Evening star., 1938-06-05

sonnel Of the District National Guard
Is being made by Brig. Gen. Albert L.
Cox. recently selected by the President
to command the local citizen soldiers.
With the assistance OF Col. John W,
Oehmann, commander of the l2lst
Regiment Of Engineers, and who for
four years commanded the local outfit
by virtue Of his seniority, Gen. Cox
has been looking over his command on
drill. nights, and at other times in
specting and studying various projects.
The poor armory facilities is the
first on the list Of necessary projects
to put the local Guard on q par with
a number Of the State units, but as
in other years of more than q quarter
Of century Congress turned down
its plea, despite the request of the
President and the Budget Bureau that
an amount be appropriated for at
least acquiring site for the structure.
Ofhcers showed to Gen. Cox the
poor company quarters and the store
rooms provided for the hundreds of
thousands Of dollars worth of Federal
equipment which is loaned to the
militia for drill purposes. He observed
that the units were cramped into
rooms where they could not get the
maximum results out of the training,
and, furthermore, he found there was
not room large enough for any of
the units to drill indoors during the
winter months.
With the period of the annual field
encampments approaching, there is
much for the new officer to study in
the way of the practices of the local
militia. Of which he was not member
until the President announced his ap-
pointment. At the same time he will
have an opportunity to formulate
plans for trying to bring to a head
the program for obtaining satisfactory
quarters. There is little opportunity
to do anything this year, with Con-
gress practically on its last round, but
the estimates for the fiscal year, be-
ginning on July l, 1899. soon will be
called for. There Is little doubt that
further efforts will be made to get the
armory project taken care of in these,
but, of course, they will not go up on
the Hill until the new Congress comes
into being.
The Guard units are scattered in
various parts of the city. Perhaps one
of the worst conditions Is that of the
260th Coast Artillery, which has been
developed into one of the larger units
of the command, under the direction of
Col. Walter w. Burns. This unit oc-
cupies = building on the Washington
Channel water front which was con-
structed for the use of the Naval
Militia when that unit was a part of
the local Guard, prior to the World
War. However, the organization has
grown SO large that not all of the units
can be housed under one roof, and part
OF 1t is in the main armory at Sixth
street and Pennsylvania avenue NV.
Furthermore, the rolling stock and
other heavy equipment now Is housed
in buildings at the rife range at Camp
Simms, Congress Heights, D. c.. Even
that stored at the Pennsylvania ave-
nue. armory is constantly subjected to
possible damage through the fact that
1t Is stored on the upper floors, where
during heavy rains its becomes wet
through leaky roof, although efforts
are made to protect it by drawing over
1t large tarpaulins.
Col. Charles A. Dravo, U. s. A., ad-
jutant general OF the local militia,
went to Fort MouItrie, s. c., last week
for visit. He commanded the troops
at that post prior to being ordered to
Washington for duty with the local
militia.
Second 1t. Edward D. Mulvanity,
Quartermaster Corps, has received
from the National Guard Bureau of
the War Department a certificate of
eligibility for promotion to the next
higher grade. He has completed all Of
the necessary tests, it was said at
Guard headquarters, and is entitled
to promotion without further exam
nation when a vacancy occurs in his
arm of the service.
With all of the units of the 260th
Regiment Of Coast Artillery trying to
get in an overnight maneuver, prior to
the annual encampment, plans have
been formulated for the Headquarters
Detachment. I'd Battalion, under the
command of First It. A. c. johnson, to
have its training this week. 1t left the
Water street armory yesterday and
proceed to Camp Simms, where it
simulated actual service field condi-
tions last night and this afternoon will
return to its armory.
Last week Battery r was at Camp
Simms for similar operations, while
a detachment Of the 1st Battalion,
under command of Maj. william J.
Heale. went to Fort Story, Va, near
Virginia Beach, for training purposes.
In order to assure wholesome, we'll
prepared meals for the troops of the
l2lst Regiment of Engineers while
they are in training this summer,
school for mess sergeants and cooks
has been established at the Avenue
armory. 1t is in charge of Capt.
Charles E. Smithson, regimental adju-
tant. The classes will be held in the
armory kitchen, but the order for the
school does not say who must eat the
first meals which are prepared by the
group. The instructor will be Mess
sergt. Eugene E. Wemple, Company E,
engineers