Evening star., 1922-07-13
National Guard of the District
Moving Steadily to the Front

correct. The morale was shattered
and the brigade was wrecked.
+%AA .ti
About that time .ths aare-ups witt,
Mexico occurred and troops were
rushed to the border. The incentive
of possible war made II possible to
recruit to 1he necessary strength the
Sd District of Columbia. Infantry. the
successor Of the 1st Infantry. N. 9,
D. c.. and the I'd Infantry. N. G,
D. C. That was about all thRt re-
mained of the former hourishtng
brigade.
Returning from the bordc- afte.
an extended term Of service. most OF
the onicers of the Sd District OF
Columbia Infantry had rendered their
resignations when the entry Of the
United States In the world war De
came Imminent. The tenders s,en OF
the regiment was mustered into the
federal service: In accordance with
what was claimed to be a precon-
ceived policy. National Guard or
ganizations were so assigned as 70
For instance. one battalion Of the 30
mixed within a regiment with bat
TALON from Montana, and another
battalion from an equally dis1a "a: y. !.
section of the United States. Inas
designation in tie National Army,
and the Sd District of Columbia In,
fantry's own mother could not. acc
did not. recognize her offspring. OF
possess knowledge Of its where
abouts. in whole or in part. ~.
NnlatA Tine M
tional Guard of the District OF Co.
lumbia was no more.
-
November IL, 1918. arrived and the
world war had ended. During the
time that intervened the District OF
Columbia Militia functioned, due TO
the zeal and untiring energy Of Brig
Gen. R. d. Simms. of long service IN
the guard. and Lieut.. Col. r: D. La
Garde. a retired ofhcer Of the Cnise1
States Army. as his adjutant genera.
Gen. Sfmms took command when Gen
w. E. Harvey, successor of Gen. Har-
ries entered the National Army.
There is q distinction between
"militia" and National Guard" The
militia includes all male citizens 81
the District between the ages OF
National Guard IL the organized
militia. The commanding general OF
the local forces IL in command OF the
militia--unorganized Is well a. Or
ganixed.
Gen. simms. following the close OF
the war. made a commendable enort
to reorganize the guard. in the race
of q most discouraging situation. The
young men, especially those who had
been to France, were surfeited with
things military. Gen. Simms died q
year or more ago. and Brig. Gen.
He enjoys the distinction of longer
continuous service than any other In
dividual connected with the organt-
sation. being scheduled to receive
thirty-hve-year bar next week for
his gold service medal.
80 4
Under the command Of Gen. Stephan
and the ever-watchful eye OF Col. La
Garde, washlngton's new citizen
army is steadily-and rapidly-pro-
crossing onward and upward. Even
though things are materially different
from the old days." it is going to
again be 4 force to be reckoned with
and 4 model. 1t is part OF the
srd Corps Area Of the Army Of the
United States, an important cog in
a big military machine. Consisting
now Of engineer troops. there is hope
that the District National Guard may
ultimately return to its logical or
ganization Of before-the-war in
fantry.
Opportunity is afforded. this week
and next week. for Washingtonians to
see for themselves just what strides
forward have been made, though
quietly and unostentatiously. in the
last year. Camp Simms is only a
short walk along Alabama avenue
from the Congress Heights street
railway line. There Is dress parade
every evening. followed by . concert
by the National Guard Band. of
forty-eight pieces, at 1880 o'clock.
The motto Of Washington's new
citizen army" could very properly
he. '.yy tch rs grow"