Evening star., 1934-12-16

readiness for the mobilization
into a single camp of the 29th
i National Guard Division next
Summer except the funds, and
there is hope that Congress will see
fit to provide the money with which
to train these militiamen. The 29th
National Guard Division is composed
of the organized militia of this city,
the States of Maryland and Virginia
and portion of Pennsylvania, and is
commanded by Maj. Gen. Milton A.
Reckord, who also is commander of
the National Guard of Maryland.
A tentative mobilization and train
ing schedule has been mapped out by
Col. Reckord and the officers of his
staff together with the commanders
of the separate brigadeS and units.
These will be worked out in detail
during the next several months. In
fact, the commanders will be kept at
the task Of arranging the details so
that if Congress provides the funds
everything will be in readiness for the
movement.
The proposal will involve a general
movement of all organized militia
from the States in the 29th Division
chain to IndiantoWn Gap, Pa, where
the latter State maintains large
State camp. According to the plans
so far developed, all of the troops will
be moved into the camp by motor
train, and it will require the use of
all Of the motor vehicles allotted by
the War Department to the various
militia units to transport the troops
and equipment.
Regardless of the distance Of the
home stations of the troops from the
mobilization center, no additional time
will be allowed for the camp period,
it was said. All the troops will be
given IS days of training. The troops
which will come from the longest dis
tance will be those in Southwest Vir-
ginia, and it is expected that they will
require two days of travel. However,
this travel will be considered an i'm
portant part of the mobilization plan
When the camp is completely es-
tablished. with all the units under
tentage, it is estimated that there will
be 5000 militiamen in the camp. The
first week in the camp. If Congress
provides the funds, will be given over
to the training of brigade units and
less. All of the training of these
smaller units, however will have a
definite objective. and that is the di-
vlSlonal maneuver which is to be held
for two days during the second week
of the camp.
The first Saturday in camp will be
given over to an inspection, review
| and muster, the first of its kind in
| the history Of the division. Although
the division staff has held annual
camp for the purpose of instruction
in war games by map problems, this
| is the first time since the division was
organized since the World War that
| it will have been assembled for field
training purposes.
All of this preparation, however. is
the necessary funds in the annual
appropriations for the militia. If the
funds are provided the divisional
unit will be ready with plans How
! ever, If Congress frowns on the ex-
| pense. it was explained. the prepara-
tions so far made will be considered a
valuable part of the peace time train
| ing of the various units which would
be involved in general mobilization.
| On the other hand, the expense is not
| expected to be much greater than the
| cost of sending the individual units to
their State camps. The principal in
| crease in expense is in transportation,
| as, for instance, Virginia troops. which
usually go to Virginia Beach, will make
the longer march to Indiantown, at a
cost only Of gasoline and other motor
vehicle expense. There would not be
any additional cost involved for food,
etc. as the troops would consume this
were they to spend their time only in
their State camps.
Gen. Reckord has requested the
commanding officers of all units in the
division to have all of their detailed
plans in the division headquarters by
February l next. BY that time, prob