Evening star., 1935-06-23

need or 1mmeQlately Deglnnlng on Such
q structure on which various Guard
officials have worked for more than
a quarter of a century.
The local militia has very poor
facilities for the Winter training of its
troops, the largest of the units being
located in the old National Hotel
Building at Sixth street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue. This structure was pur-
chased by the municipal authorities
originally to form part of the pro-
posed municipal center. However,
there is a proposal now that the land
be reSold and the municipal center
confined to a smaller area north of
Pennsylvania avenue. In either event
the militia would have to vacate and
private buildings which could be rent
ed for such a purpose are very scarce.
1t has been repeatedly pointed out
not only by local civic and veterans
organizations, but in the official re-
ports of the Regular Army officers who
make inspections here from time to
time, that the local militia, a Federal
one, should have a building which
would set an example for the States
10 follow in their construction.
The local armory does not even
provide proper storage for the thou
sands Of dollars worth of Army field
equipment which is loaned to the
militia by the War Department for
training purposes. During heavy
ie ~ F0
duty to have to rush around the build
ing and draw heavy tarpaulins over
the equipment to keep it from being
damaged by the water running into
the building through leaks in the roof.
There is doubt now whether both
the Army and the National Guard will
be able to provide sufficient motor
equipment for the transportation of
the local militia from this city to its
concentration camp at Mount Gretna,
Pa, for the Army maneuverS the lat
ter part of August.
Lieut.. Col. Peyton c. hewitt, adju-
tant of the 29th National Guard Divi-
sion, which comprises the militia of
this city, the States of Maryland and
Virginia and q portion of Pennsyl-
vania. was in conference with officers
of the Sd Army Corps Area in Balti-
more the latter part of last week, dur
ing which some of the details for the
movement of troops were discussed.
He was directed to prepare final esti-
mates for the movement Of the troops
| and indications are at this time that
small proportion of them will have
to make the trip to the concentration
camp by rail. However, it was said
further efforts would be made to pro-
vide sufficient motor equipment, but
at this time it was not known where
it was going to come from, as there
is a shortage Of equipment owing to
the restrictions which Congress placed
on the use of funds for repair, main
tenance and operation of motor We
hicleS built prior to 1920.
Announcement was made at head
quarters that restriction against the
enlistment Of recruits within a period
of so days prior to the date set for de-
parture of the unit for camp was be-
ing waived in the case of the 260th
Coast Artillery, which is scheduled to
start its training at Fort Monroe, Va,
beginning July 6, under Maj. Walter
w. Burns. 1t was said that enlist
ments of new men would be received
at the Coast Artillery Armory, Water
and o streets southwest, on Tuesday
and Thursday nights until the organ
ization departs for the training area.
It was pointed out that there Is a
reluctance on the part of enlisted men,
both in Government and private en-
ploy, to enter into controversies at this
time on military leave. Because OF the
possibility of the men jeopardtzing
their jobs by going to camp, the mill
tary authorities are inclined to be
lenient in the case Of such men, and
are not attempting to force them to
go to camp. However, each case will
be acted upon on its merits, and re-
leases given only after complete in
vestigation by an ofiicer Of the COM
mand to which the man Is attached.
Because of the possibility that the
number of men available for camp
may be materially reduced because of
this condition, recruits are being
taken within the 60-day period in
order to keep the ranks as full as pos
sible.
The following have been ordered
transferred from the inactive to the
active lists of their respective units:
Pvt. John L. Harris, Battery B,
26Oth Coast Artillery; Pvts. Law
renee Persons and Augustine B.
Grove, both Of Battery E, 260th Coast
Artillery: Pvts. Cecil T. Cabell and
Allen w. Ross, both of Company C..
121st Engineers, and Pvt. Francis E.
Beighley, Company F, 121st Engi-
neerS.
The President of the United States
now has before him for signature the
National Guard bill, providing certain
changes which have been sought for
some time.
The measure provides that the
President may in emergencies at any
time, in peace or war, order officers
of the National Guard of the United
States to active duty, with their con-
sent only In time of peace. It also
contains a provision for an unlimited
number of first and second Eeuten-
ants in the National Guard Of the
United States. This number at pres
ent is limited to the war table of or
ganization. It also authorizes officers
of the National Guard to administer
the dual oath. There has been some
question as to the Legality Of National
Guard officers to administer the dual
oath when they were not actually In
Federal service. Another section per-