Evening star., 1936-08-16
c BATTERY WINS
INSPECTION HONOR
National Guard Coast Artil-
Iery Commander An
nounces Awards.

topped all other units of that regi-
ment at the inspections just prior to
breaking the annual field encamp-
ment at Fort Monroe, Va, according
| TO orders issued by Lieut.. Col. Walter
w. Burns, commanding the regiment.
This battery was first in the field in
| spection as well as in the barracks in
spection.
The Medical Department Detach-
ment was second in the field inspec-
| ton, while the Headquarters Detach-
ment, I'd Battalion. was third. In the
barracks inspection, Battery B was
second and the Headquarters Detach-
ment and Combat Train, 1st Battalion,
was third.
The following officers have been as
signed as members Of the Athletic
Council of this regiment: Capt John
r. Mcintyre, First Lieut.. Lawrence
w. Linderer and Second Lieuts. Her
bert F. Mitchell, Charles w. Haig,
Wilmer G. Kemper, John A. Bartlett
and Charles P. Reichel.
The following enlisted men have
been assigned to the council for duty:
Staff Sergt. Robert J. Kearney, Head
quarters, Detachment, 1st Battalion;
Sergt. Walter j. Delaney, Battery F;
Sergt. Roy w. King, Battery A: Sergt.
Norwood S. Sotheron, Battery A
Corpl. Daniel David, Battery A: Corpl.
John A. Donohue, Battery A, and
Pvt first class, Joseph Kirchgessner,
Medical Department Detachment.
The following staff officers attached
to the 29th National Guard Division
for Field Training have been given
assignments to organizations as fol-
lows:
Headquarters. 29th Division-Col.
Amos w. w. Woodcock, Infantry, as
signed to G-3 section: Lieut. Col.
Thomas G. Shryock, Field Artillery,
assigned to G-1 section; Mai. Sidney
Morgan, Engineers, assigned to G-2
section; Maj Just C. Jensen, Ord
nancevDepartment. assigned to G-3
section; Maj. William C. Coulbourn,
Judge advocate generals department,
assigned to G-l section.
Special Troops. 29th Division First
Lieut.. James B. Bradley, Dental
Corps.
Headquarters. e1st Brigade-Lieut
Col. Mills F. Neal, Infantry; Lieut..
Col lie Roy Hodges, Ordnance; Mai.
Joel D. Griffng. Infantry; Lieut.. Col.
w. w. La Prade, Quartermaster
Corps; Capt. H H. Rowe, Quarter
master Corps; Capt. B. T. Franck, Sd,
Quartermaster Corps.
Headquarters. 5eth Brigade-Lieut.
Col. James G. Knight. Infantry; Maj.
Samuel B. Riggs. Infantry; Capt.
George r. Dieninger, Adjutant Cen
erals Department; Capt. William J.
McWilliams. Field Artillery.
l04th Medical Regiment-Lieut. Col.
Nelson Mercer. Medical Corps; Capt.
Edward L. McReynolds.
l2lst Engineers-Capt. Ralph L.
Walker, Judge Advocate General
Department; Capt. George L. Evans,
Engineers.
All enlisted personnel of the State
detachments of this city, Maryland
and Virginia have been assigned to
the l04th QuartermaSter Corps.
With the majority of the local
troops out of the city for their two
weeks of training, there are here now
two units. the 260th Coast Artillery
and Company A, 372d Infantry. Both
of these units have recently completed
their field training, the former at
Fort Monroe, Va. and the latter at
Camp Albert c. Ritchie, at Cascade,
Nd They will settle down into their
regular armory drill routine, prepar-
ing for the armory inspections which
will come shortly after the beginning
of the new year.
During the absence of the main
body of troops, Lieut.. Col. Walter w.
Burns, commander of the Coast Ar
tillery, is senior officer present and
acting commander of the guard. 1t
is probable that soon after the troops
return to Washington after all have
had their field training that some
steps will be taken looking to the
appointment of a commanding gen.
eral for the forces here Since the
death of Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan,
more than two years ago, the local
forces have been without a general
officer to direct their activities, as re-
quired by law.
During the interim the affairs of
the Guard have been directed by Col.
John W. Oehmann, who is commander
of the 121st Regiment of Engineers,
but those familiar with militia affairs
point out that an organization the
size of Washington's should have an
officer of the rank of general to direct
its affairs, among the most important
of which is seeking legislation in Con-
gress for the local troops. Paramount
at this time, in the opinion of militia
officers, is the obtaining of funds
with which to construct an armory
befitting the dignity of the local out
fit, which is the only Federal militia
in the country.
Since death removed the command
ing general here, the War Depart
ment has held up the making of an
appointment. and it appears that now
it does not plan to carry out the spe-
ciflc terms of the organic act which
says that the President shall appoint
commanding general for this area.
The term shall in legislation is looked
upon by those familiar with such
matters as being mandatory, but, of
course, the President is too busy with
the affairs of state to initiate any
move for such an appointment and
relies on the recommendations OF the
War Department. For some reason
which has not been explained, the
department does not desire an ap-
pointment here. but it has been indi-
Gated unofficially that it is the view
that the organization should not have
commanding genera! because there
is no brigade of troops here as such;
that is, there is not a brigade of In
fantry. or Artillery, such as take q
brigadier general in the regular estab-
lishment.
The duty Of directing the affairs Of
the local troops, it was said, are such