Evening star., 1917-09-19

Maj. Clarence s. Ridley of the Corps
of Engineers, on duty at the War De-
partment, has been assigned to take
charge of public buildings and grounds
Of the District of Columbia, and also as
chief military aid to President Wilson.
He succeeds Col. William W. Harts,
Corps of Engineers, who was relieved at
his own request, in order that he might
perform duty with troops in the field
Col. Harts will be assigned to the COM
mand of the 9th Regiment of Engineers,
recently organized in this vicinity, and
now stationed at Washington barracks,
awaiting orders to proceed to France.
Maj. Ridley was presented today to
President Wilson by Col Harts. Maj.
Ridley has been stationed at Wilmington,
n. c., for the last two months.
On Duty Here Since October, 1918.
Col Harts has served as chief mill
tary aid to the President and has had
charge of social functions and ceremo-
nies at the White House since October
/, 1918. During the same period he
wassin cAArSs sof public huiadtnss apd
grounds in the District Because of the
highly satisfactory manner in which he
discharged the duties of these Offices
the President was exceedingly 1oath to
relieve him, and did so only because of
his recognition that in the present war
crisis Col Harts undoubtedly could
render more valuable service to the
government in the line of his profess
sion on the European field of action.
Col. Harts has won specially high
praise not only from his official su-
periors, but from the people of the Dis
trict generally. on account of his prac-
tical and systematic efforts to improve
the p-blic parks of the District and to
aid generally in the movement to make
the National Capital the most beautiful
city in the world.
Work Cut Out for Maj. Ridley.
Mai. Ridley. who succeeds to his du
ties. says it is too early for him even to
attempt to outline policy of action in
his new office. but he indicated that he
would use his best endeavoYs to COM
plete the improvements under way and
to inaugurate new ones wherever pos
sible. under the system so successfully
maintained by his predecessor. Among
the principal projects in various stages
of progress that will fall to his lot are
the Lincoln Memorial. the Arlington
Memorial Amphitheater, the Rock
Creek Parkway joining Potomac Park
and Rock Creek Park, the development
of Meridian Hill Park and the creation
of an athletic field and public play
ground in east Potomac Park.
Maj. Ridley is from Indiana. and was
a star graduate of the United States
Military Academy of the class Of 1905.
To-
and is one of the youngest officers ever
given this complimentary assignment
Most Of his service since his appoint
ment to the engineers has been with
troops. and he has performed creditable
duty in various parts of the world
After his graduation he was attached
to the Sd Battalion of Engineers, first
at Leavenworth, Kan. and then at
Havana
On Duty at Washington Barracks.
In September. 1907. he was transferred
to the I'd Battalion. then at Washing
ton barracks. where he remained until
December. 1908. when he was trans
ferred to the 1st Battalion at Honolulu.
He remained on the Hawaiian station
until July. 1909, when he was trans
ferred to Company II of the I'd Bat
TALON in Manila. After three years of
| service in the Philippines he accom-
panied his company to Leavenworth.
Kan. In November, 1912. he was as
| signed to duty in connection with river
and harbor improvements in the vicinity
of Wilmington. n. c.. and remained on
that station until the fall of 1916, when
| he was summoned to Washington for
| duty as an assistant to the chief Of en-
gineers.
Since the outbreak of the war with
Germany he has acted as an assistant
| to Col. E. Eveleth Winslow, in charge
of the military division of the eneineer
bureau, and was in immediate charge
of the personnel of the Engineer on
GERS Reserve Corps. Under the law. as
and grounds. Maj Ridley will have the
rank. pay and allowances of a COLONEL