Evening star., 1934-01-21
\ PREPARATIONS now are being
J made in brigade headquarters
for target practice season for
the National Guard of the Dis


trict of Columbia. Orders have
been issued to the commanding officers
of the 121st Regiment of Engineers,
260th Regiment of Coast Artillery, Spe-
cial Troops. 29th Division and Company
A, 372d Infantry, to prepare schedules
for use of the range by their respective
units and submit them to the brigade
headquarters prior to February 9.
The headquarters is to be informed
as to the actual dates iG is proposed to
use the range, the number and kind
Of targets to be used, and whether or
not units at the range for practice will
remain over the luncheon period. Sim
liar information will be furnished for
any proposed use of the range other
than for Workmanship.
BY the time the target season is
started, it is expected that most Of the
work being done there with Civil Works
Administration funds will have been
completed. Large forces of men are
now engaged there in grading WORK,
building a garage and storehouse. lay
ing water lines to the target butts.
building a concrete apron at the pistol
butts, grading around the swimming
pool and changing the outlet, and Clos
ing of open bitches with tile.
When the first of the troops arrive
at the range which is located in Con-
gress Heights, for target practice, they
will find that the reservation Will be In
better condition than it has been Tor
years, as the Guard never has been al
lotted large appropriations for any I'M
provement work there.
In preparation for the annual inspec-
tions. which are to begin in the next lew
weeks. troops of all units are being put
through strenuous drills, and partlcu-
larly are being trained in matters with
which the inspectors found fault last
year.
Col John w Oehmann, commanding
the 121st Regiment of Engineers, now
is engaged in personally inspecting the
separate units under his command 10
assure himself that they are ready 10
meet the tests to which they Will pe
put by the Regular Army of1lcers Wnen
they arrive here. -,
It is probable that other units Will
hold rehearsals of the inspections prior
to the dates selected for them to appear
before the Regular Army officers.
The following promotion has been
tillery: Pvt. (First Glass; Nelson w.
Curtis to be sergeant. At the same
time orders were issued reducing Corpl.
Sol Brandes to the grade of private in
the same unit.
Men desiring to enlist in the National
Guard of the District of Columbia with
q view to attending the annual en-
campments must do so prior to 90 Gays
before the unit goes into camp, accord
ing to orders issued during the week at
brigade headquarters. However, men
L. taI dave Of nriOr
enlisted service may be enlisted within
the 60-day period on the written ap-
proval of the regimental or separate
organization commanders.
This action, it Is explained, Is made
necessary to prevent the attendance at
field training camps Of any enlisted men
who have not had more than 60 days
Of prior service. 1t was pointed out
that when men who have not had any
military training are taken in just prior
to the encampment it upsets the unit
to which they are attached, as 1t holds
back the training of the seasoned men
was the practice to separate the recruits
soon after arriving in camp and putting
them in a recruit school. But this cut
down the size of the organization fol
other purposes, and even cut down the
size Of the companies when on guard
duty.
It has been found that greater strides
are made in the field training with sea-
soned men than with youths who know
nothing about military life prior tc
their camp training.
In connection with this order it wa.
announced that the tentative dates fol-
the training camps this year are July
to is for the 260th Coast Artillery, anc
August to 10 for the 121st Regiment
Of Engineers, the 29th Division Troop!
and other units.
The 260th Coast Artillery is to maxi
q read march with its searchlight equip
ment and guns to Fort Story, near Vir'
ginia Beach, Va, and will go by way O.
Fort Monroe, where it has held its an
nual encampments in the past. Las
week Mai Walter w. Burns, command
ing the Coast Artillery unit, with a de-
tachment of officers and men. wen
over the tentative route to make
survey, to determine the best way TO
the heavy motor vehicles which vii
make the trip.
The l21st Regiment at EngtnssS2 tn