Evening star., 1939-09-10
D. c. Troops Get Good
Reports for Maneuvers
Regulars Declared Several
Units Fit for Field Service

Preliminary reports of the obser-
vations by the Regular Army off,
GERS Of the troops of the District
National Guard during the recent
maneuvers in Northern Virginia
generally indicate that they carried
out their tasks in a military man
ner. and that many of the units are
now ready to take their places in
the field under actual war condi-
tions should the changing events
require 1t.
The reports are those which were
made on the field by the Regular Of
ficers, it was indicated, and the final
reports will be sent here as soon as
they have been analyzed by the
staff in the Corps Area Headquar-
ters at Baltimore, Md. 1t is posi-
BILE that when these are received
that they will call for certain ex-
plantations, but it is believed that in
any event any criticisms will be
more or less of minor nature, judg-
ing from the character of the pre-
liminary reports. The reports have
been reviewed in brigade headquar-
ters and have been forwarded to
the organizat ation commanders con-
cerned as a matter of information.
These officers have been specifically
informed that the Corps Area Head
quarters does not desire to have
any comments on these reports. This
will ha tokpn porn nf 1otpr
The reports say that all the units
have demonstrated their ability to
function under simulated war condi-
tions. In the case of one unit, it
was said that the eagerness and en-
thusiasm with which the men took
suggestions and recommendations
from the Regular officers indicated
that it would take only few days
to whip them into shape for use in
the line in time of national emer-
gency. On the other hand, one OF
the reports said that the detach-
ment now was considered ready for
combat service, and recommended
tions were made that the training
be continued along present lines.
Those at the head of the Guard
expressed themselves as we'll pleased
with the reports which have been
received, as. they point out, each OF
the units was on its own in the field
maneuvers, as 1t would be in time
of war. They had to take the situa-
tions as they found them, without
the usual aid of instructors which
they have to follow them in the op-
erations on drill nights in the ar
mory.
Many of the troops. while observ-
ing other branches in action, did
not have the opportunity of getting
enough information on just what
was taking place. The result has
been demand for lectures and pic
lures which would give them this
background during the armory sea-
SON
The War Department has pre-
pared for this by perfecting Sc
ries of moving picture lectures on
the various arms of the service. One
of the first organizations to put in
for a series of these films is the
104th Quartermaster Regiment,
commanded by Maj. Fletcher F..
Bernsdorfi.
The following have been trans
ferred to the active lists of their
respective units: Pvts. Walter H.
Ellis, Albert R. Martin, Robert r.
/ Pitts, Willard A. Belcher and John
r. Cane. Company A, l2lst Engi-
/ neers; Pvt. Hubert L. Ferguson,
Headquarters Detachment, 29th Di-
vision; Pvts. Alex Adrian, Lawrence
E. Bradhurst and Leonard Gladu,
Company A, 12lst Engineers.
Although only those who enlisted
in the local militia prior to July
| last will be eligible to take the COM
! petitive examinations to select a
candidate to go to the United States
Military Academy next July l, off,
! GERS at brigade headquarters and
particularly Brig Gen. Albert l..
Cox, commanding the local militia,
have urged that young men
throughout the city consider enter
ing the Guard for the purpose of
competing for one of these appoint
ments. BY enlisting now, it was
said. these men could be building up
service, which will stand them well
in the final percentages for the
consideration of appointees.
While one of the War Depart
ment's requisites is that a man
must have served at least one year
in the militia in order to be ell
| gible for appointment, it was point
ed out that the Guard considers
length of service. Other things in
the examination being equal, it was
added, in the case of one man hav-
ing just one year in service and
the other two years in the Guard
the man with the longest service in
the Guard would be selected for the
appointment. This also applies to
| the field service training or annual
encampments. In the case OF the
man with one year who has at
tended one field encampment and
| tha man with two years and two
field encampments to his credit, the
latter would receive the preference.
Thus, it was pointed out. prospec-
tive candidates can build them
selves up much credit by enlisting
now, even though they would not
be eligible until the appointments
to be made for entrance to the acad-
emy on July /, 1941.
Residence in the District Of Co.
lumbia is considered in computing
the final figures, after the educa-