Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-25


by Brig. Gen. Harries, commanding the
D. c. militia when the latter visited the
city recently. There were a number of
questions which were held for Gen. Har-
ries' personal consideration, and these
were quickly disposed of during the aft
ernoon which the general spent at head
quarters.
The regulations governing the forma-
ton of a reserve corps as an auxiliary
of the National Guard of the District of
Columbia were reviewed by the general,
and then were ordered transmitted to the
division of militia affairs of the War De-
partment for approval there. 1t is ex-
pected the War Departments official ap-
prevail will soon be stamped on the
regulations, and the actual formation of
the corps will be begun.
Ex-regulars and mflitiamen are eligible
to enlist in the reserve corps. which will
have no regular service except to report
for duty once a year, when the National
Guard holds it's annual encampment
The idea of the militia reserve corps is
to have ready a body of men familiar
with military duty who could be called
upon to fill up the ranks Of the organized
militia companies to their full war
strength in time of need.
special board of officers of the Ma
tional Guard of the District of Columbia
| has been engaged for some time in pre-
pairing the regulations. and they were
made ready for Gen. Harries' signature
AS soon as notice is received of the APP
prevail of the regulations the wprk of
organizing the new corps will be begun
~ !: *
| Compliance by the National Guard of
he 81 off, nj, Wit ha
sions of circular of the War Depart
ment was also discussed by Gen Harries.
This is the now famous circular which
prescribes the brigade and division Or
ganization to which the National Guard
of the several states must conform in or
der to obtain federal aid. The National
Guard of the District of Columbia ac-
cordinG to Gen. Harries, will comply with
the circular so far possible. The To-
| cal organization is formed under a spe-
| cial act of Congress, and therefore is in
| a different positio:, from that of the
| guards of the several states. The officers
| of the local National Guard and the Off
| GERS of the War Department are working
| together harmoniously in order to have
| the local body comply as far as possible
with the provisions of circular S.
1t has already been decided that the
local National Guard can rightfuly be
| designated Il detachment" which is
| considered the command NJ a brigadier
| general 1t is an organization made up
| of the several arms of the service for
special work That it is a proper COM
| mand for a brigadier general having been
settled. the only matter which now re-
| mains to be considered is the organiza-
ton of the staff departments. There is
some question about the right of certain
staff officers to remain, in view of the
fact that there are no commands. on
the other hand, it is argued that the
officers in question should remain as ad-
visers to the commanding general.
Some time next month. probably, the
| medals and prizes awarded to the sue
| cessful contestants in the recent rife
matches of the National Guard of the
District of Columbia at the Congress
Heights range will be distributed The
| prizes arrived at National Guard head
quarters last week. and plans are now
being made, by direction of Gen. Harries
| for the ceremony of distribution, which
is made quite an event in National Guard
circles.
Efforts are to be made to have Secre.
tary Garrison of the War Department
present at the ceremonies and to address
the guardsmen, in addition TO presentins
the prizes.
The decision of Controller Downey Of
the Treasury that the officers of the Ma.
tional Guard of the District of Columbis
are more nearly allied to the commits
stoned officers of the United States Army
than are the similar officers in the sew.
eral states is viewed with much Interest
in National Guard circles here. The con
troller pointed out that the officers OF
the local organization are commissioned
by. the President of the United States. a.
are officers of the army. The Presiden
is also commander in-chief of the Distric
of Columbia militia, whereas in the state:
the governor heads the militiamen. The