Evening star., 1934-10-28
GUARD EXPECTS
ARMORY ACTION
National Association Off.
ciaIs to Make Plea to
Secretary Ickes.

Ohicers of the National Guard Of
the District Of Columbia are much
enthused over the action Of the Ma
tional Guard Association Of the United
States at its annual convention in
directing its national officers to get
actively behind the efforts to obtain
modern armory here for the train
ing of the local citizen soldiers. The
association directed its national off,
GERS to call on Secretary Ickes for
the purpose Of urging him to grant
the request Of the District for
$2,500,000 allotment of public works
funds to be used in the construction
of an armory here.
The request for the funds for the
District is as an outright grant, as there
is no specific authority for the local
officials to borrow money for the prof.
ect on the 1890 basis, as Is done in
other jurisdictions, it was pointed out.
However, the local officials saw in the
action of the Adjutant Generals As
sociation, which met in annual con-
vention simultaneously with the Ma
tional Guard group, support for their
move, when that body suggested in
a resolution that the States should
| not request public works funds for
litraining camp development and ar
mory purposes except on the basis of
70 per cent loan and 30 per cent
grant. They recognized, it was said,
that the District of Columbia is in a
different position from the States and
should not be included in the sug-
gested restriction.
Officers here have no information
as to when the national association
officials will call on Secretary Ickes
to aid in pushing the project for the
local militia. At the association con-
| vention last year the national associ-
alton directed its Legislative Com
mittee to take active steps to obtain
| an armory for the local militia which
| would be a model for the National
Guard units of the various States, but
so far nothing has been done to carry
out these instructions, so far as could
be learned. But the instructions this
years specifically direct that the off,
GERS personally call on the public
works officials and attempt to push
the local project.
1t is said to be probable that an
! effort will be made to get an appro-
| prlation for the local armory out of
| suggested appropriation this year for
| improvement of National Guard camp
sites in the various States. The as
sociation proposed that the appropri-
alton this year be made $4,000. 900.
as against the 5000 900 appropriation
OF last year. 1t was pointed out that
the increased appropriation was not
| intended to take care Of any addt-
tlonal projects, but represented the
amount OF increase in building ma
| terlals which had taken place.
The resolution regarding the local
armory project was introduced in the
convention by Maj. Gen. Milton r.
Reckord, commander of the 2eth Ma
tional Guard Division, and also the
| National Guard of M yland. The To-
cal militia is component part of the
29th Division, and for that reason
| Gen. Reckord wants to see the local
outfit equipped with adequate armory
| facilities.
The local delegates also had passed
resolution which urges that the War
Department provide a fixed amount for
| the rental OF quarters for the sergeants
| OF the Regular Army who are assigned
mere as instructors Of the militiamen
Another resolution recommends that
every there years the National Guard
be permitted to engage In q mobdliza-
| tion test, with war strength commits
stoned personnel and peace strength
enlisted personnel. The purpose of
such a test, 1t was explained, Is to
bring into service for the period of q
training camp all Of the inactive per-
sonnel to keep them In close touch
with military developments SO in the
event OF an emergency they could be
promptly merged into the service. It
was pointed out that in many cases
those on the inactive lists do not re-
c2lVe any training and instruction.
and it is doubtful whether they would
be fit for immediate military service
IN the event of sudden call to the
| colors
In this connection, it was pointed
out that Gen. Reckord is urging tnat a
complete mobilization Of the 29th Di-
vision be held next Summer at Indian
town, Pa. The division is composed
of all the National Guard units of this
city, the States of Maryland and Viz
ginia and an Artillery regiment In
Pennsylvania. If the War Depart
ment approves such a move, 1t was
said, 1t will be the first time since the
World War that the entire division
had been gathered in one area at the
same time for field maneuvers.
Gen. Reckord is to hold a confer
ence in this city the middle of next
month, the exact date not having been
fixed, when he will discuss the matter
with the commanders of all of the
units in the division as well as the
members of the division staff.
The convention also took I'D the
matter of the replacement of cloth
ing and equipment for the National
Guard. 1t was brought out that the
various Guard units have curtailed
their requests for clothing and equip
ment as q part of the economy move
of the last few years, and that now
about the only material in their hands
duty. The storehouses are practically
depleted. There was q feeling ex-
pressed that from now on this must
be corrected, and that for the Guard
units to stock up would aid the unem-
ployment situation by putting people
to work to manufacture the needed
material.
Another resolution suggested that
the Government grant an allotment
of cotton to the National Guard for
the purpose of having it made up
into tentage, which is rapidly growing
short, the material which has been
used during the past few years also
needing replacement
The following officers have been
appointed to a special court-martial
Capt Walter S. Welsh, Capt. Samuel
r. Turner, Capt. George L. Evans,
First Lieut. George F. Harbin, First
Lieut.. Edward A. Mcmahon, First
Lieut.. Joseph r. Fitzgerald, Second
Lieut.. James r. Nolan, all members
Of the 12lst Regiment of Engineers.