Evening star., 1923-10-17
MAI. CEN. STEPHAN
TAKES NEW DUTIES
Presented With Higher Rank
as Head of D. c., Maryland
and Virginia Guard.

Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan. command
ing the District of Columbia militia.
was formall' presented with his COM
mission in that rank last night and
Immediately assumed command of the
23th National Guard Division. COM
prisinR troops of the District of CO.
lumbia. Maryland and Virginia
force fully equipped and numbering
$4,000. which is constantly being in
creased. The presentation was made
In the presence of the District troops
and members of Gen. stephens staff
In accepting the commission. Gen.
Stephan has the distinction of estab-
fishing two points is local as well as
general National Guard history. He
is the first officer of the National
Guard of the District Of Columbia to
become a major general on the active
list. and is the first National Guard
officer. in time of peace. to command
troops outside of his own area. This
vision to be formed under the new
Army reorganization plan.
The loCai troops were lined up in
brigade review formation on the
drill floor at Convention Hall, when
Gen. Stephan, wearing the one silver
star Of briGadier general on each
shoulder walked on the floor. fol-
lowed by his staff. Immediately after
taking position in the center OF the
line. the command was presented to
L. s. A. attached to the adjutHnt
generals department of the War De-
partment stepped to the center
ENLISTED ns Private.
Nearly thirty-seven years ago.
Mai C"cpe said. Il boy enlisted in
this org nization as private. He
gave unstintingIy of his time ana
for military service, ana worked his
way through the various officer
grades by Virtue of his ability. He
has fUrthercd national defense in
displayed signal abilities. initiative
and energy, This ability was recog-
nized by his supcriors when he was
commissioned brigadier general to
command the local troops. Thi.
service in the guard and in the world
war has been recognized by the War
Department. and Maj. Coope said
that il was with great deal of
pleasure on his part snd on the part
of his manv friends that he present
ed him with h.s commission as d
"maior general of the line"
Gan. Stephan said he accepted the
homer with full realization Of tn"
duties and res"onsib. 1 ties it involved,
and would carry out all OF the re
sEon@ihiIities with the cooperation
of the officers of his staff from the
other states.
Cites Moves Importance.
He spoke of the Importance of es-
tahliSAing the first National Guard
division in this section. pointing out
that the organizations of other states
matter Of policies and the deciding
Of many important questions. II
pointed out that state governors
were supreme over state fOrces.' but
that the National Guard of the Dis,
trict Of Column bic already was fed
eraI force, directl" under the Presf-
dent The rreroEatiVeS of the gov
erpors would be jealOuslY guarded.
and rightly SO. he said. until such
tirne. 2 : the forces become federaliZed.
It viii he the important function to
SO run the new command that there
will he no friction. and to the end
that an efficient divisional organiZa-
tion can be maintained at all times
ready to go into service on quick
Gen. stephan said no policies are to
he laid down now, as questions VIII
he decided on their merits as they
pie,tged himself to his own troops.
''the st tes Of Maryland and Virginia,
to make this the best National Guar d
division in the United States.
Immediately foitoWing zen. Stepndn >
address, the brigade was paraded in
review after which Mrs. II. III. Ly-
brand. niece of the officer. stepped
up and pinned on each of his shoulders
another silver star. giving him the two
stars of a major general.
Following a short band concert, Gen.
Stephan was the host at a dinner at
the City Club to members of his new
staff including Col. c.. A. Cutchins.
Richmond. Va, chief of staff of the
Goth Division; Maj. c. Fred Cook, adj
iutant general Of the. National Guard
of the District OF Columbi4; Maj. Hor-
ace Dulin, Mai. James r. Lusby, Capt.
i. H Grove. Capt. r. g.. hewitt, Capt.
H. Leizear, Maj. George J. Allen. Capt.
3. r. Bolton. Gen. Lloyd NJ. Brett Maj.
Maj. J H. Hpdgson, Maj. Alez sum
mers. Capt. II. H. Pohl. Capt. S. r.
Cousins. Capt. D. A. White and Lieut..
Col. Thomas S. King.