Evening star., 1939-10-08

Will end the series Of target matches
which were begun last Sunday. The
first match scheduled for today Is
the company team championship
match, and is to start at 8 am. It Il
open to one team Of six shooting
members and one team captain from
each company, battery or detach-
ment. At least two shooting men,
bers shall never have fired on any
team or in any individual rifle
match representing the local militia
or have participated In the Ma
tional Rifle Matches at Camp Perry,
Ohio. The winning team will
receive a bronze trophy to be held
for one year. 1t was won last year
by the Ordnance Department, State
Detachment.
Another match will be the indi-
vidual rifle championship match,
open to all. The scores made by
the individuals in the company team
championship match are to count
for the individual match. To the
winner will go the Senatorial Tro-
phy to be held for one year. This
was won last year by Tech. Sergt.
Harry H. Parsons, Ordnance De-
partment, State Detachment.
Local Guard authorities have sus-
pended the prohibition which has
been In effect for more than five
years against the enlistment of re-
cruits within period of 60 days
next prior to the date set for be-
ginning an annual field training Pc
riod. Under the new plans officers
of the units may enlist new men
right up to the period of departing
for the field.
The practice of enlisting men in
this period has been prohibited be-
cause OF the desire not to take any
number of new men to encamp-
ments, for the reason that inter-
fered somewhat with the orderly
training of the older men. With a
large number of new men in the
camp, 1t was necessary to separate
them from the trained men to give
them the preliminary instruction of
a soldier. Not only were the nor
NAL ranks depleted by the separa-
ton OF the new men for recruit in
struction, but certain number of
the commissioned officers had
to be taken away from their regular
duties. The War Department,
while it has not prohibited the en-
hstment during this period, has
rather frowned on it, because of it's
effect on the normal field training.
1t was the departments contention
as result Of reports from the reg
ular Army inspectors in the field
with the militia units, that normal
training could not be carried out
with the units split between veterans
and recruits. The department
wanted only men in the field who at
least had gone through the rudi-
ments Of soldier training in the ar
mories, and could to some extent
keep up with the field training.
During the past few years the
original prohibition order has been
waived on the request of unit COM
manders who had applications from
much new blood. Despite the order
many new men have been taken to
the encampments. Furthermore. it
was said, the latest increases in en-.
listed strength allowed by the War
Department D have been authorized
Just prior to annual encampments.
and In many instances, they pro-
vlded for the formation of new units.
IN order to comply with the depart
ment's orders to recruit the addi-
tlonal men, it was found that the
recruiting carried the oreaniza-
tons well within the 60-day period.
Therefore, it was explained the or
DER OF five years standing has been
a nullity.
However, it is expected that en-
llstments will be held down to the
bare minimum just prior to training
camps, and at least a vigorous
course Of instruction will be pro-
vlded to whip the raw men into
shape as quickly as possibly, so
as to interfer very little with the
normal field training, and thus
avoid further criticism of Army in
structors as has been given In the
past along this line.
Brig. Gen. Albert L. Cox, COM
manding the local militia has ex-
pressed his pleasure to the units
OF the command which participated
in the recent Northern Virginia
Army maneuvers, over the receipt
OF a resolution from the Town
Council of Manassas, which said:
Whereas, during the past three
weeks, Manassas has been the CEN
ter of military maneuvers in which
approximately $4,000 soldiers partici-
pated, and.
Whereas, the officers and enlisted
men composing this army have
treated the civilians of this COM
with unfailing courtesy and
consideration, therefore.
BE 1t resolved, That the Town
Council of Manassas, Virginia, here
by expresses to the officers and
troops of the 3rd Corps Area its
appreciation of the pleasant rela-
tions which have developed between
the Army and our citizens, and
further express the hope that this
contact and friendship may contine
and grow throughout the ensuing
years"
Local guard headquarters an
beginning October 20, it
will conduct examinations to obtain
an eligibility list from which will
be selected from time to time as
occur, enlisted men to be
promoted to the commissioned
grades. 1t is to consist of an edu-
cational examination only, and is
separate and distinct from the
branch examinations, which will be
given when the candidates are
called upon to be examined for q
voconnu Than fIaAx, ~;,,Asa