Evening star., 1923-11-21
Body Mustered Out
Is Years Ago With
I, High Tribute.
Leaders Recount
Heroic Record
of Veterans.

took such an important part in the
war with Spain. Maj. Gen. George H
Harries, who commanded the regiment.
was honor guest of the occasion.
Assembly" was sounded shortly
after o'clock and the color bearers
with the same war-torn flag carried
throughout the Cuban campaign
marched to the head of the regiment
where they were saluted by all pres
ent. Standing at parade rest "
prayer was offered by the regimental
chaplain. Rev. George Fiske Dudley,
who accompanied the District VOL
unteers to Cuba. paying tribute for
departed members of the regiment.
Captain F. S. Hodgson, acting as
master of ceremonies, introduced
Past National Chi eff
Daniel V. Chisholm OF the Spanish
war Veterans and now chairman of
the natinoal legislative committee of
that organization, who paid tribute
to his comrades who participated in
that eventful campaign, recalling the
days OF "98 more vividly tonight than
at any other time during that past
twenty-five years. 1t was the only
army. he said, "of any war that was
comprised entirely of volunteers and
it was the first war to unite the
north, east. south and west"
Col. Harries Speaks.
Maj. Gen. Harries, the next speaker,
was received with rousing cheers. He
said he couldn't measure his pride over
that splendid body of men who left
the National Capital and of his sat-
isfaction with the regiment. which,
in his estimation, was far better than
ones Of the Regular Army at that
H. No11
ments which he has heard from time
to time since that war paid by mem
bers OF high command in the Regular
Army He told of how the first or
ders called for a battalion from the
District. and after putting up a fight
at the War Department he finally sue
ceeded in obtaining authority to or
ganize a regiment.
Gen. HarrieS told of the establish
ment of the first camp in Virginia and
of the intention to name il Camp
Harries, but which later was changed
to Camp Alger, and how gratified he
was that the latter name was select
ed. He reminded his men of the
police duty at Tampa, Fla. and the
hard task it was considered. 1t was
here that the District Band Joined the
outfit. being the same band which
moved the Spaniards to surrender
and moved the District regiment to
u
He told how he was invited on three
different occasions by Gen. Merritt to
send the District regiment to the
Philippines. and instead of issuing
orders to that effect. Gen. Merritt left
1T up to Col. Harries. 1t was the
colonel's idea to keep the command
in the 5th Army Corps. and if the
regiment had been sent to the Philip
pines he would have been accused Of
cheating his regiment out of the Gu
continued Col. Harries. wanted to
make an artillery unit out of the Dis
trict regiment, because he liked. the
outfit. and when he couldn't get II, he
didn't take any of the volunteer or
ganfZationS.
Gen. Harries then told of his visit,
after landing to Siboney, where he
went in search of ammunition. 1t
was while overseas during the world
war that he met an officer whom he
recognized. The officer informed him
that the last time he saw Gen. Harries
was on July II. 1898, when he was
riding horse with his flashing saber.
leading the gang" (meaning the 1st
District of Columbia Infantry on Gu
ban soil. and every man singing The
Star Spangled Banner. On the day
of the surrender of the Spanish
troops. Gen. Harries said. il was his
first experience where men cheered at
a surrender by corps order.
AS a regiment you did not have a
superior in the war with Spain. ne
said. You men saw at the various
camps what the other outfits were
made of and the splendid morale oi
the District outfit. There was small,
err loss from disease in the District
regiment at home and abroad than
any regular or volunteer regiment
there being but twenty-five deaths
from disease.
Knew Majority of Men.
In closing he told of the close
touch which he was able to keer
with his regiment, which in the
world war was practically impossible
owing to the large commands. AS
colonel of the regiment he was able
to call the names OF practically 4.
per cent of his men. He spoke oi
the pleasure of the past twenty-five
years of comradeship and before
leaving last night shook hands witt
each member.
Theodore Tiller. past president o.
the National Press Club. spoke, after
which Gen. Lloyd NJ. Brett, who was
a captain in the I'd United states
Cavalry and provost marshal gen
eral in Cuba, greeted his former
comrades.
Gen. Brett, who also served in thu
world war in the Regular Army, tolt
of the arrival of the District mer
at Montauk Point, Long Island, ant
of the wonderful reception accorded
as they marched up Pennsylvania
avenue. He remarked how soon thu
people forget and neglect those wht
fought for their country.
Past National Commander-in-C Chic
John Lewis Smith of the Spanish
American War Veterans, who served
as a private in the war of 1898 AM
as a commissioned officer during th'
world war. said everything that th'
other speakers had said regarding
the Cuban campaign was entirel.
true and, in his opinion, the soldier:
were the best that ever went out o
the District. He urged an annua
reunion of the members of the regi
ment. Company c. of which he wa
a member, had the largest turnou
last night. He concluded by stating
that If it hadn't been for the Crane
Army Of the Republic fnsttllfng pa
have been the we'll filled ranks II
1898 and in the world war.
Civil War Veteran Speaks.
Gen. John Glenn, who entered th'
civil war as a drummer boy, was th'
next speaker, making brief speect
of the valuable lessons taught by nj!
organization following that war. Col
Charles r. Dick, former senator iron
Ohio, who commanded the Sth Ohit
Volunteer Infantry, said that 1t was
great war from the standpoint O.
achievements compared with the civi
war and the world war. 1t was tn
unification of the north and soutf
within a period of a few months
while another great achievement wa!
the accomplishment in the face o.
the unpreparedness which existed a
that time. He had five sons who par
ticipated in the world war.
At this point in the meeting Col {
Fred Cook introduced Maj. Gen. AntoI
Stephan, commanding the Dlstrlct o
CoInrnbIa National Guard at the pres
ent time, who had just come from ;
meeting Of various civic and militar!
organizations in the National Capita
at the National Guard Armory Be
fore Gen. Stephan addressed the vet