Evening star., 1933-04-23

Proposals Of the executive ofdciab
that militia training camps be dis
pensed with this year as q part Of the
governmental move to cut expenses to
the bone have proved Disappointing to
members of the National Guard Of the
District Of Columbia. The organiza-
tions have just completed their annual
inspections and all the preparations
now are In the direction Of the an
nual training camps, where the men
are put through maneuvers and other
drills to keep them fit for field service
to aid the country in time Of need.
If the Federal plans are carried out
it will be the first year since the Guard
units were reorganized subsequent to
the World War that they have not
taken the field for training. Many Of
the members Of the Guard regard the
Summer encampmentS Is q vacation,
despite the fact that they have to put
in long hours In the course Of drills
and maneuvers.
The tentative camp plans have been
made, several Of the organizations hav-
ing been designated to 60 to Camp Al
bert G. Ritchie. at Cascade, Md, while
another OUTFIT is to 60 to Fort Monroe.
However. it is probable that plans will
acts on the recommendation. While
the camps will not be held until
August, nevertheless it requires many
weeks OF preparation and. If the mat
ter is long delayed, it might affect the
preparations Until there Is definite
word that the camps will be aban-
doned, it Is probable that the prepa-
rations will be continued until that
time.
with the National Guard considered
a. part of the first line Of defense, It
was pointed out by those in close touch
with military affairs there will be a
serious setback to the training. 1t will
be put In the same status with the
Naval Reserve, which was forced to
abandon its annual cruises last year.
although tentative plans are also being
made to carry them out this year.
There seems to be little doubt but
what the National Guard Association of
the United States, through its Legisla-
tive Committee, will make q strong ef-
fort to have the training camps for the
Guard retained this year. This organi-
zation Is made up Of officers Of the
Guard throughout the country. Any
efforts of the association oficials to
have the funds provided for the camps
Is expected to receive the strong back
Ing Of the rank and nle Of men back in
the States. When the proposal was
made last year to cut down the num-
Der Of armory drills the association
made q strong fight and succeeded in
having them retained. 1t was pointed
out at that time that many members OF
the Guard depended on their armory
drill pay to make UP losses in pay from
their civilian jobs
The members of the Guard also re-
ceive half a months pay for their duty
at training camps, and 1t was pointed
out that many of the Guardsmen are
out of work and the pay they receive
for armory drills and for training camps
just saves that much from being spent
/ by the relief organizations.
In addition to the members Of the
Guard who attend the camps, it was
pointed out there are scores Of civilian.
who are employed during the camp pc.
RODS to handle the non-military work
and these made jobs also serve to aug
ment the funds in the communities ir
which the camps are held. Also thou
sands of tons of food are purchased tt
subsist the troops while in the field, and
most Of this provides work.
The following have been ordered
transferred from the active to the Re-
seryists Of their respective organi-
cations for the reasons given:
Business interference with the per.
formance Of military duty-Staff Sergt