Evening star., 1935-02-03

RIDERS went out last week to
the commanders Of the vari-
4 Gus units Of the National
~ Guard Of the District of Co.
lumbia to take immediate
steps to recruit their organizations up
to the allowed strength, not later than
60 days prior to the dates tentatively
fixed for their encampments. The
dates for the several units already
have been suggested to the Sd Corps
Area headquarters Of the Army, at
Baltimore, but no word has yet been
received as to their approval.
However, plans are going forward
on the basis of these dates and the
units have been directed to make the
necessary preparations, so that 100
per cent Of each company will be
taken to the camp provided.
Unit commanders will make neces-
/, sary arrangements, beginning imme-
diately," the memorandum says, ito
secure recruits and other personnel
| to fill the ranks of their units to maxi
mum authorized strength not later
than so days preceding the date OF
encampment of the units concerned.
Necessary use will be made Of
transfers between the active and in
| active National Guard to insure the
maintenance in the inactive National
Guard Of a reservoir from which may
be drawn personnel available to at
tend the encampment.
1T is the desire of this headquar-
| far Iak al offovd HfifI y
100 per cent of their enlisted per-
sonnel Compliance with the spirit,
as well as the letter, Of these in
structions is desired"
The order to recruit to strength
prior to go days before the camp is
the result of an order of the War De-
partment which prohibits men from
going to camp unless they have had
a minimum Of go days training at
armory drill. The order was the out
growth Of practice. heretofore gen.
| orally prevalent among Guard units
throughout the country, of enlisting a
large number Of men Just prior to an
encampment. Many of them sought
places in the Guard purely for the
purpose of taking two weeks train
ing in the field, and after completion
of that never returned for further
drills.
Furthermore, the taking of large
number of new men into camp neces-
| sarily held back the training of vet
eran troops. The new men had to
be segregated into recruit organiza-
tons and given special training. It
required a certain number of officers
and enlisted men to be away from
their organization training simply for
| the purpose of drilling the recruits
into the rudiments of military life.
However, it is believed that 60 days
of training in the armory is sufficient
to fit a man to take his place with
the veteran troops in training camp.
The local officials have every hope
that the Army officials will approve
their training camp plan, the biggest
feature Of which is the proposed di-
vtsional camp at Indiantown Gap, Pa.
This camp Is proposed from August
10 to "a, at which time it is planned
to have every National Guard unit
included within the 29th Division,
which embraces the militia in this
| city, Maryland and Virginia and a
portion Of Pennsylvania. 1t will be
| the biggest mass movement of troops
in this area since the World War, and
If the Army approves, 1t will be the
first time in the history of the divi-
sion that it has been modified. 1t is
planned to have the entire movement
by motor caravan.
Inspections of the various units of