Evening star., 1932-04-03
District National Guard

grouped by themselves and are add1-
tional in each class to those included
therein from the National Guard, Re-
serve Officers Training Corps, Citizens
Military Training Camps. Organized
Reserves and civilians. The teams are
classified according to the scores MADE
in the national rife team match, the
first three classes including 80 teams,
10 in each class, in the order OF their
standing. For the national matches
of 1880 the following National Guard
teams attained the classification and
relative order shown under each class,
intervening places having been won by
teams from organizations other than
the National Guard:
Glass A-Oregon, Massachusetts,
Washington, Ohio, Arizona, District OF
Columbia, Connecticut, North Dakota.
Glass B-California, New York, 1lli-
nois, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mex
leo.
Glass C-Iowa, Vermont, Minnesota,
Colorado. Louisiana, Hawaii.
The total number of National Guard
teams classified was 20. This, the Mill
tia Bureau reports, Is very creditable
showing considering that eight are In
class A after competition with l08
teams representing the National Guard,
| vi Sd1lAGCo 4SCSC1 hCo, 4NCoC1fC O414OCAo
Training corps, Citizens Military
Training Camps, American Legion and
civilians.
1t also was reported that the small
arms firing school was conducted in a
highly efficient manner and valuable
| instruction was impaired to all in at
tendance. All National Guard person
mel was required to attend unless they
! held a certificate of proficiency from a
previous school Very few, it was said,
ayailed themselves of this exemption
and practically all attended for the
material benefit which they would de-
rive both in the matches and as in
structors in rifle craftsmanship with
their organizations.
The instruction, the report says, CIV
en- at the school in anti-aircraft marks
manship has proved to be of great
benefit to the National Guard.
Reporting in general on the condi-
tions of the National Guard in the
Sd Corps Area, the Militia Bureau
report says that except as to the pro-
ficiency in the use of weapons by the
Guard as a whole and the training of
the 28th Division of Aviation,
the National Guard of this area has
reached a satisfactory state of efhcien-
cy in basic training The Sd Corps
Area comprises the troops in this city
and the States of Maryland, Virginia
and Pennsylvania.
The advancement Of the Guard has
been quite marked in the following, It
was pointed out A higher average at
tendance at armory drill than for the
previous fiscal year: attendance at the
various camps was greater than in any
former camp since the World War,
many companies having 100 per cent
of their personnel present; building Of
new armories, remodeling and repair
ing of existing armories and improve
ment of camp sites; a closer applica-
ton to his duties by the individual
guardsman; the 54th Field Artil-
lery Brigade organization has been
completed, with the exception Of the
Headquarters Battery and the 104th
Ammunition Train.
The weak points were detailed as
follows: Turnover in personnel, lack
of suitable armories in the District of
Columbia and in certain localities in
Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The following strong points were
given The ALLEGATION of more than
half of the National Guard to one
State, well established training camps
within the corps area for each State
except the District of Columbia, utili-
zation Of certain of the Regular Army
installations for field training. partic-
ularly at Tobyhanna, Carlisle Barracks,
Fort George G. Meade and Middletown
Air Depot; excellent armories in Penn
sylvania and Maryland, and good pros
poets for State aid in Virginia.
The following recommendations for
this corps area were made: Greater i'm
| portance should be attached to pro-
fctency in the use of weapons, auxil-
iary as well as primary, in armory and
/ field inspections; additional fund S
should be provided to enable each State
to maintain the authorized peace
strength equipment; the obsolete and
nearly worn-out motor transportation
presents a difficult problem; a replace
! ment program should be adopted as
soon as possible; modern type of am
balances should be provided without de-
lay; local target ranges should be es-
tablished wherever possible; protection
by vaccination prior to camp attend
ance should be required; more visits
OF instruction to units not at home
stations OF instructors and more travel
funds
In connection with the reference to
the lack of armories in the District
OF Columbia, the local officials are help
leSS 10 remedy tne SITUATION. For more
tnan quarter Of century Guard
heads have tried to convince Congress
OF the need, but without result, and it
is not likely that any funds will be
provided this year. The Guard officials
are hoping now that when the General
Accounting Office is moved from the
Pension Building in Judiciary Square
that the structure will be allocated to
the Guard for use as an armory. This
proposal has met with favor among the
local citizen and veteran bodies, in
cluding the G. A. R.
Maryland, as the report indicates.
has made great strides in providing
armories for the housing and trainine
of its militia and Virginia is making
progress. Only recently a bond issue
was fioated In Danville to construct A
combination armory and auditorium for
the city to cost $3.50, 900. The vork
OF excavating for the structure already
has been started.