Evening star., 1935-07-21
" vH1I.E officials of the National

mere IOT LAlc GId41llI1S Vi LLlc ul1llIAd, ~
was indicated in militia circles that
the matter may again be brought to
head when the Guard officers begin
consideration of the estimates for the
support of the organization during the
next fiscal year.
There is said to be probability that
funds will be sought from Congress as
a part of the regular estimates for
the purpose of having the District bear
a portion of the expense Of such an
armory, with the Federal Govern
ment through the relief providing
part. So far there has apparently been
no result from the request OF the
Guard officers of an allotment OF
81 500 900 for the construction of the
proposed building, which is tentatively
planned on a site in Anacostia Park
on the line of East Capitol street.
This project has been considered by
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission also in connection
with the proposal to construct sta
dium in that area.
In view of the probability that the
Guard will not get complete allot"
ment, there is hope that the armory
may be made reality by having the
District supply part of the funds and
thus come within the present works
program. OF course, such a proposal
would have to pass successfully
through the District Commissioners
and the Bureau of the Budget. In the
past such efforts have not been met
with much success, as various officials
of the Guard for more than a quarter
of q century have been strenously try
ing to have funds provided for
building which will give the local
troops the opportunity they desire Of
getting their training under conditions
somewhere near ideal. During the en-
tire history of the Guard, it has never
been furnished with adequate armory
facilities. most of the time being 10
Gated in rented quarters, which, prior
10 the time the Guard occupied them,
were used only for storage purposes.
While the project may not get OFF,
cial approval because Of the desire to
hold down on general funds, it is be-
lieved that the proposal will have the
united backing of civic and patriotic
organizations in the District. Most
of these organizations already have
gone on record in favor Of providing
adequate facilities for the training Of
the local militia.
There is usually one obstacle in all
efforts to secure an armory here and
this appears to be insurmountable.
There is a feeling in some District
circles that the local militia being
Federal unit, having a different status
from those in the various States, the
Federal Government should provide
the full amount for such project.
There are decisions of the Attorney
General of the United States that the
local militia is such Federal activity
as to require the Federal Government
to provide it with housing facilities.
For this reason some of the District
officials believe that the Government
should erect the building. On the
other hand, those who have worked
for years for an armory project ap-
proval here have been unable to get
this Federal idea over and are about
to work again on a District share
the-cost program. The only cost, 1t
was indicated, would be for the con-
struction, as the site which is pro-
posed on the Eastern Branch is Fed
eral park property.
Tentative plans have been drawn
for the proposed building, which also
will be suitable for use for meetings
by various patriotic bodies in the
Capital.
Col. John W. Oehmann, command
ing the local militia, has made re-
quest of the Works Progress Ad-
miniStration for an allotment Of $751;
600 for certain improvement work on
Guard facilities here. Three of the
projects are on the Guard rifle range
at Camp Simms, Congress Heights,
D. c., and the other is at the Coast
Artillery Armory at Water and o
streets southwest.
The range projects. the money for
which will be spent principally for
labor, include the construction of ad-
ditional target butts and improve
ment of the various ranges, including
the 200 yard, the .22-caliber and
pistol ranges and road improvement
as well as drainage work.
The armory project includes GER
tain needed repairs and alterations
to the building.
Men who will operate the trucks
which will form the motor caravan
which will carry the District En-
gineer regiment to Mount Gretna,
Pa. for its annual encampment and
for participation in the East Coast
Army maneuvers will get considerable
road training prior to the time the
troops leave.
Col. Oehmann has granted the use
of the trucks and men to Maj. Ernest
w. Brown, superintendent Of Metro
politan Police for transportation to and
from Camp Albert C. Ritchie. at Cas-
cade, Md, of members of the various
police boys clubs. The trucks will
make a trip each week end between
now and the time that the organiza-
ton leaves for camp.
Col. Oehmann was glad to have
the Guard participate in this move
ment because of the fact that he re-
CARDS the boys clubs here as source
from which will come future members
of the local militia, and many OF
them will have an opportunity to see
the militia in operation during the
periods they are being transported to
and from camp. Also the transpor-
tation is considered valuable training
for the militiamen preparatory to
their troop transportation later in
the Summer.
Two of the District units completed
their field training yesterday and re-
turned here. They were the 260th
Coast Artillery, commanded by Maj.
Walter w. Burns, and the 372d In
fantry, commanded by Capt. A. c.
Newman.
The Artillery unit left its camp at
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