The Washington herald., 1918-09-07
TWO-PLATOON
ALTERSSTAFF
New Fire Department Sys-
tenn Involves Many
Promotions.

In preparation for the installation
of the two-platoon system in the
fire department the District Commits
sioners- yesterday made extensive
changes in the personnel OF the de-
partment. A second deputy chief
was appointed with four additional
battalion chiefs. Various promotions
were also made In the ranks of the
department.
The deputy chief appointed yester-
day Is Philip w. Nicholson, former
marshal by George S. Watson, chief
clerk of the fire department whose
place is filled by Edward r. Pierce,
clerk.
New Battalion Chiefs.
The new battalion chiefs are to be
Capts. T. OPConnor, No. l engine
company; P. r. Davis, No. II engine;
]. ]. Hanlon, No. engine. and Sergt
C. W. Gill, of the department repair
shop.
Lieuts. W. NJ. Green, of truck,
Woolard, of Is engine, and A. S
Haight, of "a engine. are promoted
to captains, vice O'Connor. Davis and
Hanlon.
sergts. r. C. Tegeler, % enginei
c. C. Fling, 6 truck. and c. A. Wells,
10 truck, are promoted to heuten-
ants, vice Green, Woolard and
Haight.
P. t. Leahy. c. W. Rice, 8. NJ.
Gould, ]. B. Dutton and c. c. Meeks,
privates Of class ., are promoted TO
be sergeants. vice Gill, Tegeler. FlinE
and Wells. and one to I'LL a new po-
sition provided by the District ap-
preparation act.
Mr.. Nicholson, newly appointed dep
uty chief, has been in the department
since 1883, when he entered as a prl-
yate. Since then he has risen be-
cause OF his faithful and steady
work. Mr.. Nicholson has been in
strumental in bringing about many
amendments to the fire regulations
relating to the handling of infiamma-
Bile materials and TO moving pictures.
He was appointed fire marshal in
1905.
George s. Watson. who succeeds
Mr.. Nicholson as fire marshal, was
made chief clerk of the department IN
1906. Prior to that he served as seq
retary to DR.. w. c. Woodward, for
mer health officer OF the District. Mr..
Watson was most active in securing
a pension law for the fire department.
He was also instrumental in bringing
about the passage of the two-pIatoon
system
Edward B. Pierce, who IS to be chief
clerk, has recently been handling a
great deal of Mr.. Watson's work bo-
cause work in connection with the
draft called OH Watson for a large
part of his time. lie entered the fire
department in 1872
The greatest promotion. Is believed
to be I'm the case of c. w GILL GIL
was promoted from sergeant to bat
TALON chief. He was formerly assist
ant to Chief Wagner and in this ca
pacity proved his value as a fire fight
er.
The two-platoon system will prob
ably be put into effect within two
weeks. the principal difficulty being
the obtaining of a sufficient number
of men to work the two shifts.
1t is probable that the vacancies will
be filled with limited service men fur
loughed from nearby training camps
with permission to accept positions in
the fire department. 1t is estimated
that 40 additional men will be neces-
sary to install the new plan. The de-
partment is making every effort to
engage these men in the ordinary
way, but with the new draft law and
the shortage of men in Washington at
present this appears to be impossible.