Evening star., 1939-02-05


National Guard has just been au-
thorised by the War Department in
communication received last week
at brigade headquarters Of the
local militia. This is in addition to
the recent addition personnel pro-
vided for raising the 260th Coast
Artillery to full regimental status.
The increase will provide 10 more
ofncers and 120 enlisted men and,
according to present plans, will be
organized and mustered into the
Federal service by April !.
One addition is to complete the
Headquarters Company, 104th Quar-
termaster Regiment. The organi-
zation now has only q division
platoon. The other new units to be
organized are the Medical Depart
ment Detachment, 10th Quarter
master Regiment, and the 104th
Ordnance Company.
1t was indicated that steps will be
taken Immediately to begin the re-
cruiting Of this personnel, so that
the units will be ready for the
mastering officer on the date speci-
fed. The action in ordering the
formation of the new troops here
was said to be in accordance with
War Department plans to complete
the formation Of all tactical divi-
sions throughout the country.
The problem which Is bothering
the local militia officials more than
anything else is where the units
are to be housed. The present
armory is inadequate to take care
OF the troops. Practically the only
place available now for drill work
Is In the Mall In the rear of the new
Mellon Art Gallery, which, Of course
can only be used in good weather
At other times the units must con-
hne their instruction to that which
can be given In the classrooms and
company quarters, and even these
are getting smaller and scarcer as
the new units are provided.
While local brigade headquarters
has not been of1icially apprised OF
the approaching maneuvers by the
Sd Army Corps in Northern Vir-
glnla, they hope to have some de-
tails of the program, following a
conference to be held at Army Corps
Headquarters on March and 9
Maj. James r. Lusby, Quartermas-
ter Corps, the United States prop
erty and disbursing oflcer for the
local militia, has been ordered tc
Baltimore to attend this conference
In view Of the fact that only the
of1cer having charge Of the hsca.
affairs has been ordered there, II
was indicated that the conference
will DEAL at this time, only with
the matter of what funds will be
needed to carry out the project
which will be the first of its kinc
IN this area for number of years
Such an extensive program wa,
provided for several years ago, but
the local troops and the Virgins
troops could not participate, be.
cause OF the fact that it was to bt
in Pennsylvania. which State deniee
them admission because Of the prev.
alence of an infantile paralysi!
epidemic at that time. However
they hope that there will be nothing
to develop which would prevent
them from carrying out the projec
this year, II 1t is finally decided K
have it.
II the maneuvers are finally de.
termined upon 1t will be the mos
gigantic operation In this section O.
the country In a number of year,
and the operations will cover tn.
territory between Fredericksbrf
and Manassas, covering much OF tn.
scenes Of the battles of the Civi
War. 1t Is understood that 10O,0O(
acres of land will be used in carry.
ing out the project.
In the event of a final decision
to hold the field operations on such
a large scale it Is certain that thu
proposed plan of the local militia.
men to have fixed training camr
at Cascade. Nd, will be abandoned
as they are limited to IS days train.
ing a year. There is also the pos.
sibility that the 260th Coast Artillery
Regiment may participate in tn.
maneuvers for the first time.
Although it is now planned to sene
this outfit to its usual camp at For,
Story, Va, 1t was indicated that ir
view of the fact that this is an anti.
aircraft regiment its services may
be needed In carrying out the ex.
tensive Northern Virginia program
which will bring into action fol
training purposes all arms of the
service. While the artillery Is moi
part Of the 10th National Guarc
Division, 1t is part of the Sd Army
Corps, 1t was said.
Brig. Gen. Albert L. Cox, com.
manding the local militia, formally
expressed his appreciation to mem.
bers of the brigade for their excel.
lent attendance and appearance or
the occasion of the first annua
church service. He told them thai
the high sense of duty and the will.
ing and local support rendered BY
them demonstrated to the citizen.
of washington that the organization
Is one of which they may be Justly
proud in peaceful as well as In mill.
tary pursuits.
Two units had perfect attendance
during December. The Headquar.
ters Company, 104th Quartermaste,
Regiment, and the Headquarter,
Detachment, Special Troops, 29tt
Division, both finished the month
with 100 per cent attendance. Ths
other units, in their relative order
with percentages, follow:
Headquarters and Service Com.
pany, 121st Engineers, $685.. State
Detachment, 9642; Medical Depart.
ment Detachment, Special Troops