Evening star., 1947-06-30
Guard Installed
In Armory al
Dedication Rites
D. c. Heads Absent;
Cox Promises Use for
Pleasure Of People

Pleasure OF People
The District National Guard to-
day was firmly entrenched in its
vast, modern armory at Twentieth
and East Capitol streets-after
six-year wait for the dedication
ceremonies that took place yester-
day.
Several hundred well-wishers and
Army and civic leaders were on
hand as Brig. Gen. Albert L. Cox,
commander of the District units.
dedicated the structure to "the
glory of God and to the use of the
District of Columbia National
Guard"
Eight units stood in parade for
nation for the official flag raising,
held in the armory's 200 by 400 foot
drill auditorium.
Commissioners Absent.
Missing from the ceremonies were
the District Commissioners, who are
waging an oll-out fight for control
OF the armory, and particularly the
large drill hall, when it Is not in
use by the Guard.
The Commissioners maintain
they should control the armorv,
since the District stands its ex-
penses, and that funds realized
from use of the structure should
benefit the District. Gen. Cox main
tains such funds should be thrown
INTO a revolving fund for benefit
OF the Guard. His statements have
brought on threat from the CITY
heads to sell the s2,700,OOO struc-
ture to the Federal Government.
In his dedication address Gen.
Cox declared policy of the Guard
Will be to use the armory "in the
way to give the most pleasure to
the most number of people when
the use will not interfere with
Guard functions"
He particularly mentioned the
buildings suitability for sports func-
tions, and said it might be made
available to District schools and
colleges.
Requests Pour in.
The Guard commander later told
reporter he has already been
SWamped' with requests for use of
the building. Only definite COM
he has made, he said wa,
to promise the Home Builders Asso-
station of the Metropolitan Area
that they could use the space for a
show this October.
Present for the dedication exer-
cises were 1t. Gen. Leroy Lutes, of
the War Department general staff.
Col. Edward j. Geesen, acting chief
OF the National Guard Bureau; Brig,
Gen. Claude E. Ferenbaugh, COM
mander of the Military District of
Washington, and William E. Leahy,
attorney, who was chief of District
Selective Service activities during
the war.
Gen. Cox paid special tribute to
former Representative Ross Collins.
Democrat, of Mississippi, who in
troduced legislation authorizing the
armory land is more responsible
today"
Col. Geesen drew hearty applause
for his comments that the District
Guard is taking possession of its
own armory, although an armory
was built for you as far back as
1889"
Trained in Inadequate Quarters.
That building, located at Sixth
and Indiana avenue NV, was used
as a hospital during the Civil War
and was never relinquished by the
Federal Government, he said.
Since then" he added, "the District
troops have trained for two World
Wars in converted and inadequate
quarters"
The Gaurd's present home was
completed in 1941, and Immediately
occupied by War Department per-
scnnel before the District troops
had chance to move in. Two
years later FBI units were placed
in the armory and didn't Vacate
1t until three weeks ago.
Guard units began moving in on
June 9. Gen. Cox said, and by that
night were using the drill hall for
training. 1t has been used every
night since, he added.
Units which will have equipment
at the armory and use it for train
ing include the 18th Aircraft Con-
troll and Warning Squadron, the
171st Military Police Battalion, the
l63d Military Police Battalion,
headquarters Of the 26Oth Anti
aircraft Artillery Group, the 26Oth
A. "A. A. Gun Battalion, the 34Oth
A. A. A. Searchlight Battalion, the
3oOth A. A. A. Automatic Weapons
the 104th Ordnance
Maintenance Company the 257th
Army Ground Forces Band.
Radar Cars Inspected.
Air units, including the 18th
Fighter Group, the l21st Fighter
and the 121st Utility
Flight, are housed at Andrews
Field
Most visitors at the armorv YES
oSNPpNN W ~ OuHn SDp-
clal cars of the control and warn
ing squadron containing the latest
radar equipment-the only set in
the country that has been issued
to a Guard unit, according to Mai
Arthur E. Kimberly, commander Of
the squadron.
The equipment consists of a
900 ,0O0-Watt sending station to
dispatch and receive the radar
waves and a succession of dials and
machinery to compute Its findings
When his squadron is brought up
TO its full personnel strength, Mai.
Kimberly said, three of the radar
units Will be established as per-
manent defense measures for Wash
lngton. One unit will remain at
tne armory, he said, and the Others
VIII be located at Camp Sims and
atop the Army Map Service Build
ing near Macarthur boulevard in
Me- rv1apd A1A