The sun., 1919-03-09
O'RYAN AND OTHERS
LAUD GEN. Sheriff.
Memory Of Home Ties Helped
Men in Battle, Says Head
of 9th at Dinner.

A distinguished group OF military mer
connected with the old National Guard
ard It's successorN tho New York Guard
and the combatant units which, re.
cruited from the volunteer regiments
saw service in France, were the guests
OF Col. Michael Friedsam at testi-
monial dinner last night In honor OF
Brig. Gen. Charles II. Sheriff. In the
Hotel St Regis.
Tribute to the value OF permanent
military units as the backbone of COM
Blatant divisions when an emergency
arises was paid by MRjor-Gen. John r
Organ. commander Of the Twenty
seventh Division abroad. who was ar
unexpected arrival at the dinner. He
got a great reception on his entry.
when troops are on active service
there Is little time to think Of old asso-
Citations. but when the debarking port
IL reached after campaign abroad
there comes . longing for the social
ties OF yore.' said Gen. Organ. I'VE
have been abroad and are getting all
the credit, but men like you who are
gathered here have done the work and
We appreciate It.
1T was your duty TO keep alive the
old organizations for which the men
who were former members fought In
Europe. Deeds OF extraordinary hero
ism such as were performed by old
New York, State guardsmen in France
were inspired by love for their old or
sanizations."
Gen. Organ said the adoption of the
European custom OF honoring bravery
virtually on the spot and Immediately
after the commission OF a heroic aci
helped increase the morale Of soldiers
all around, This system, with Its &C.
companylng ceremonies. was great
improvement, the speaker said. over the
old way OF having Congress award a
medal for an act OF valor perfo; med
years before.
'In our division 10 to 90 per cent
of the men were natural leaders. quick
thinkers and able to grasp a situation
In any emergency" said Gen. Organ
ITO that fact is due the efficiency oil
the units The more leaders there are
tho better an army IL. and these leaders
obtained their first training in the old
peace time regiments.
Brig.-Gen- Charles w. Berry. recently
appointed Acknowledgement OF New Yori
state. contributed his measure of praise
to the work done by the guest Of honor
in connection with the seiective draft
He said the success of the draft wa,
due 10 the men gathered around the
tables. and he asked for their coopera
ton with him In his new duties.
A letter was read from Gen. r.. u
Crowder. in which the director OF III.
selective draft declared Gen. Sheriff.,
services to the nation in successfully
handling the problems which arose IL
tho largest subdivision OF the United
states stood out as a bright chapter in q
useful career
Gen. Sheriff. spoke briefly, explain
Ing his withdrawal from the position
he had held since the outbreak OF tn
war by saying that with the crisis Owe
his own affairs would occupy much o
his time. His associates presented {,
him a silken banner bearing the State,
coat OF arms.
Those present included Brig. Gems
Cornelius Vanderbilt, George r. Dyer
James Robb and Il. De Forest Kemp
Cola J. Weston Myers, J. Hollis Wells
Clarence W. Smith. Prentice Strong
Harry r. Treadwell. John ]. Phelan
Arthur F. Schermerhorn. Sylvanus G
Teets. Frederick w. Baldwin, Georg,
W. Burleigh, Howard E. Grail. Loui
J. Praeger, William ]. Schieffelin. Mel
son r. Burr. Howard c. Smith. Waite
]. Carlin and T. V. l.. Hoppin; Lieut..
Coils. Howard Kinssbury, Edward J
Westcott and Reginald II. SAyre Ma
jors Alfred Wendt and Cornelius $. D.
Bevoise, and Meuts Noryin ". Greer
and Arthur lanes