The Washington herald., 1919-01-31

Inc nrst Distrlct National Suefu
unit to return from the front In time
to participate in the parade planned
in honor Of the Districts soldiers and
sailors on the occasion of President
Wilson's home coming will be the first
battery of the Sixtieth Coast Artillery.
of 200 District gunners, former MEM
bers OF First Company, c. A. c., ID. 9.
N. O.. who trained at Fort Washing.
ton. few miles below the National
Capital on the Potomac River
These District men of the big gun
corps, who participated in the great
work Of blasting the Germans out OF
France made wonderful record m
the hard fighting around Metz. on
some occasions securing a 80 per cent
score OF hits at long ranges. This
battery captured one of the national
trophies for marksmanship with big
guns before being sent overseas.
Reach New York, February 4.
The District gunners have already
sailed from Brest on the transport
Cedric and are due to arrive in New
York. February 4. They will be or
dered to Fort Washington upon their
arrival at New York and will reach
the National Capital in plenty of
time to participate in the welcome
home celebration for returning SOL
diers and sailors.
When the First Company left for
France 1t was commanded by Capt.
/ Oliver c. Terry. The Second COM
pany, d. c. c. A. c., also in France.
was sent across under command OF
Capt. Howard d. Hodgkins
The Second Company is expected to
return to America within the next
"a
brigade OF Coast Artillery which has
been designated for early convoy
home. This brigade includes about
1000 heavy artillerymen.
The oldest service man who has
registered at Room "a, District Build
ing. for the big welcome home pa
rade. according to Capt Edward II.
Grove. assistant adjutant general of
the District National Guard, is a vet
eran G. A. r. man who is just a
shade this side of 90.
Il have never missed a parade, a"
he said to Capt. Grove. ''and I'm not
going to miss this one. l am just
as much OF a veteran as any Of these
young fellows who are coming back.
so put me down on your list. IN
march with the best of them"
Capt Grove, who Is registering all
service men, stated yesterday that
so far very few overseas" men have
signed up, owing TO the fact that
no units have as yet returned, al
though the l62nd, Is3rd and 164th regi-
ments of the Forty-first Division.
which include about 1000 members of
the old Third D. c. Infantry of the
National Guard. have been designated
for early convoy.
Battalion at CobIepg.
From letters he has received from
returned District soldiers. Capt.
Grove states that he believes that
| one battalion of the old Third Reg
iment is at Coblenz with the Thirty
second Division, while another is on
military police duty at Liverpool.
England. Nobody appears to know
where the third battalion is
One of the letters received by
Capt. Grove was from Sergt. Ber-
nard A. Roth. formerly of Company
NJ. Third d. c. Regiment. who was
"gassed" while fighting with his
company in the Argonne drive. He
has been invalided home and is now
at Camp Lee.
A number of other units from the
District. which have retained their
though their companies and batta-
| lions have changed their numbers
| participated in the lighting in
France.
Among these is the old Second
| Company of the Coast Artillery OF
! the d. c. National Guard, which
trained at Fort Washington and
was converted into a heavy battery
and sent across shortly after the
First Company had sailed for
France.
Then there is the old District
Field Hospital Company. which
\ went over with the Rainbow Divi-
sion and has seen IL months serv-
! ice in France. This division is
scheduled to parade in Washington
when il returns.
Another unit is the 10th Field
Artillery, of the Twenty-ninth DivI-
| sion. composed of former members
/ of Troops A. B. c and D of the Dis
trict National Guard Cavalry. The
District cavalrymen were converted
into three batteries of field artillery.
| The first battalion of the 10th. COM
posed of 700 District soldiers under
the command of Maj. Leroy Heron.
is at Bourbonne-les-Ba Bains. which it
reached just before the signing of the
| armistice.
| Men Registered.
Following is a list of service men
who registered at Room "a. District
Building, yesterday for the big pa
rade:
Gurden C. Ashton. jr.. 196 B street