Evening star., 1934-12-02
Decision on Appointment
Of Militia Head Awaited
Law Provides for Naming of Brig adler General
of Local National Guard by
the President

Whether the District of Columbia
Is to be left without commanding
general for its militia is a matter
which is causing some discussion in
military circles, and so far the War
Department has not given its answer
According to the act under which
the local National Guard is organized
the local militia is to be commanded
by brigadier general. AS a matter
of fact the act says that one shall
be appointed by the President and he
shall hold Office until his successor
is appointed.
The appointment, of course, is made
by the President Of the United States
upon the recommendation of the War
Department, but, so far as could be
learned, the department has not made
any recommendations Shortly after
the death of Maj. Gen. Anton Ste
phan, who held the dual command
of the National Guard of the District
of Columbia and of the 29th National
Guard Division, which is composed OF
the militia units of this city and OF
the States of Maryland and Virginia,
as we'll as few units in Pennsylvania,
the names of several persons were
mentioned to fill the vacancy. These
included Col. John w. Oehmann, COM
mander of the 121st Regiment of Engi-
neers of the local Guard; Col. Leroy
w. Heron, Artillery Reserve and a
former officer in the local militia, and
Mai. Walter w. Burns. commander
of the 26Oth Coast Artillery of the
the local militia.
In the absence of any announce
ment from the War Department or
issuance of a commission by the
President, Col. Oehmann has been
serving in the dual capacity Of COM
mander of the Engineer unit and OF
the whole local militia.
While there is no brigade Of troops
in this city as such, it has been held
in the past that the various units
composing the National Guard Of the
District of Columbia are sufficient to
form a composite brigade. 1t Is made
up of engineer troops. artillery troops,
military police and infantry, as well
as medical corps detachments at
tached to each of the large units. The
brigadier generals in the other States
in the division all have divisions reg
ularly organized under the War De-
partment tables of organization.
However. it was pointed out that the
District Of Columbia is of suffcient
importance to have brigadier general
in command of its troops, and eSpe-
cially as it is a Federal militia unit
The commissions of its officers are
issued by the President of the United
States, while those of the militia units
in the various States are issued only
by the Governors of the States.
Since the local National Guard was
organized under the act of Congress
it has always had brigadier general
in command. and those in close touch
with the situation say that they do
not understand why the War Depart
ment is delaying the appointment.
However, 1t is understood that the
matter was presented to the War De-
partment judge advocate general for
a decision as to whether 1t was nee
essary to make the appointment. The
opinion, If made, has not been made
public. However. the law appears to
be explicit when it says that briga-
dier general shall be appointed.
This would appear. it was pointed
out to leave little discretion with the
appointive power.
The local National Guard head
quarters is making an inquiry 10 as
certain what members of the Guard
have attended military service schools
and the courses they took. The sur
vey is being made upon the request
of the National Guard Bureau Of the
War Department. The Guard an
nouncement says that it is under
stood that throughout the National