Evening star., 1936-05-24
w WITH a total allotment OF
IA | troops for the various or
NV ganizations of 1,140, the
National Guard of the Dis

National Guard of the Dis
trict of Columbia is recruited up to |
within 100 men Of this strength, ac-
cording to figures made public by
headquarters during the week.
Even with this number of troops, |
the organization is still without COM
manding general as provided for In
the organic act, and the War Depart
ment has not yet shown an indication
that one will be appointed. The troops
now are under the command of Col.
John w. Oehmann, who, by virtue OF
his seniority, heads the whole ground,
in addition to performing the multi
tudinous duties incident to command
Ing his own regiment, the 12lst Regi-
tllent OF Engineers.
Even with the troops which have
been added as result of the increase
of 5000 allowed the country as a
whole by Congress, it was pointed out
that the local contingent is about equal
to a full brigade, although 1t is not
confined to a particular arm of the
oCl VIC. CAiCAAAOASy OAASAS Ao RAO
vision in the current appropriation
bill for an allowance of another 5000
troops, to be added to the various
Guard units next year, and it is ex-
pected that the District also will be
allocated some of this group, out OF
which will be organized other units
allotted to the District of Columbia.
These authorized, but not organized,
units are the 104th Ordnance Company
of the Special Troops, 29th Division;
the Headquarters Company, Medical
Department Detachment, Regimental
Chaplain, Headquarters, 1st Battalion,
Truck Companies A and B of the l04th
Quartermaster Regiment and 3-1nch
Gun Battery D Headquarters, I'd
Battalion, and Machine Gun Batteries
G and H of the 260th Coast Artillery.
The organization of these troops, it
was said. would put the local unit we'll
above brigade numbers and there will
be more pressing need for general
officer to direct the affairs of the many
units and to obtain for them sufficient
funds for operation and maintenance.
The War Department has not made
public its plans for organization Of
units out of the 1897 increase of troops,
but it is expected that the District of
Columbia will be allocated some of the
number, even if all of the organiza-
tions noted above are not allowed.
The local Guard has been without a
commanding general since the death
of Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan more
than two years ago. Up to the pres
ent time the organization has never
been without general officer for more
than few weeks at time. Although
the organic act says that the President
of the United States shall appoint a
commanding general. no move has been
made by the War Department to make
a recommendation for filling the va
cancy.
The theory has been advanced by
the military authorities that the Dis
trict of Columbia does not have a bri-
gade of troops. While it is true that
1t does not have a brigade of a par
ticular arm of the service as called for
in the tables of organization of the
Army, nevertheless has branches of
several arms Of the service and it has
been termed a composite brigade. r.
was pointed out that many times the
Army is compelled to form composite
brigades of troops to send on special
expeditions, and these are usually
placed under a general officer.
In addition to the mere military du-
ties Of directing the affairs Of the
troops, it was pointed out that the
District is entitled to an officer of the
rank of general by virtue of the fact
that this is the National Capital. The
Guard, it was added, also has many |
problems to be handled outside of the |
strictly military matters such as OBJ
tanning a site for an armory and |
funds with which to construct the |
building. Steps will have to be taken
to obtain site for structure before
any funds can be obtained from the
Works Progress Administration for
building. as no portion of any alloca-
ticns for this purpose are permitted
to be used for the purchase of site.
1t is understood that the District
Guards application for funds for such
o structure were held up because there
was no provision for a site for the
building, if the funds were allotted.
Pvt. Walter c. Hand has been Or
dered promoted to sergeant and Pvt. |
Irving L. Oliff has been ordered pro-
NOTED to corporal in the Headquarters
Company, goth Division.
Pvts. James r. Challen and Marvil
L. McAllister of the Headquarters
Company, 29th Division. and Pvt. Sid
ney Goldman. Medical Department
Detachment, Special Troops, 29th Di-
vision, have been ordered honorably
discharged because of removal from
the city.
Because of business interference
with the performance of military duty
or temporary removal from the city,
the following have been ordered trans
ferred from the active to the inactive
lists of their respective units:
Pvt. William r. Ray, Headquarters
Company, 29th Division; Pvt. Joseph
j. Quigley, Medical Department De-
tachment, 121st Engineers; Pvts.
George j. Barry and John P. Pinto,
Headquarters and Service Company,
121st Engineers.
The following members of the Head
quarters and Service Company, 121st
Engineers. have been ordered trans
ferred from the inactive to the active
list: Pvts. Eugene J. McGolrick and
Byron j. Ford.
The appointment of Capt. LIE Roy
6. Mann, Headquarters, First Bat
talon, 260th Coast Artillery, as ma
jor and his reassignment to the Head