Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-05-13
PLANS.
BEING PREPARED
Militia Commander Is Work.
ing on Sketches for
Building.

Sketch plans for an armory for the
National Guard of the District of Co.
lumbia are being prepared, under the
direction of Col. John w. Oehmann,
commander of the 12lst Regiment of
Engineers, and acting commander of
the local militia pending the appoint
ment of a successor to the late Maj.
Gen. Anton Stephan by President
Roosevelt.
While there is no definite prospect
that funds will be available for such
a structure, or structures, it was said
that the local officials want to be pre-
pared with sketch plans SO that they
may be promptly presented in the
| event that information is requested on
the subject. The only plans available
| now are those which were drawn more
| than quarter of a century ago, when
Congress was considering the location
| of Guard armory at site on the
| Mall. However. it was pointed out,
that at that time rather elaborate
plans were made which would be cost
| ly to follow now 1t is believed that
by drawing sketch plans with modest
! specifications, there will be better
opportunity of getting a building for
! the local troops.
1t has long been the desire OF
| various Guard officials to get the local
militia under one roof, instead of be-
ing scattered over the city as they are
now. The 121st Regiment of Engi-
neers and division troops are located
in the Pennsylvania Armory, which Is
the old National Hotel Building; the
260th Coast Artillery is located in a
building which was originally designed
as an armory for the naval militia
when that organization was part Of
the National Guard, and the colored
troops are located in rented build
ing In addition to the brick building
on the water front, occupied by the
Coast Artillery unit, there are nu-
merous sheet-metal temporary Struc-
lures, which have been erected there
to house the heavy rolling stock OF the
organization, including automobiles,
trucks. tractors, Searchlights and
anti-aircraft guns.
The local officials have not received
any word of their application to the
Public Works Administration for an
allotment of S2,500,000 for construc-
ton of an armory here, although they
have not given up hope that struc-
ture specially built for the local troops
| will be provided in the near future.
They have plenty of support in their
movement for new armory, as the
War Department has been urging it
| for years and the various inspectors
who have put the organizations
| through their annual armory tests
have found fault with the training ia
cilities provided here and also to the
! lack of adequate and proper storage
| facilities for the valuable field equip
| ment which is loaned to the troops for
training purposes.
In connection with the plans being
drawn for an armory, Col. Oehmann
has sent to various States asking for
plans of their armorieS. He has asked
particularly those States having anti
aircraft and engineer units, so that
all of the best features from these
buildings may be included in the
plans being prepared here.
With the plans completed, the local
| Guard officials will be in position to
present their case adequately should
| the Public Works Administration or
| Congress ask for details, and the local
militiamen could show just what they
want to do here in the way OF proVid-
ing training facilities.
| 81 q IanSan
| in charge of the rifle range of the
local Guard, and R. H. Mccarthy OF
the National Capital Rifle and Pistol
Club held a conference last week to
| complete plans for the use of the
Camp SimmS National Guard Range
at Congress Heights, D. c.. for the
proposed small bore rifle match under
the auspices of the local club and the
National Rifle Association which is
scheduled to be held May Is. 26
and 81.
1t is anticipated that small bore
| shooters from all States along the
Atlantic seaboard will participate in
the matches. Arrangements are being
made to accommodate at least 100
| contestants during the period OF the
| matches.
The District of Columbia National
| Guardsmen have been engaged in
week end practice at Camp Simms in
preparation for the annual rifle con-
test with the midshipmen of the
| United States Naval Academy. This
match will be fired at Annapolis next
Saturday.
The final contests between members
of the Guard for places on the Ma
| tional Guard team will be conducted
at Camp Simms today. Capt. Jensen
will be captain of the team, which
will represent the Guard as a whole
in all contests. Competition for
places on the team, it was said, has
been keen.
Additional funds have been OBJ
| tanned by the local Guard officials
for the employment of labor in the
finishing of several projects which
were left incomplete on the range
when the civil works plan was ended.
The labor will be used on the compile
ton of several road and bridge prof.
ects, and it is hoped that the work
will be finished prior to the time the
matches are held there the latter
| part of the month.
The officers of all units of the local
Guard will be hosts at a dance next