Evening star., 1935-06-09
@ROBLEMS Of transportation
u and supplies for the District
Of Columbia troops which will


Of Columbia troops which viii
i participate in the gigantic
maneuvers Of the Army and
the National Guard in the vicinity Of
New York this Summer were discussed
last week between officers of the local
militia, Guard divisional officers and
officers of the Regular Army. The
conference was held at the Sd Army
Corps headquarters, at Baltimore, Nd,
and in addition to the local officers
there were e number from various
sections of Maryland and Virginia.
The District officers who participated
in the conference were Lieut.. Col.
Peyton G. hewitt, Adjutant Generals
Department, 2sth Division; Capt.
Fletcher F. Bernsdorff, Quartermaster
Corps, 29th Division staff, and Capt.
Walter s. Welsh, commanding the
Headquarters and Service Company,
l2lst Engineers, the divisional Engi-
neer Regiment.
The problem OF moving the 29th Di-
vision troops into the theater Of opera
tions Is a serious one, in view of the
apparent shortage of motor vehicles.
Congress has placed a restriction on
the use of funds for the repair, main
tenance and operation Of motor vehi-
cles in the possession Of the Army
and National Guard which were built
prior to 1920. In view of the fact
that the entire movement Of troops
in the wide area is TO take place
simultaneously, neither the Army nor
the Guard is said TO have sufficient
vehicles for the purpose. However,
there is a belief that by pooling
vehicles in the possession Of the State
militias and the Army, and a large
part of the troops may be dispatched
by motor train, and others by railroad.
1t was said that possibly the troops
near the scene of the bases assigned
them may be moved by motor. while
those which must travel some distance
will be dispatched by train. OF course
there is the further problem after the
troops arrive in the field Of keeping
them supplied with the necessities of
their campaign.
The whole matter was gone into
thoroughly, and while no decision was
made public by the participants In
the conference, it Is believed that GER
tain suggestions were made. and these
will be worked out and will form the
basis of a further conference some
time prior to the date scheduled for
the troops to move TO the scene of
operations.
The l2lst Engineers Band. which
has held a high reputation for many
years, appears to be diSintegrating
Many of the members of this music
unit have been with 1t for years, but
it appears, from a statement issued by
the local Guard headquarters, that
the size Of the organization has been
reduced recently, in compliance with
Army instructions. AS a result it has
been necessary to reduce the rank OF
some of the members, and. unfortu-
nately. this touched some of the vet
eran players. SO, as their enlistments
expire they have not been re-ennsting,
and therefore the regiment is appeal
ing for musicians to enlist.
There have been other troubles in
the band also. Under a law still in
effect the musicians are supposed to
get 81 for each ordered formation, but
during the governmental economy
drive Congress cut out the fund for
this purpose. Thus, recently when
the band was ordered out for parades
and the like, it was not paid, and
this caused dissatisfaction, as most
of the members earn their living at
playing musical instruments, so that
when they had to take leave to
answer a summons to military duty
they did not receive any money. At
the recent Army day parade, enough
members did not turn out in answer
to orders to furnish enough to play
band music on the march. and the
band remained silent. This was fol-
lowed by an investigation which re-
suited in several court-martials The
bandsmen, some Of whom are in the
Government service, also responded
that military service cards were not
recognized by the governmental
branches in which they were employed
although positive law provides for it.
However, the Guard officials antici-
pate that the positions made vacant
by the refusal of the veterans to re-
enlist will be rapidly filled by other
musicians. Those desiring to become
a part of this unit are urged to visit
the Armory on either Tuesday or
Friday nights. They are urged also
to act promptly. as all enlistments
will be closed so days prior to the time
set for the regiment to start for its
training camp. which this year will
be at Mount Gretna, Pa. where the
local troops will participate in the
big Army maneuvers being planned.
The local militia has been author
ized by the chief of the National
Guard Bureau of the War Depart
ment to make requisition for serge
field caps now authorized for units
Of the 260th Coast Artillery and the
Quartermaster Detachment. These
caps are standard equipment in lieu
of the campaign hat for mounted OF
motorized organizations in the Ma
tional Guard Unmounted troops con-
tinue to use the campaign hat.
Orders for participation of the
National Guard in the national rife
matches have been received at the
local headquarters from the National
Guard Bureau. Col. John w. Oeh-
mann. commanding the local militia,
announces that team will be selected
to represent the local Guard in these
matches, which will be conducted at
Camp Perry, Ohio, from September
! to l9 next.
The team for the local Guard will
consist of Is officers and enlisted men
designated as team captain. team
coach, 10 principal firing members
and alternate firing members. Two
of the alternates will be commissioned
officers designated to duty as range
officers at the national matches.
A departure from established Gus
tom is provided for National Guard
teams this year in that they must