Evening star., 1941-03-09
Veteran Ordnance
Officer OF Guard
Ordered 10 Duty
Maj. Just c. Jensen
To Be Sent to
Frankfort Arsenal

Frankfort Arsenal
Mai. Just c. Jensen, veteran
ordnance officer of the District Ma
tional Guard has received orders
from the commanding general of
the Sd Army Corps Area at Balti-
more, Md, placing him on active
duty. 1t was explained at brigade
headquarters that Maj. Jensen was
not called out with the remainder of
the local troops because he had to
undergo an operation, from which
he has now recovered.
He has been ordered to duty at
the Frankfort Arsenal at Philadel-
phia, Pa, for period of two months,
after which he will go to the ord
nance plant at Denver, Colo, for
permanent assignment, at least for
the usual training period of II
months.
For a number of years Maj. Jensen
has been in charge of the rifle range
and all of the rifle practice of the
brigade of troops here, and as such
has been superintendent of the
Guard rife range at Congress
Heights, D. G.
1t would appear that some action
may be expected in the near future
for mastering into the service the
new 121st Observation Squadron, the
new flying unit of the local militia
brigade. Although practically all of
the other troops of the local brigade
already are in the field for theil
year of training, this unit has not
yet been formally organized and ac-
cepted by the War Department.
Maj. S. w. Towle, jr., of the Air
Corps of the United States Army, it
was reported at brigade headquar-
ters, has reported here for duty as
inSpector-instructor of the new or
ganization and from now on active
steps looking to the formation and
mastering of the organization will
be pushed with all the speed pos
sible.
1t is generally believed that soon
after its muster, the organization
may be ordered into the field with
the other troops and would receive
most of its preliminary instructions
at one of the Arn1y's air fields. per-
haps being sent to Fort George G.
Meade, Md.
1t was indicated that steps have
been taken to have a hangar pro-
vided at Beltsville, Md, although
some disappointment was expressed
that the District Commissioners
baked at the suggestion that the
District provide funds for it. which
would have included the purchase
of necessary ground for a National
Guard air field. The land, it was
indicated, was to be furnished by
the BeltSville experimental station
of the Department of Agriculture.
The organization has headquar-
ters in the Guard Armory at Sixth
street and Pennsylvania avenue
NV, where information can be
obtained by those interested in the
Air Corps as to enlistments and
other information concerning the
outfit.
Col. Walter w. Burns, command
ing the 260th Regiment of Coast
Artillery, which is already in Fed
eral service, based at Fort Bliss,
Tex, returned to Washington last
week in connection with the details
relative to the large draft of
selectees which will be sent there
to become a part of the organiza-
ton. 1t was said that about 1900
men would be added to the regi-
ment from here, and this would
bring the organization to full
strength. None of the organiza-
tions which went into the field
from the local militia brigade had
sufficient men in the various units
and it was said at the time that
recruiting was cut off, that the
ranks would be filled by draftees.
The men to be inducted will be
sent from here to Baltimore for
induction and then to Camp Lee,
Va, for a short period of prelim-
mary instruction and training. A
large detail of men from the Dis
trict regiment came up to Camp
Lee as Col Burns came north. They
will participate in the instruction
of the draftees there, it was said,
and will escort them to their new
assignment. Officers are enthusi-
astic over the fact that the in
ductees necessary to bring the outfit
up to full strength were to be sent
there from this area.
When the second increment is
ready to be taken to Fort Bliss it
was said that 1t. Col. Mann, sec
ond in command of the regiment,
would come here to take charge
of the details. When all of the
additional men are assigned to the
regiment it was said that it will
consist of 1900 men.
The main activity at local head
quarters centers around the details
incident to taking into Federal
service of the Headquarters Unit of
the 372d Infantry, the colored con-
tingent. This unit is to be mus
tered this week and after the
physical examinations are COM
pleted and the units eliminated
the unit will be sent to Fort Dix,
N. j., for assignment to other units
of the regiment which will come
from other States.
Snns nj Snanish War