Evening star., 1914-01-11

W. posing the National Guard
M of the District of Colum-
w bia do not make up a
brigade, it is considered an
appropriate command for d brigadier
general. according to the division
of militia affairs of the War De-
partment. Lieut.. Col. Almon l.. Par
merter, adjutant general of the District
of Columbia Militia, went to the militia
division last week shortly after the pro-
mitigation of circular 13. which set forth
the organization to which the organized
militia of the several states would be
expected to conform, to find out just how
the division of militia affairs felt toward
the local militia as at present organized.
Col. Parmerter declared that he found
the officers there willing and anxious to
hep the National Guard organizations
to conform to the requirements. He
pounted out how Congress had made
special provision for the organization of
the National Guard of the District of
Columbia. A brigade, he said, is either
three regiments of infantry or three
regiments of cavalry, forming the COM
mand of brigadier general The ques-
ton of auxiliary troops, he pointed out,
does not enter in the formation of
brigade. 1t is only when the division
organization is reached that the auNil-
larry troops, such as signal corps com
panies, field artillery, coast artillery. am
bu'ance companies, etc, have to be
reckoned with.
An organization such as the National
Guard of the District of Columbia, is in
reality a detachment" said Col Par
merter, an organization that is usually
made up for some special work. The
national Guard of the District of CO.
lumbia as now organized is therefore
a detachment, and is the appropriate
command for Il brigadier general.
The question of too many staff officers
also was taken up at the conference.
Col. Parmerter pointed out that there
We're not too many officers on the staff
of the National Guard of the District
of Columbia. The local engineer ofli-
GERS position was taken up and the divi-
sion of militia affairs could not see why
there should be an engineer officer on
the staff of the local National Guard
when there were no engineer troops. Col.
Parmerter asserted that the law provid-
ing for the local National Guard pro-
vided only for company of engineers
with a captain and two lieutenants. This
certainly is not command for a major,
but n detachment should have an en-
gineer officer on its staff for various
charge and direct engineering in the
construction of trenches, and is there
lore needed on the staff of the com
manding general.
1t was pointed out that it would be
form of hardship for men to give their
time during the year for training and
then be deprived of the small pay while
in camp, which is the only matter about
which the federal government has to
worry: The men do not get pay for the
fSyr.o
they certainly should have it the short
time they are in camp and under federal
instruction.
1t is declared that those at the div sion
OF militia affairs agreed with Col. Parm-
erter in many of his arguments, and
asked him ITO put in letter form the mat
ters he had taken UP at the conference,
and they declared that they would be
thoroughly gone over and a decision
reached. Col. Parmerter declares that
he will prepare the letter Immediately,
and send it to the militia division.
The question of brigade and division
organization of the various National
Guard organizations, it is expected, will
be gone into at the meeting tomorrow of
the national militia board and the meet
ing of the adjutants general of the sew
erai states, as well as the board of
directors Of the National Rifle Associa-
ton, of which the adjutants general of
the National Guard of the several stat,
o.
the national board for the promotion of
rifle practice is to be held at the War
Department tomorrow afternoon, and the
joint meeting of the adjutants general
and the national militia board is to be
held at the New Willard Hotel Monday
night at o'clock.
y x X ::
Brig. Gen. George H. Harries, COM
manding the District of Columbia militia,
was at militia headquarters in The Star
building last week, and went over a num-
Der of National Guard matters which
We're pending, the most important of
which was the resignation of Capt.
Thomas Raymond Clark. pay depart
ment, N. G. D. c. Gen. Harries has
refused to accept the resignation at this
time, In the hope that a favorable deci-
sion from the administration will cause
Capt. Clark to withdraw his resignation
The matter has been referred to the divi-
sion of militia affairs, with the request
from Gen. Harries that the War Depart
ment get the administrati ton to say
whether or not any time taken off by a
government employe in addition to his
regular thirty days annual leave oper-
ates against his promotion. Until Gen
Harries gets an authoritative statement
as to the position of the administration
on military leave the acceptance of the
resignation will be withheld.
X + X y
IersoHS IN close IOucn with congress
sional affairs declare that there is little
doubt but that. the bill providing for the
construction of an armory for the Ma
tional Guard of the District of Columbia
will be passed at this session of Congress.
Plans are being made to present Con-
gress with much data, should hearings on
the question be ordered. There are say
eral who are not members of the Ma
tional Guard who are to make every eff
fort to have the bill passed at this session
of Congress. Representative Kahn of
California, who is chairman of the Ma
tional Defense League it is understood, is
to be one of the strongest hackers of the
District men in their efforts to obtain
| suitable and adequate armory facilities
| for the National Guard of the District of
Columbia Col. William E. Harvey, COM
manding the I'd Regiment, is chairman of
| the board of National Guard officers,