Evening star., 1935-04-21

liORC AOl . tlCW
the action Of the District of
Columbia Commissioners during the
past week, when the latter sent a
letter to the Public Works Admins
tration giving their approval to any
plan which would permit of the allot-
ment of funds from the work-relief
appropriations for the construction
of such a building here.
1t Is understood that part Of the
funds will be allotted for the con-
struction Of armories In the States.
It was pointed out that 1t Is under
stood that the purpose Is to con-
struct Government-owned armories,
SO that the annual rent bill would
be reduced or eliminated. While the
District Of Columbia project would
not come within such restriction,
because Of the fact that it now
occupies o Government-owned struc-
ture, 1t was said that any time it
might be forced to vacate and seek
rented quarters.
The building here which houses the
main body of local troops is an old
hotel building at Sixth street and
Pennsylvania avenue, on the site of
the proposed Municipal Center. While
this land was all purchased for the
Municipal Center project, there is now
proposal that this part of it be
sold by the Government to private
interests, and that only the north
half Of the site be retained for mu-
nicipal development. In the event
that this proposal is carried out, of
course, the Guard would have to
vacate its present quarters and may
be forced to go into rental quarters.
OF course, the Federal Government
is required to find it quarters, but
buildings for armory purposes, either
public or privately owned, are scarce
here and it Is believed that another
move of the Guard. which does no.
take into consideration provision of
. specially built armory, would provide
q real problem. The facilities for
training in the present quarters are
poor at the most, although the
Guardsmen since they have been IN
the building have made the best of
their quarters by renovating them so
as to be habitable. However, under
even these conditions, there Is no
satisfactory place for the indoor
drilling of the men during the in
clement weather of the Winter This
lack seriously impedes the training
progress. They used to have access
to one Of the nearby parks for drill
ing during good weather. but it was
said that this privilege has been
Withdrawn.
Under the direction of Col. John
w. Oehmann, acting commander of
the local militia and commander of
the 121st Regiment of Engineers,
plans have been drawn for a special
type building suitable for the housing
and drilling Of the local troops. It
is designed for use on a site on the
East Branch Of Anacostia River near
the site for the proposed stadium.
The building is so designed that
each unit will have its special section,
which can be closed of from the
other units, although the general de-
sign makes it appear as one building.
1t would house all of the units now
organized, and, under the plan, the
present armory building on the water
front Of the Washington Channel
would be used by the colored troops.
This structure now is used by the
260th Coast Artillery. commanded by
Maj. Walter w. Burns.
In putting In their bid for con-
sideration by the Federal authorities
at this time the local Guard officials
did not want to be overlooked in the
armory construction program simply
because they were not now occupying
rented quarters.
Rifle practice, which was scheduled
for today on the rife range, has been
ordered suspended on account of
Easter Sunday. However, it was said
that next Sunday and the following
week end the officers of the respective
battalions, together with certain Sc
lected non-commissioned officers.
would have the range exclusively for
the purpose of receiving training in
the manner Of conducting target
practice. This will be under the per-
sonal direction of Col. John w. Och
mann.
On May II, lS and 10 there will be
held on the local range a series of
small-bore matches under the aus
pices of the National Rifle Associa-
tion. Col. Oehmann has accepted the
position as executive officer of these
matches at the suggestion of Mai.
Gen. Milton A. Reckord, commander
of the 29th National Guard Division
and president Of the association.
The use of the armory for its meet
ings has been authorized for the Sons
OF the American Legion of Costello
Post. This organization will meet
weekly, it was announced.
Company E, 121st Engineers, fin
ished third in the small-bore rifle
matches in the Chief of the Militia
Bureaus indoor company team
match. The match was won by Ore
gon, with score of 1856. Washing
ton was second with a score of 2,843,
and the local company third, with a
score of 2,822.
The final bouts in the National
Guard boxing championship, it was
announced, will be held in the Penn
sylvania avenue armory following the
regular drill period Tuesday night.
Colonel Oehmann, chairman of the
Committee on Military, Veteran and
Patriotic Participation in the July 4
celebration, expects to call a meeting
Of his committee about May /, it was
announced. He has designated Maj.
Walter w. Burns, commanding the
260th Coast Artillery; Maj. Ralph S.
Childs, battalion commander. 12lst
Engineers; Maj. william T. Roy, COM
manding the division special troops.
and Maj. Sidney Morgan, inspector
generals department, to make plans
for the guard to take greater part In
the celebration than at any time here
tofore. 1t Is expected that these officers
will have q plan for guard participa-
ton ready when the committee meet
ing is called.
Maj. william T. Roy has requested
authority to organize the Headquar-