Evening star., 1916-06-25
Selects First Sergt. J. H.
Washburn of Troop B, I'd
Cavalry, at Fort Myer.
REQUEST OF PERSONNEL
Needed BY GEN. HARVEY
r. B. Rhees Named First Lieutenant
and Langdon Moore Lieutenant
as Result Of Examinations.

First SerEt. j. II. Washburn OF Troop
B. I'd Cavalry. at Fort Myer. who has
been drill sergeant of the new Troop A
of Cavalry. composed OF college men,
has. in recognition of his peculiar ef-
flciency and in response to the unani-
nous request OF the personnel of the
new troop. been named as its captain.
He was notified of his appointment by
Brig. Gen. william f. Harvey last
night at brigade headquarters. Gen.
Harvey has asked for his immediate
discharge from Troop of the regular
cavalry. He has wired both to the
headquarters of the Department of the
East in New York and has conferred
directly with the adjutant general.
The result of the examinations for
officers of this troop. which have been
in progress ever since the camp mobili-
zation, were announced by Gen. Har-
vey last night. Private r. r. Rhees is
named first lieutenant and Langdon
Moore second lieutenant These men
were named because they stood highest
in the efficiency rating. The others in
order of rating were Bell. Tunstall.
Rickard, Birmingham. Ames, Thomp-
son. Won Krentzlin, Davidson, Rae and
Smith. The majority of these unsuc-
cessful candidates will be selected as
non-commissioned officers, Sergt. Wash
burn said.
To Make It Real Troop.
When he announced the appointment
of Sergt. Washburn. Gen. Harvey said
And he is going to make it a troop OF
real cavalry. aren't your" Like true
soldier and officer. Sergt. washburn an
swered, Yes. whatever is left OF them
Troop A has not had target practice.
Troop B of the regulars is engaged on
the Edsal range for the next thirty
days. Gen. Harvey announced that the
troop will be sent to the National Guard,
range at Congress Heights.
Gen Harvey is making arrangements
for this troop to use horses of the regu-
lars at Fort Myer during the after
moons. They will get these possibly to-
morrow. but probably not until Tues
day. They will use these Fort Myer
horses until the remounts come from
Front Royal. Va. 1t also is probable
that the regulars will be given these
green horses and that when Troop A
goes to the border it will use the
trained horses of Troop of the regu-
lar cavalry at Fort Myer.
1T is the finest group Of men 1 have
ever drilled" said the new captain,
speaking of the personnel of Troop A.
Il have drilled them twice a week for
six weeks. l have never seen a group
Of men that made greater progress
selves as an organization, l am sure"
New Officers Given Ovation.
All of the new officers were given an
ovation by the members of the troop
reached their camp.
Acting Capt. Arthur e. Smith, who
recruited and organized this troop. is
to be detailed. it is understood. by
Capt. Washburn, when he receives has
commission, to recruit a second troop
of cavalry. SO that there may soon be
a Squadron A. Troop A reached its
full strength yesterday. 1t now has
102 men enlisted.
With the organization of second
troop and the formation of a squadron
there would be an opening for seven
more officers-a major. adjutant, an
other captain. first and second lieu
tenants. a veterinarian and a doctor
Recently. Capt. Smith has had as
many as fifteen applications in one day
for enlistment in Troop A. Some OF
Francisco. He feels little doubt but
that he could recruit another troop in
short time. He will at once open cor
respondence with all these applicants.
Sergt. Washburn was the unanimous
choice of the troop for captain. The
day after the mobilization Capt. Smith
wrote a letter to the camp commandant
setting forth the wishes of the troop.
This was signed by every member. He
has been sixteen years in the service.
with a very creditable record. His Of
ficers. including the commanding officer
of the Fort Myer post, all give him the
highest commendation for efficiency
and good character.
Praises Quality Of the Men.
Gen. Harvey said last night he be-
lieved that under Sergt. Washburn the
troop would go ahead rapidly and be-
come one of the famous troops of the
country. He spoke in highest terms of
the quality of the men. He also said
he would be pleased to see another
troop formed and a resultant squadron.
Dr. Benjamin Rush Rhees, the new
first lieutenant. had former service in
the National Guard. He is the narcotic
expert for the bureau OF internal
revenue. He was educated at a mill
tary college. and spent much time in
the west. where he had a great deal of
experience with horses and as a cow
boy.
Langdon Moore, selected for second
is Washington attorney,
with offices in the Washington Loan
and Trust building. He saw service in
the Spanish war and afterward as
paymaster in the navy.
Troop A has made wonderful progress
in a short time. Acting Capt Smith
spent more than six months in its Oh
ganization. Nearly 400 applicants were
examined before the original sixty
eight were selected. II is now filled.
The last man to be admitted was j. II
The others who have re-
Gently Joined are J. N. Turner, J. W.
Chamberlain. Thomas ]. Heaid, r. L.
Hunter. +. Baughman. John Cotton
Smith. Z. L. Dent and r. c. Watson
Examination Ratings Close.
In the examination of the candidates
for officers the ratings were very close
This shows the individual efficiency of
the men. and also indicates that in time
Of stress there are a number of men
in this troop who might be called upon
FOR duty as officers.
Lieut.. Ray w. Hickman. the first man
10 start this troop at the University
Club, visited them in camp quarters
asst night and commended them for
heir fine showing. He read of their
being in the concentration camp in a
New York paper and made a special
rip to Washington to give them his
personal assurances of delight at their
progress.
This troop will be sent to the border
ust as soon regular cavalry experts
N ss ,Ipon IL as being in shana for sucb