than 4S
armory drills each year. Several weeks
ago the War Department issued an or
| der, apparently in an effort to prevent
the introduction of a deficiency fund
request, reducing the number of drills
| to 49, The order was only out few
| days when 1t was reScinded, and with
out any accompanying explanation.
Shortly after the order was issued
the National Guard Association of the
United States met in New Orleans and
adopted the following resolution:
Whereas assurance of a sufficient
appropriation for the maintenance of
the 48 armory Crills and 15-day period
of field training for all units of the
National Guard now provided by law is
essential for the proper development
and training of the Guard,
BE it resolved that the Executive
SUullCl w uHeCJtu W urge Illdt d
sufficient appropriation for these pur-
poses be included in the budget, thereby
obviating the necessity of asking for
deficiency appropriation"
At the same time the convention
passed a resolution stating that the
completion of an adequate and unified
National Guard neceSsitates an ulti-
mate enlisted strength of 100000, and
that as the requirements of economy
| indicate the necessity of some delay in
the annual increments heretofore APP
proved, the Executive Council was di-
rected to take such steps as will assure
that for the fiscal year 1882 the Guard
be maintained at total strength of
10000 and that in cooperation with
| the economy program the contemplated
increase above 10000 be deferred for
period Of one year.
1t is apparent from these two resolu
lions that, while the Guard officials
throughout the country are DESTROYS OF
assisting in the economy move, they
are nevertheless going to be insistent
on maintaining the present efficiency
of the Guard by requiring that 1t be
kept at its present strength and allowed
the time stipulated in the law for
training.
Because of the uncertainties of at
tendance at drills and maintenance
strength of the various commands, 1t
was pointed out, it has been difficult in
the past to estimate the amount of
money needed so far in advance. In
the past, 1t was said, Congress has al
! lowed minimum amount, and has at
the same time given assurances that If
it was found insufficient a deficiency
would be allowed On the other hand,
crrnuir1n nhiaptinn tn deficiency hills
| during the present state of Government
! finances has also fallen on the Guard.
Interest among the youth of the
country apparently is growing in the
Guard, and each year not only sees
companies being maintained at their
allowed strength, but attendance at
drills has been growing, with the result
that the organizations used practically
all of the money allotted to them. Both
| officers and men are paid for each drill
which they attend.
While 1t Is not likely that any new
units will be authorized or the numeri-
cal strengths in personnel OF those al
| ready in existence will be increased
nevertheless it is probable that all Of
| the funds apportioned will be required
to pay the present forces.
| In view Of the expense and labor in
volved, the issue of stamped Identified
ton tags and tape to individual mem
! bers of the National Guard in peace
time is believed to be unwarranted, says
! statement of the War Department.
1t adds that identification tags will be
| kept in organization Storerooms I'M
| marked until the organization is called
| into Federal service or Is placed on &C
| tive duty in State service where the
! use of Identification tags Is considered
necessary by the State authorities
The revised National Guard regula-
| lions No. 20 will not be available for