Evening star., 1936-03-29

LIE coming CeleDTdLlOn OF ARMY
day is an example. Although the
local Guard will turn out for the march
provisional brigade of troops, 1t will
be commanded by colonel, who will
temporarily be taken away from his
duties as comanding officer Of the
regiment Of engineers.
Although no information has been
received from the Works Progress Ad-
ministration on the application of the
local Guard for an ALLEGATION of 81
5000 for use in the construction Of
armories here for the proper housing
of troops and the proper protection
Of the thousands OF dollars worth
Of Army property which Is loaned
the Militia by the War Department
the whole armory question is expected
to be threshed out here tomorrow
when the adjutant generals Of the
various States meet here for their
annual conference.
The program for the Nation as a
whole calls for the allotment of $780,
900 900, and it is hoped that the Dis
trict's request will be allowed out Of
this fund. If it is finally determined
TO build the armories. Many States
have armory projects which have been
pending for some time. but it is doubt
full whether any of them have been
waiting as long as the District Of Co.
lumbia, and that is more than a
quarter of a century.
1t is the hope of the District Off
cials that the whole matter will be
brought to head at the meeting of
the adjutant generals. and that it will
result in some definite action being
taken on the local project by the
Works Progress Administration Off
cials.
While any funds allocated here or
anywhere else for armorieS will he
available only for construction pur-
poses, the local officials are making
plans ,o have Congress provide funds
either for the purchase of a privately
owrad site or to designate a govern
mentailv-owned site on which the
building can be constructed If the
funds ait allocated. Even if the funds
are not allowed for the time being. it
is lorfd that legislation can be OBJ
talned for site at the present Cor
greSS 50 that this complication will not
be prectnt if at any future time money
is provided for the construction Of a
building.
The flood conditions which prevailed
here more than a week ago raises the
question as to whether it would be de-
sirable to construct the armory on the
site which was tentatively selected
some time ago on the Eastern Branch
During the flood conditions water
flowed over the lower part of the navy
yard arc forced the ceaSing of opera
tiDn5 there. and as the site Tentatively
selected foI an armory is but short
distance uT. the river on ground mace
by dredging the river, it likely would
be afeoteo by any future flood condi-
ton. It would be on land such as the
Army and Navy airports are located,
and these Federal agencies also had
to evacuate during the high water.
AS a riatter of fact, one of the pres
ent arlnories, that of the 260th Coast
Artillecv which is located on the
Was.lil,etOr Channel water front, was
flooded during the high water. making
it impossible for the troops to use it
The water came in at the time Water
street was flooded. The sheds which
house the very valuable anti-aircrat+
guns &nG field searchlight equipment
were ur.der water for a period thus
showing the inadequacy of the present
armory equipment.
Iae militia units completed their
annual inspections last week, having
! spen3 practically the entire month
/ conirctlne their tests before officers OF
| the Regular Army to check up on Tie
present state of efficiency OF the
/ troops.
! With this important annual function
/ out Of the way the officers and men
will trl4 their attention to the Sprino
/ AMI Summer armory training, which
will culDinate in the annual field en-
campment, which will be held this
year at Indiantown Gap. Pa, with all
the troops of the 29th National Guard
Division which comprises the militia
units of this city, Maryland and VIZ
| ginia ano a portion OF Pennsylvania
! It was announced at the divisional
headquarters last week that the divi-
sional movement will be made entirely
by motor truck this year. except per-
/ haps in the case of very few units,
which are located in the far sections
of Maryland and Virginia. The troops
all will be taken by truck, and it was
| indicated that. if there is not enough
/ Army equipment to make the move
ment. trucks will be hired for the
purpose of carrying the camp impede
menta. However. no busses will be
hired for the troops. They will be re-
ouired to ride in trucks as they would
if they we're called into active Serv-
ice.
The 12lst Regiment of Engineers
is scheduled to begin its annual rec
ord target practice on the range at
Camp Simms. Congress Heights, D. c.,
the first Sunday in April, it was an
nounced at headquarters.
The troops will do all their firing
on Sundays, except, it was said, that
voluntary firing will be permitted on
Saturday afternoons.
Pvt. Carl H. Denton, Company D,
12lst Engineers. has been ordered
transferred from the active to the in
active list of that command because
of temporary removal from the Dis
trict.
Because of removal from the Dis
trict or business interference with the
performance of military duty, the fol-
lowing have been ordered transferred
to the inactive lists Of their respec-
tive commands:
| KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS