Evening star., 1938-04-03
U.S.. Army Inspectors Condemn
Guard Armory Facilities Here
Lack of Drill Hall Pointed Out. as Well
as Inadequate Protection for
Government PrOperty.

While members of the l21st Engi-
neers of the District National Guard
received very fine reports on their
training and the care of equipment
from the Regular Army officers who
examined them during their regular
armory inspection, the report con-
tains much derogatory comment on
the armory, now located in the old
National Hotel. at Sixth street and
Pennsylvania avenue NV.
After reading the comment on the
armory conditions and the reports on
the results of training and the appear
ance OF personnel and equipment, the
officers have cause for much rejoicing
For the armory problem is wholly
beyond their power to correct, al
though they have made continued ef-
forts to convince Congress the guard
Is seriously handicapped in it's work
by the lack of suitable building. As
an individual report is made out for
each unit which is inspected, every
one OF the papers contained the COM
ment on the lack Of proper armory
facilities.
1t was pointed out to Guard officers
and to the War Department, which
also will get copies Of the reports. that
the drill hall and other armory facili-
ties are not adequate for the units
inspected. There was held to be utter
lack OF adequate storage space and 9TH
er protection for the hundreds of thou
sands of dollars worth of Army eauip-
ment which is loaned to the militia for
both armory and field training pur-
poses. Adequate fire protection was held
not sufficient. Guard officers said they
have fire extinguishers in the railways,
but that the inspecting officer un-
doubtedly felt that owing to the fire
hazards presented by the old build
ing, there should be additional pro-
lection in the company and storage
rooms. Because of the inf1ammable
condition of much Of the equipment,
such as uniforms, tentage, etc, it was
probably believed small fire might
get considerable headway before the
present extinguishers could be hauled
to the scene.
The inspecting officers held that
there was no space for a drill hall
sufficiently large enough to train the
larger units. The largest room in the
building, which formerly served as a
ballroom in the hotel, it was asserted.
has posts down the center, where il
is even difficult to maneuver a platoon
OF four squads, yet COMPANY bat
TALON and regimental close-ord drills
are supposed to be held at FREQUENT
intervals during the armory drill ne
ROD which takes up the greater part
of the year.
The Army officer pointed out that
IL Is an old brick and frame building
which is depreciating rapidly. adding
that the plaster is falling throughout
the building. He found the floors are
settling. the roof leaks, causing con-
siderable damage. The supply and
locker rooms are too small, he said.
In making such derogatory report
oai tiie dlHioTy, the ohcer, however
points out to his superiors that the
matter is entirely beyond the power
OF the regimental commander to COR
rect.
In reporting on the reglmental staff.
which is headed by Col. John w.
Oehmann, who also commands all the
militia here, the administration ard
records were given mark of excellent
He said a map exercise. which was
participated in by the regimental staff
as we'll as the two battalion stats, in
volving the duties of engineer troops
in withdrawal and defense, was execut-
ed effectively and with suitable deci-
sions by all parties concerned.
Reporting on the Headquarters and
Service Company, it found that the
company had the high average at