Evening star., 1938-11-27

Various units Of the District Ma
tional Guard have been receiving
visits from Brig. Gen. Albert Cox,
who is familiarizing himself with
the workings Of the arms Of the
service under his command and who
is getting first-hAnd information on
the difficulties under which they
work under the present unsatisfac-
tory armory conditions. However, 1t
was said he is not making his visits
primarily for the purpose of prepar-
ing data as the basis for making
representations to Congress on the
poor training facilities provided here
for the citizen troops.
During his visits he has pointed
out some changes that he desires to
be made both in the quarters and in
the methods used, and is co-operat-
ing with the company officers to aid
them. He has completed his visits
to the 121st Regiment of Engineer
and the quarters and shops Of the
State Detachment, showing par
ticular interest in the shop Of the
ordnance detail in the latter de-
partment, where the arms of the
service are overhauled, examined
and repaired.
1t is expected that he will reach
the 260th Coast Artillery at its
Washington water front armory by
December /.
BY the time the Congress con-
venes it is expected the local militia
will have marshaled all possible
forces which might be believed
available to give its support in its
efforts to have it provide a new
building here for the local troops.
Every possible avenue of approach
has been used to the armory mat
ter, including the Commissioners of
the District, Bureau Of the Budget
and P. w. A., all without result.
Now the only way, it is believed, is
by direct approach to the Congress,
backed by such support from the
States as it is possible to gather.
This Is expected to come from the
National Guard Officers Association
which has taken the stand that
Congress should provide an ade-
quate building for the training of
the troops at the seat of govern
ment.
Aside from the fact that the quar-
tiers are small. ancient, unsatisfac-
tory and devoid OF drill hall, the
building is on the site of the pro-
posed Municipal Center and close
to the proposed site for the new free
public library. The militia officials
live in constant fear that some steps
will be taken to raZe the building.
with nothing provided for them to
cover their collective heads. With
the present large building scarcity
in the city. due to the fact that the
New Deal agencies have taken much
of the space, there would be great
difficulty in finding place to even
house a portion of the local troops
and their equipment. to say nothing
of sufficient space in which to in
struct and train them. Even under
the present conditions, when the
Guard desires to hold a general as
sembly of all the troops, for some
particular ceremony or review. 1t
has to march several blocks to hold
it in the open spaces of the Mall.
In bad and inclement weather this
cannot be done, it was explained
Also the troops have to forego much
of their marching training because
of the very limited space in the
armory.
Announcement has been received
from the National Guard Bureau of
the War Department of the plans
to hold this year the chief of the
National Guard Bureaus indoor
rifle matches. These will be indoor
contests with small-bore rifles, which
will be competed in by infantry and
engineer regiments throughout the
country. The winning team of each
regiment will be designated the
chief of the National Guard Bureau
regimental champion. Each COM
pany in the regiment is expected to
have team to participate in the
competition. Also, the team making
the highest mark for the country as
a whole will be designated the ma
tional champion.
Each company of the 121st Regi-
ment of Engineers, commanded by
Col. John w. Oehmann, is expected
to have team entered in the match.
Selections for the various teams will
be made within a short time. AS the
shooting proceeds, the targets of
each team are sent to the War De-
partment. after being certified by
officer observers at the firing.
Officers of the 260th Regiment of
Coast Artillery are still wrestling
with the figures on their big-gun
target practice held during the pc
riod of their annual field training
at Fort Story, near Virginia Beach,
making plans to hold a Christmas
m viz, ~ fbo orv,,or,, for ~, a ~, an, hore