Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-11-28

WIFI lIle pTUUleIH Oh CIlcCkulE up Oh
the hundreds Of thousands of dollars
worth of Federal property loaned for
training purposes almost out of the
way, members of the District National
Guard now are heading for laurels on
the rifle ranges, most of them now
on the indoor ranges.
The first challenge has been received
from the Marine Corps detachment at
the Washington Navy Yard at a small
bore match, indoors, at so feet on
January % and February %.
Maj. j. c. Jensen, in charge of rife
practice, and matches of the militia,
said the Guard will accept the chal-
lenge provided the match is fired
shoulder to shoulder" This means
that if the counter-proposal is accept
ed by the Marines, the two teams will
fire at the same time on the same
range. 1t was commended by Maj.
Jensen it would be better for the
morale to have the match fired under
supervision at the same time.
Another challenge was received
from the rifle team of Maryland Uni
versity, This proposal has been sent
to Maj. Jensen for recommendation
1t was indicated it undoubtedly will
be accepted.
1t also was announced each of the
companies of the 12lst Regiment of
Engineers would enter teams in the
company team match of the chief of
the National Guards Bureau compe-
tition. Each captain of a unit will
head the team of his unit and Col.
John w. Oehmann. commanding the
local militia, will head the regional
team. These matches also are small
bore firing at short indoor ranges.
Each of the teams at an appointed
time fires at the targets on the Guard
indoor ranges. under supervision. and
the completed targets are sent to the
National Guard Bureau for marking.
All Guard units throughout the coun-
try follow the same system.
Range shooting has been given con-
siderable attention in the local Guard
during the past year The desire is
to have all members fire on the range
during the armory drill period, in &C
cordance with departmental recon-
mendation
1t was said last week the target
practice reports covering the past year
are expected to come to the Adjutant
Generals Office in short time.
Capt Joseph C. Morgan, command
ing the fifth precinct of the Metro
politan Police Department, has writ
ten to Col. Oehmann asking his Coop
GRAFTON in providing aid in the plans
for the police Christmas party. The
Guard has been asked to furnish space
in the arnory for Office use in connec-
ton with the handling of the details,
and for the assembling and distribu-
ton of the baskets.
Guard officials and personnel will
give every possible aid in this work.
In connection with the property
check. it was said shortages so far re-
ported are of very minor nature. It
was explained they are such articles
as knives. forks and spoons of the
field mess kits, property which is
easily lost in the field during move
ments of troops.
What may have proved a serious
handicap to the Guard In motor We
hicle destruction was prevented last
week at the range at Camp Simms,
Congress Heights, D. c.. it was said,
when it was discovered that the heat
ing plant had failed to work properly
The furnace there has an automatic
coal feed. and in some unexplained
manner the fire from the flrebox of
the furnace got up into the automatic
feed, When it was discovered the walls
Of the building were said to be hot. In
this building was stored almost all of