Evening star., 1939-10-01
Increase in Anti-Aircruft
Units Held Significant
260th Coast Artillery Regiment
Practically Doubled in Strength

this building is crowded to the bulg-
ing point and space will either
have to be found for the increase
there or other buildings will have
to be provided II they can be found
in the city.
A thorough program for bringing
the 260th Coast Artillery up to that
state of efficiency will permit it to
take the field promptly when needed
and carry out its mission has been
outlined for the current armory drill
year by Col. Burns. He says that the
primary training objective Is the
production of Units ready to take the
field on short notice at allotted
strength to carry out their missions
under the protective mobilization
plan. He adds that with this object
In view, the training will emphasize
thorough basic training of the in
dividual soldier, including his ability
to march, use his weapons and care
for himself in the field; training of
specialists and key men and develop
ment OF initiative, self confidence
and leadership in junior officers and
nom commissioned officers and prep
aration of the unit for field service.
The training will be divided into
three phases. The first phase will be
until December 81 and will cover
basic subjects. The second phase
from January 1 to the close of the
annual Federal inspections, will
cover the training of specialists and
key men. gunner's instruction and
other advanced subjects, and the
third phase, from the close Of the
Federal inspection to the start OF
the field training next summer, will
cover the preparation of the unit as
whole for field service.
The artillery commander has is
sued specific instructions that the
drill periods are to be given over
by the officer wholly for this work
Administrative work during the drill
period is prohibited, and officers will
be required to spend an additional
night at the armory for this pur-
pose. This will be on Tuesday
nights.
1t also was indicated that the
work is not to be confined to armory
drill. Instructions have been issued
to each battery and detachment tc
hold an overnight exercise between
March 81 and May 81, next. At least
two regimental exercises will be
held, but the dates for these have
not been decided The overnight
exercises are to stress training ir
preparing, packing and loading field
equipment for marches, convoy disci-
pllne. making and breaking camr
and messing in the field by units
1t will be actual instruction in the
things which this unit would be ex-
pected to do if it were actually called
into the field in time of war or ma
tional emergency.
In addition to battery schools fo,
non-commissioned officers to be held
IN preparation for each drill, schools
will be conducted under regimenta,
supervision in the following subjects
Schools for officers, school for gas
officers and non-commisisned off.
GERS, school for mess officers, mess
sergeants and cooks; school for mo.
tor sergeants and motor vehicle Oh.
orators. school for communications
personnel and school for battery ad.
ministraitve personnel.
While the dates for organization
OF the various schools we're not def.
nitely decided. it was said that they
will be held during the second anc
third phases of the training.