The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-05-27
D. c. GUARD
UNITS TO Be
REORGANZED
Two Infantry Companies A.
ready Formed, Ten More Be-
ing Gathered.

Reorganization of units Of the Dis
trict national guard, which return
from France as parts of the regular
military establishment into a new
District guard. will be undertaken at
once to form a .peace-time military
body for the National Capital
Two companies OF infantry, Com
panies A and c. of the Fifth infantry.
have been formed under direction of
Brig. Gen. Richard d. Simms. COM
mander OF the District guard. Ten
more companies are in progress Of
formation. The regiment will con-
tain fifty-six officers and 1851 en-
listed men, peace time strength.
New men taken into the District
guard will receive % per cent OF the
pay for regular army troops. Whether
this means that they will get % per
cent Of $50, the amount paid enlisted
men at the present time, or % per
cent Of the old SIS monthly pay that
soldiers received. is dependent on a
ruling which the War Department is
expected to make shortly.
I8 Divisions for Q. 8.
Tentative War Department plans
for the peacetime National Guard Of
the nation include a return to the
prewar organization, comprising six
teen divisions for the United States,
1t was stated today.
Washington is authorized to pro-
coed with the formation OF a new
Guard, units of which may be made
up, however. OF companies of the old
District Guard which are still in
France.
Twenty-Five States, Hawaii and the
District of Columbia have been given
such authorization by Congress.
Others will be authorized when State
governments apply for permission.
Now Recruiting For Guard.
Recruiting for the new District
guard is proceeding under immediate
supervision of Capt. Edward Grove.
Second Lieut.. Samuel L. Smith is in
command of Company A, the newly
formed unit. and Capt. Harry E. Glad
man is in command of Company z.
These units hold weekly drills in the
armcry, Fifth and l. streets north
west
1t can be authoritatively stated that
it is the intention of General Simms
and other District guard leaders to
reorganize the guard, as far as pos
sible, in the way il existed when Dis
trict troops were mustered into Fed
eral service in 1917.
II plans materialize and recruiting
can be pushed as rapidly as is de-
sired. the new District guard, which
should be complete in a few months
will include the Fifth Infantry Regi-
ment. consisting Of twelve infantry
a headquarters company,
machine gun company and supply
two battries of field artil-
lery, two companies of coast artil-
lery. one field hospital company, a
signal corps company and four troops
OF cavalry.
This was practically the constitu-
ton of the old District National
Guard as it went to the Mexican bor-
der in 1916
Major La Garde Assisting.
Assisting Gen. Simms in the forma-
ton Of the new guard units is Major
Richard D. LaGarde, OF the regular
army. He is adjutant general Of the
District Guard.
These officers have appealed to
District men to enroll in the new or
zanization in order that the District
may push ahead OF the States in the
of its peace-time
guard.
Congress will be asked to make an
appropriation sufficient to carry out
he plans OF the War Department in
respect TO the National Guard.
Under the proposed plan. New York
md Pennsylvania will have complete
divisions. The first year organization
n all the States would include 1867
100 men-2OO for each Senator and
This is in accordance with the
Hays act, as are the proposed so per
cent yearly increases for four sue
,eeding years-sO that the second
year there will be 800 guardsmen per
the third year $50. the
fourth 6T5, and the fifth year 500