Evening star., 1941-04-27
Guard Rifle RANGE
May Not Be Opened
Until June |
New Bids to Be
Asked for
Added Buildings

Preliminary work in the improve
ment program for the rife range Of
the District National Guard is eX-
pected to be completed during the
next four weeks, when it will be
ready for use, but the building con-
struction program has been delayed
somewhat, it was said at the brigade
headquarters.
The grading incident to changing
some of the contours on the range
will be completed, and the new pistol
firing course will be ready for use.
While it is expected that number
of military organizations quartered
in and around the Capital City will
make use of the range during the
summer months, there appears to
be some question as to whether there
will be any opportunity for firing by
civilian rifle clubs and individuals.
The opinion was expressed that
the range would not be available for
the use OF any one prior to June /,
and possibly later, but then only to
organizations which had sufficiently
crate the range. 1t was pointed out
that in the case of the civilians de-
string to use the range for practicirg
with the rife and pistol, that it
would be practically impossible to
keep it open on Sundays, because of
the lack OF personnel to supervise the
firing. In normal times this work
hTy .f
units who went there on Saturdays
and Sundays for their own practice.
The proposed new buildings which
are to be constructed on the range
will be held up for an indefinite
period, 1t was said, because Of some
defect in the proposals for the bids
for construction. The bids. it was
said, have been rejected, and new
olds Will have to be called for. It
was indicated that the original invi-
tations to bid did not have suffi-
clently clear specifications, and those
VINO bid did not offer all the Guard
deSlred. However, it was said that
the delay in getting started on the
new construction would not in any
way prevent the use of the range. as
all OF the buildings are to be on the
elevated ground north of the target
range, which is in a depressed area.
Creoence was given reports that
the administration may seek lepis-
Iatlve authority for extending be-
yond year the time for keeping the
National Guard in the field for
training duty, by the fact that word
mas come back here of a number
| OF advances in ranks for officers Of
the l60th Coast Artillery. which is
training at Fort Bliss, Tex.
Officers at local brigade head
quarters say that they are without
details, but they have received un-
ornclal word that several officers
nave been promoted to majors and
the captaincies have been filled bv
promotion of first lieutenants. The
information also was that another
regiment is being carved out OF the
2oOth, and this might be taken, mill
tary men say, as an indication that
II this is doEe. the units might he
Kept IN the field for longer periods
IN order that they might perfect
Their tactical training on a large
Sca!e, such as appears to be required
unoer present-day warfare condi-
tions.
1t was said, that prior to the de-
parture OF the guard units for the
neld, number of officers expressed
the opinion that the Army would
keep them in the field for more than
/ d year, so that a well-organiZed
ana efhclent combat unit might be
perfected TO be ready to operate
under all conditions with which
they might be faced.
AT any rate, 1t was said that the
conditions in Europe might largely
guide the military directors of this
country, as the course to be pur-
sued. In the event that things be-
come worse, it was pointed out
oy military men, it would be follv
10 return the trained organizations
10 thelr home stations and demobili-
zatlon to stand by, when they could
be kept in a more efficient state by
remaining in the field under con-
slant operation conditions.
| The local troops in the field are
ready from a uniform standpoint
for all kinds of field service, it was
said. Although they were equipped
with their winter uniforms and
oVercoats when they left Washing
ton, their summer uniforms and
equipment has been sent into the
held. All of the supplies of the
troops, except, Of course, their equip
ment which is only of use in the
armory, such as lockers, etc., re-
mains at the home stations.
lngton, outlined plans for National
employment Week, commencing
May 4. The District of Columbia