Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-01-08
District National Guard

Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan, command
Ing the District of Columbia Militia and
the 29th National Guard Division, COM
prising the National Guard troops of
this city and the States of Maryland
and Virginia as well as part Of Penn
sylvania, is undergoing treatment at
the Mount Alto Veterans Hospital,
which he entered following a brief ill
ness with which he was stricken early
In December.
Drills of the local Militia were re-
sumed last week following the holiday
period. With the beginning of the new
year the various units will work on pro-
grams leading up to the annual Fed
eral inspections, to be followed later by
the annual training encampments, pro-
Viding Congress does not cut out this
field practice as an economy move.
Officials of the local Guard are pre-
pared this week to go before the con-
gressional committees TO Justify their
requests for appropriations for running
the Militia for the fiscal year begin
ming next July. They will contend, it
is understood, that the District requests
have been cut down to the very limit
where efficient training can be con-
tinued, and will point out that the
funds for the support of the local out
mt come from the District funds and
there is no need for slicing them to
meet with the Federal economy require
mentS. Of course, the local militiamen
will feel any cut into the Federal Mill
tia appropriation, as these funds are al
located to the States and the District
Of Columbia on the basis of the sizes of
the forces maintained.
While the local Militia officials will
take no part in the plea for the con-
tinuance of sufficient Federal appro-
priations to guarantee full training for
the members Of the Guard, the fight
for these will be carried on by the Leg
islatiye Committee of the National
Guard Association Of the United States.
There has been some discussion of a
plan to cut the number of drills. Re-
ducirg the number of drills, of course,
will materially reduce the appropria-
tons, as the officers and men of the
Guard receive Federal pay for each
drill which they attend. The argument
which has been advanced on behalf of
the Guard units from the States is that
during this period members of the
Guard. many of whom are out of work,
depend upon these drill payments to
help them maintain themselves and
families. 1t is known that the pro-
posal to reduce the number Of drills
VIII meet with strenuous opposition
from the State units and the national
association.
Reports of the Militia Bureau have
indicated that the Guard has made
excellent progress in training since the
World War, but it is feared that if the
number of drills is curtailed that there
may be a considerable reduction in the
training efficiency.
The Special Troops, 29th Division.
headed the list Of the large units in the
matter of attendance efficiency during
last month, according to figures Just
promulgated by brigade headquarters.
This unit was given a percentage of
$3.50. The other units in this group,
with their percentages, follow: 26Oth
Coast Artillery, 1868; 372d Infantry,
1926; l2lst Engineers 7l.95.
Among the individual units the
Headquarters Detachment. Special
Troops 29th Division. headed the list
in the superior class with percentage
of 100. The other units in this group
were Headquarters Detachment, 29th
Division, 98.75; 29th Division Military
Police Company, 1892, and Medical De-
partment Detachment, 260th Coast
Artillery, 9285
Inc other groups follow.
Excellent-State Detachment. $3.50;
Battery A, 260th Coast Artillery, 83.47:
Battery E, 260th Coast Artillery, 1888;
Medical Department Detachment. 12lst
Engineers. 8205, and Battery B. 260th
Coast Artillery. 8077
Very satisfsctory-Co Company A. 372d
Infantry, 1926; Band, 1854; Head
quarters Detachment and Combat Train,
1918: Company A, 121st Engineers,
1900; Company D, 121st Engineers,
7o96; Headquarters and Service Com
pany, l2lst Engineers, 1929, and Com
pany c, 121st Engineers, 70.l6.
factory-Company F, 121st En-
gineers, GIT; Company B, 12lst En-
gineers, $500; Company E, l2lst En-
gineers, $500, and Battery c, 260th
Coast Artillery, CLIPS.
A notation on the report says that
all units should endeavor TO maintain
or raise their present percentages dur
ing the current month, particularly
those which fell below their regimental
average.
Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan announces
that. Capt. OeaSar r. Roberts, Coast