Evening star., 1935-09-01
Coast Artillery Praised
For Camp Training Duty
Special Army Inspection Board Sends Com
mandatory Report to Guard Head
quarters Here.

TIME manner in which certain
officers and men performed
their duties In connection with
u the annual encampanent Of the
260th Coast Artillery was the subject
OF praise on the part Of Maj. Walter
w. Burns, commander of the unit,
upon return Of the organization from
Fort Monroe, Va, where it participated
in annual field training activities.
The memorandum sent by Mai
Burns to the commanders Of the
various battery units composing the
battalion said:
This headquarters desires to COM
mend the non-commissioned officers
and men Of the advance, rear and
supply detachments, which served the
regiment during its recently completed
tour Of field training.
"In view Of the experience acquired
in the satisfactory performance OF
this special duty, it is desired that
where practicable in the future, selec-
ton of personnel for assignment to
similar duty, they be given considera-
ton on those grounds"
This organization went to its camp
base overland and by motor truck
The force which was the subject OF
praise had to 90 ahead and make ar
rangement for overnight camp sites
and have the necessary supplies ready
by the time the main body Of troops
arrives for the nights camp.
After completing IA days Of field
training, the 121st Regiment of Engi-
neers, the 29th Division Military
Police Company, and the 29th Di-
vision Special Troops, returned from
their Camp Simms training ground
and back to their unsuitable armories
While the proposal Of the local
National Guard for the construction
of an srmory here appears to have
been tangled up in governmental RED
tape, it was announced on the eve OF
the return of the troops that Virginia
is planning q program OF armory
building which will affect 81 COM
munities, the money to be supplied
by the Federal Government in part
1t is proposed to construct an armory
to cost approximately $4,000 in each
community.
With this information, 1t is probable
that officials of the local Guard Will
promptly take steps to ascertain the
status Of their application for funds
with which to construct an adequate
armory to house the local troops. The
entire fund would be used for con-
struction purposes; that is, If the ten
tative site is finally agreed upon be-
tween the Guard officials and those oi
the Park and Planning Commission
This site is located in AnacoStia Park
at the junction of the Anacostia River
with East Capitol street.
Tentative plans have been drawn
for building to house the major units
Of the local militia, but whether the
specifications for work come within
the limitation on expenditures as tc
labor and material perhaps will re-
quire a further study. It is likely
that the Guard officials will take ur
this problem promptly upon their re-
turn, as the funds for public works +
fast being sllocated.
Although the Engineer troops made
considerable headway in improving
their camp ground, which is theil
rife range, there is little they car
do with the building which they nov
use for an armory. The structure il
so old that any money spent in main
tenance is really a waste. OF course
| a certain amount of maintenance ha.
to be done for the protection Of Gov
ernment property stored there. 1t l!
field equipment loaned by the Army
authorities to be used for training
purposes. With the coming Of Winter
and the SHOWS special precautioni
have to be taken to protect this val
liable property. because of bad leak!
in the roof Of the building. Tht
Spring rains also cause considerable
bother on the part of those response
BILE for taking care of this property.
The civilian rife team which vii
represent the District of Columbia a
the national rife matches at CamI
Perry, Ohio, starting today, was an
nounced at National Guard head
quarters, the appointment having beer
made by Col. John w. Oehmann, fol
lowing competitions held on the loca
| range at Camp Simms. Those on tn
team are:
Erwin A. Frye, captain, AnacoStia
Boyd NJ. Aldrich, 9l6 Sixteenth street
Samuel o. Baldwin, 824 Ninth street
Raymond Davis, ST., and Raymond
Davis, jr. both of 1922 Perry place
John M. Firmin, 1888 Harvard street
James C. Fritz, 2226 Newton stree
northeast: Robert w. Miller, 3206 Wis
| consin avenue; Henry H. Pike, 1872;
Nineteenth street; Eugene A. Ross
734 Quincy street: Hugh e. Riley, II!
Nineteenth street; Henry C. Wonderly
1878 Park road; Alfred H. Yeomans
1924 Nineteenth street.
Commentator for the work Of th'
260th Coast Artillery for its work il
connection with its annual encamp
ment at Fort Monroe, Va, is contained
In a letter from the Inspection Boart
of the Army, which observed the fielc
tests. The report said:
This organization deserves com
mendation for the excellent manner
in which the service target practice.
were conducted, particularly with
guns and machine guns. Although
only a few short drill periods were
available and, although the gun anc
searchlight materiel used was en-
tirely strange to the organization
the results attained in target practice
were remarkable. This was due u
the unusual intelligence and industry
of the officers and men concerned"
The report was signed by Lieut., Col
Robert C. Garrett, SID United State:
Coast Artillery, president of the
board.
In forwarding the report to Maj
Burns, battalion commander, Col. j. w
Oehmann, made the following COM
ment: