Evening star., 1934-11-18
National Guard Officials
Elated Over Armory Move
Der to Discuss Plans for First
Mobiizatio

~ FFTCIALS Of the National
IL Guard Of the District of Co.
IL fumbiA are considerably elat-
~ ed over the action last week
of Secretary Ickes, admins
TRAITOR Of public works, in alloting
funds for the study of the stadium
and armory project on the Anacostia
River at the eastern terminus Of East
Capitol street. From the facts OBJ
tanned as a result of this survey, 1t Is
probable that determination will be
reached as to whether public works
funds will be allotted for the project
Some months ago the Guard officials
sent forward request for the allot-
mert of S2,500, 900 for the construction
of a suitable armory which would
house all of the units of the local Ma
tional Guard, and It was approved by
the Commissioners, but no word came
from the Works Administration as to
whether it would be approved or not,
and the latest action is believed TO
have been a result of that request.
Col. John w. Oehmann, acting COM
mander of the local militia, has sug-
gested that as companion to the de-
velopment of the armory and the
plaza there might also be erected
another building similar in design, and
facing the armory, which would be
used as headquarters of all the State
societies in the District Of Columbia.
He pointed out that each State would
have headquarters there and that the
auditorium. which would correspond
to the drill hall of the proposed ar
mory, could be used as permanent
exhibit place for the States.
So far as could be learned the ac-
ton of the public works administra-
tor came without any suggestion from
the National Guard Association OF the
United States. That association, at
! its recent annual convention. instruct
ed its officers to see the public works
administrator personally and make a
plea for an adequate armory for the
local militia.
Should the Government decide to
go ahead with the armory CONSTRUCTION
following the report OF the mvestl-
gators. it was pointed out that 1t will
mark the elimination Of fight which
IldS ldSIcQ 4OL lIlOlC O1ld44 . Mo- SCA "a
q century to provide adequate drill
and training facilities for the local
militia. During this period, and for
long time prior to it, the local militia
has occupied inadequate rented quar-
tiers In almost every part Of the city,
until now the major part Of the militia
is quartered IN the National Hotel
Building at Sixth street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue. There the troops are
quartered in the small hotel rooms,
without any provision for drill space
during the inclement weather of the
Winter, when it Is impracticable to
drill outdoors. When they do drill
outdoors the troops must use the
nearby streets, which are crowded with
traffic at the time when the drills are
held.
Designs for the armory have been
prepared and will be submitted along
with the report of the survey It will
be such a gigantic project that it will
probably be several years before it can
be completed after the contracts are
let. Also prior to the construction
there viii be necessary grading in the
vicinity Of the proposed site, which is
in the Anacostia Park area.
Many years ago Congress appropri-
ated $4,000 for the preparation oi
i plans for an armory here. The plans
were drawn for a site in the Mall
However, they provided for a building
of such massive proportions that moth
ing more was done about 1t, although
the Guard officials have kept pleading
annually for funds with which to be-
gin construction.
Under the present conditions, the
local Guard officials do not have
proper storage space for the thousands
Of dollars worth Of equipment which
is loaned for training purposes BY the