Evening star., 1936-01-15
D. c. M|L|1|ALACKS
GENERAL OFFICER
Plans to Raise Strength
Focus Attention on Com
mand Need.
BY WILLIAM J. wHEATLEY.

o4 WAAAAhNh
Plans of the War Department TO
increase the strength of the District
National Guard has drawn the atten-
ton Of veteran and civic organiza-
tions here to the fact that the local
militia, for nearly two years, has been
without a commanding general. Steps
are being formulated to present the
matter to the President; who, under
the organic act Of the local Guard,
is required to appoint commanding
general here.
About April the local Guard will
be allocated large increase in per-
sonnel, part Of the 5000 increase
allowed for the country at large by
Congress at the last session. Tenta-
tive plans for the increase have just
been formulated by the War Depart
ment and provide for the organiza-
ton here of three additional units.
Increase Includes IL omcers.
The total increase allocated to the
District is II officers and 204 enlisted
men. One unit will be the 18th Mo-
tor Transport Company of the 29th
National Guard Division Quarter
master Train, which will have 2
also has been allocated here the Head
quarters Company and Medical De-
partment Detachment of the 29th
Division Special Train, consisting of
5 officers and 72 enlisted men; the
Headquarters Detachment, I'd Bat
talon, 260th Coast Artillery. consist
ing Of officer and 10 enlisted men,
and Battery F, 260th Coast Artillery,
to have officers and Sc enlisted men.
The increase in the Coast Artillery
will make a full regiment here, and
this increase will give the District two
regiments of troops, in addition to the
divisional organizations. The other
regiment is the 260th Coast Artillery.
In addition to the fact the Capital
should have brigadier general 10
command its militia, it was pointed
out, the increase in troops necessitates
a general officer who will direct the
affairs of all the units.
Since the death of Mai. Gen. Anton
Stephan, the work of directing the
affairs of the Guard have fallen, by
virtue OF his seniority, on COL John
w. Oehmann, commander of the l21st
Regiment of Engineers In addition
to his duties in directing the regi-
mental operations. which include di-
visiOnal operations, Col. Oehmann is
required to direct the affairs Of other
units now formed here. and to handle
the important duties of the admins
trative office.
Longest Period Without General.
1t is pointed out by those familiar
with local Guard history that this is
the longest period the local Guard has
been without commanding general.
This is an important time in its his
tory, with impending increases and the
importance of finding armory space
for the troops. matter which finally
probably will have to be taken up in
Congress.
The appointment of a commanding
general for the local Guard with the
rank of brigadier general is held by
those who have examined the organic
act to be mandatory on the President.
but, it was explained, that the Chief
Executive does not act in such cases
until the matter is brought to his at
tention by the proper authorities.
| which in this case is the War De-
partment.
In view of the fact that the War
! Department has had the matter un-
der consideration for many months
without any action, it is likely that
civic and veteran organizations will
bring the matter to the attention Of
the President, with view to having
him ask the War Department to make
recommendation.
Composite Brigade Here.
While the District of Columbia does
not have brigade of troops of any
particular arm of the service, it does
have number of distinct organiza-
tions. the total number of which
about total the number in a peace
time National Guard Brigade. 1t was
pointed out by military officials that
the troops here form what might be
termed a composite brigade. which
requires the direction of a brigadier
general. Also it was pointed out that
the fact that the force is located in
the National Capital and is the only
Federal Militia in the country war
rants its having a brigadier general
to direct its affairs.
Shortly after the death of Gen.
Stephan several officers, both inside
and outside of the Guard, we're con-
sidered for the appointment when
the War Department had the mat
ter under consideration. 1t is un-
derstood that the matter now is
lying in the files of the gen.
eral staff and it is the hope Of
those interested in the provision of
a general officer here that their ef-
forts will result in stirring it out of
the files and sent on its way to the
White House with a recommended
tion that the appointment be made.