Evening star., 1939-02-04
Rifle Association Told
Nazis Unencumbered
By Obsolete Arms
Maj. Gen. Marshall
Says Infantry Will
Win Next War

Maj. Gen. George c. Marshall,
deputy chief of staff of the Army,
last night declared Germany, with
the benefit of experimentation OF
all other world powers, had re-
armed without incurring the ex-
pense and labor of any rearmament
until the present decade.
Speaking before the 68th annual
dinner of the National Rifle Asso-
citation last night at the MayfloWer
Hotel, Gen. Marshall declared the
Germans of today are armed with
the most modern and efficient mill
tary equipment in the world, un-
encumbered by old or obsolete ma
terial. He declared the only obso-
lete war material in Germany today
is represented by decorations in the
parks of the nation.
"All German war materials were
destroyed or removed by the allies
after the armistice," he said. Until
recent years the German army con-
sisted of about 100000 men, with
little equipment. Starting from
scratch, Germany laid her plans
we'll and assembled the most modern
war equipment of the day"
Sees Victory in Infantry.
Gen. Marshall predicted the man
with the rife, the infantryman. with
proper support, will win the next
war. He urged improvement in rifles
and machine guns, with accompany
ing instruction in technique as a
step in the right direction toward
national defense.
Brig. Gen. H. A. Pickert, commits
sioner of police of Detroit, addressed
the association on the necessity of
good craftsmanship in law enforce
ment. He lauded the work of the
association, which administers anna
teur rifle and pistol competition
throughout the United States, for
its assistance in training the man
hood of America in the intelligent
use of hand arms, and declared the
marksmen of the Detroit police force
held every existing record in revolver
competition. He declared the rifle
man in the United States Army to
be the chief power in our national
defense setup.
Seated at the head table as guests
of honor were: Gen. Marshall, Gen.
Pickert, Brig. Gen. A. B. Critch-
field, DR.. H. C. Byrd, president of
the Maryland University; Sena-
tor Ernest Lundeen, Farmer-Labor,
of Minnesota: Gustavus D. Pope, i'm
mediate past president of the asso-
citation; Col. L. w. T. Waller, jr.,
president and master of ceremonies;
Gen. Malin D. Craig. Army chief
of staff; Maj. Gen. M. A. Reckord.
adjutant general of Maryland, and
Senator Edwin c. Johnson, Demo-
crat, of Colorado.
More Than $50 Attend.
Other guests among the more than
$50 persons present, included David
A. Pine, district attorney; ]. Mon
roe Johnson, Assistant Secretary Of
Commerce; Representatives Starnes
of Alabama, Holmes Of Massachu-
sets, Mapes of Michigan, Thomason
of Texas, Lea of California, DR..
Thomas A. Healy of the Georgetown
University Foreign Service School;
Maj. Gen. A. H. Blanding, National
Guard chief; Maj. Gen. E. S. Adams,
Maj. Gen. George A. Lynch, Maj.
Gen. Charles R. Reynolds, Maj. Gen.
c. M. Wesson. Brig. Gen. L. D.
Gasser, Brig. Gen. A. L. Cox Brig.
Gen. c. F. Thompson, Gen. S. Gard
ner Waller, Brig. Gen. Ellard A.
Walsh and Gen. A. B. Critchf1eld.
The membership of the associa-
ton, made up of amateur riflemen
from the ranks of the National
Guard, the r. o. T. c., the three
branches of the service, the police
and private citizenry, met in execu-
tive session earlier yesterday for
election of officers and regular
business.
Newly elected officers of the asso-
citation are: Col. Waller, president;
Gen. Reckord, executive vice presi-
dent; c. B. Lister, secretary and
treasurer, and Col. N. C. Nash, vice
president. The following were elected
to the Board of Directors: 1t. Col.
H. D. Linscott, L. A. Pope and Will
liam P. Schweitzer. Members re-
elected to the Executive Committee
are: 1t. Col. j. S. Hatcher, Maj.
Francis w. Parker, Thurman Randle,
Raymond c. Bracken, Col. B. w.
Mills, 1t. Col. w. w. Ashurst, DR..
Emmet o. Swanson, Judge Hilliard
Comstock, E. E. Cooke, j. w. Wool
rey and Mark Cooper.
A meeting of the Executive Com
mittee was held this morning. A
total of 2,175 senior clubs, 1,151
junior clubs and 36 State associa-
tions are afiIated with the national
association.