Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-09-23
BOOSTING AP[AN
FORCAvALRY FORCE
Gen. Harvey and Others Sug-
gest Squadron to Be Known
as presidents Own"
ESCORT TO EXECUTIVE
ON STATE OCCASIONS
Proposition Submitted to War De-
partment for Formation Of Organ
ization in Nations Capital.

The presidents Own Squad
ron," as an official escort for the
President on state occasions, is to
be organized here, if present plans
can be carried out.
p Brig. Gen. William E. Harvey. in COM
trict of Columbia, and Maj. Joseph c.
Castner have taken up the matter of
the formation of District of Columbia
National Guard cavalry squadron with
officials of the War Department and of
the Department of the East. and a ia
vorable reply to the plan, is expected
within a short time. 1t is planned that
the squadron be composed of men at
tending local colleges and universities,
young men without affiliation who meet
requirements. 1t will be formed for
the purpose of giving the President Of
the United States a suitable escort for
state occasions, and to give young men
practical military training.
Troop A to Be Included.
The proposed squadron is to consist
OF four troops. the first Of which Is to
be the present Troop A, N. G. D. G., and
will be under the command of Capt.
James H. Washburn. at present COM
manding Troop A. Capt. Edward M.
Nevis of the Quartermaster Corps, To-
cal National Guard. has been designat-
ed commander of the first new troop,
or Troop B, recruiting for which, will
tentatively begin as soon as permission
Is secured from the War Department.
The actual mastering in as a military
organization of this troop. however,
ent guafdsfnen are released from fed
eral service. 1t was explained this
morning that 1t would be impracticable
to ask business men to enlist in the
proposed troop simply for the purpose
Of being sent to the concentration camp
at Radio, Va Should a crisis arise.
however, active steps to organize all
three of the proposed troops will be
taken.
Origin Of the Plan.
/. The plan originated when Sergts E.
H. Coolidge and John W. Thompson OF
Troop A were assigned with Capt.
Nevis on local guard recruiting duty.
Acting upon the request Of a number Of
business men that a cavalry troop for
business men be formed a. a part Of
the local guard organisation. these
three officers took up the matter with
Gen. Harvey and Maj. Castner. The
plan met with their hearty approval,
and 1t is expected that with their in.
.dorsement permission will be procured
without difficulty from the War De-
.partment to go ahead with the actual
work of organization.
Troop B will be known as the busi-
ness mems troop. 1t will be composed
of members Of the Commercial. Column
,bia Country, Press, Chevy Chase. Uni.
.versity and Washington Riding and
Hunt clubs. The latter organisation
probably will offer its present building
as Headquarters for the new organiza-
ton, pending the erection or leasing of
a suitable armory. which is planned.
Members Of this troop must be between
the ages of twenty-five and forty years.
local university and college troop. will
be organized as soon as the organiza-
ton Of Troop Is we'll under way. and
Troop D. which will be open to young
men of the city without aff1liation who
meet the prescribed requirements VIII
follow soon after.
: Designation of Commanders.
: Troop commanders are to be desig-
troop actually begins and examinations
for other commissioned officers will be
held, to which non-commissioned off,
GERS from the preceding troop and
members of the new succeeding troop
will be eligible.
Sketches for full dress uniform to
be worn on state occasions are being
prepared by local tailors. The service
uniforms, 1t is expected. will be fur
nished by the United States govern
ment. which also will allow thirty-two
horses to a troop.
1t has been pointed out that the pro-
posed cavalry squadron will be a time
and expense saver to local men who
desire military training. many of whom
go to Plattsburg. In the local organ
ization the only expense, practically.
will be the cost of the uniform. where
as. IL a man goes to Plattsburgh he
must pay transportation and number
Of other expenses. In addition. MEM
bers of the proposed organization Will
receive SIS a year tn'n from the en;nnan govern
Drills will be held once week. and
once a year there will be a camping
period of from ten to fifteen days. In
addition to that, members OF the pro-
posed squadron may use the horses. by
ION their own hook"
Record of Troop A an Example.
That it is possible for the plan. as
brought up by Capt. Nevils and Sergts.
Coolidge and Thompson, can succeed. they
pointed to the record of the present Troop
A, which was formed in October. 1915. by
Robert Hickman of the University Club.
This troop after having participated In
and dismounted drills and ex-
tended order work under battle conditions,
was given q rating of 100 per cent by the
Denaftment of the East. It also has made
A fine record on the rifle range, boasting
Of three expert rifiemen. seven sharp
shooters and twenty-six marksmen in its
ranks.
CAPT. Washburn. present commander Of
Troop A, will be designated major of the
squadron when It is formed. He has an
enviabie regular army record. having
takep part in a number of Philippine cam
Daiens and is well qualified both as an
and commander.
: Capt. Nevils. who will command
TROOP B, has spent sixteen years in the
National Guard. He enlisted In Com
nany B, of the old 1st Infantry. in 1900,
q nd in 1908 entered Battery A, after
baylnE played a big part in its organ
Izaffon. He was commissioned senior
6rst lieutenant in the battery in 1905,
nut resigned in 1910 to accept COM
mission as captain in the Quartermas-
Ter Corps, which position he has held
since. In 1910 Capt. Nevils took both