Evening star., 1937-05-30
SPECIAL REPORTS
ASKED ON ARM0RY
Information Sought on Pro-
lection for Arms and
Ammunition.

SNVkIVIi IOI WHO QIIu
Ammunition.
Further information on the condi-
ton OF the armory situation here will
be given when the reports are made on
the inspection Of Company 3. l04th
Quartermaster Regiment, District
National Guard. The inspection will
be on the evening Of June 8 for Federal
recognition, by Col. Shepard L. Pike,
senior instructor OF the Army as
signed to the local Guard.
In connection with the examination
Of the troops, the authority for the
inspection calls for q special report on
the protection afforded for firearms
and ammunition against theft. The
instructor must furnish information as
to the material OF which the storeroom
Is constructed, its accessibility from
the ground or adjacent roofs, con-
struction Of the doors and windows,
and whether reinforced with metal
and the windows barred, the kind Of
locks and doors on the windows.
Although the local militia officials
have made every effort to safeguard
all equipment loaned by the Govern
ment for training purposes, 1t may be
readily seen 1t is difficult to make
building more than 100 years old,
originally built and used as . hotel,
as safe as an armory specially con-
structed for such q purpose.
Congress has done nothing definite
to provide an armory for the local
Guard. So far as local militia officials
have been informed, the committee
appointed by the Adjutant Generals
Association at its recent meeting here
to discuss the local armory situation
with the President OF the United
States has not contacted the Chief
Executive. However, 1t was said Maj
Gen. Milton A. Reckord Of Maryland,
commanding the 29th National Guard
Division, Of which the District troops
are a part, and chairman OF the
committee, has been furnished with a
mass OF data bearing on the local
situation. The basic facts contained
in this data are expected to be re-
ported to the President, who is to be
urged to lend his aid in providing
funds with which to begin construc-
ton of building here to adequately
house the troops, furnish full training
facilities and provide the necessary
protection for equipment loaned by
the Army for training purposes.
As the situation appears now, it will
require a special act Of Congress to
make provision for the District troops.
Even il funds were available from
the Works Progress Administration. it
was asserted, the District militia
would not be able to take advantage
Of them, because there is no site, and
such funds cannot be used for the
acquisition of q site. The fact that
the site picked out for the location
Of the armory by the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission is now
being used for private building has
been called to the attention OF the
Federal ofhcials, and if money is
provided now, it was indicated. to be
used for the acquisition of this site
it would take many more thousands
OF. dollars than originally planned
because Of the fact that the Govern
ment would have to purchase the new
buildings now being erected thereon
This site is located near the eastern
terminus Of East Capitol street, in the
vicinity OF the site selected for the
proposed municipal stadium. This
fact also has been called to the atten-
tion OF the special Adjutants General
Committee, and 1t Is expected 1t will
be brought to the attention OF the
Chief Executive when that committee
presents the case Of the local
militiamen.
Further difficulties are facing the
District troops by the increases being
provided here from the increments
authorized by Congress during the
past two years. Crowded as the
armory was before this, the conditions
are rapidly becoming serious. Already
the great increase in the 260th Regi-
ment Of Coast Artillery has forced
that unit to acquire drill quarters in
the Sixth Street Armory, thus dividing
its training between these two build
ings instead of having them under one
roof The main building of the Coast
Artillery Is the old Naval Militia
Armory on the Washington Channel
water front. Futher increases are
| expected to come next year, and unless
the President and Congress authorize
the funds, the local militia officials are
likely to find themselves confronted
with major housing problem.
Furthermore, 1t was pointed out, the
demand Of the Federal Government
for space in which to house the new
| activities which have grown up during
| the Roosevelt administrations has
made large buildings scarce, and there
is practically no structure which could
be used by the Guard in the event that
it became necessary for 1t to vacate
its present quarters. The Sixth Street
Armory is on the site which was ac-
quired for the proposed municipal
center.
| While mjlitiamen may get some
mental feeling Of relief from their
necessity of wearing breeches and
leggins as . part Of their uniforms by
the authority issued by the Army that
they wear long trousers. there appears
to be no actual relief in sight.
The new ruling says they may wear
these pants while drilling, but the
dress must be uniform, that IS q few
men cannot have them while others
dress in the breeches and leggins.
The catch Is that there are no stocks
Of the trousers available Men are
authorized to wear them If they pur-
chase them from their private funds,
but even then every member of a
company would have to purchase
them.