Evening star., 1924-09-28
THE CIVILIAN ARMY
BY LIEUT.. STEPHEN F. TILLMAN.
Organized Reserves-National Guard.

Much credit is due Maj. John d.
Cutter, quartermaster, Officers Reserve
Corps, for the success Of the reserve
quartermaster officers of Washington
in their organization. Maj. Cutter
is serving as president of the quar-
termaster section of the Reserve Of
ficers' Association of the District OF
Columbia AT the recent meeting of
the association he was elected vice
president of that body.
Although he is practically a new
conner in the ranks of local reserve
officers, Maj. Cutter has quickly dem
onstrated his ability to lead men and
has proved that he is an admins
trative officer of the first water. In
private life he is assistant to the di
rector of the United States Veterans
Bureau, Brig. Gen. Frank T. Hines,
Officers Reserve Corps. 1t is ex-
pected that Gen. Hines will become
member of the local Reserve Oficers
Association in the near future.
The following Infantry reserve officers
have been attached to the 317th Infantry
for training and instruction purposes
only: Capt Ernest G.. Kyle and Sec
ond Lieuts. Henry G.. oliver, John o.
Strickler and Anthony P. Wagner.
Maj. Arthur T Brice, Infantry Re
serve, has been attached to the Head
quarters, lS0th Infantry Brigade, for
training and instruction only. The
following second lieutenants have
been attached to the Headquarters
Company of the 160th Infantry Bri-
gade for instruction and training
only: William w. Chase, Gilbert G.
Hooper, Michael d. Leister and NAL
colin Sterling.
Charles w. Swan, former director
of the publicity bureau for the United
States Veterans Bureau, has received
his commission in the Officers Re-
serve Corps as a first lieutenant, staff
specialist.
Interest is taken in the current re-
port which, forecasted. indicates an
unprecedented monthly increase in
the strength of the National Guard.
The corrected report received by the
chief of the militia bureau to June
80 shows a total Of 1882. The
photographic reports covering the
month of July reveal strength of
approximately 1S5, 500 The increase
is destined to be checked during the
present month in view of the fnstruc-
tions which have been sent out, by
| order of the Secretary of War, not
to have augmentation which shall
create a deficit in the appropriations.
1t is desired by the War Department
| to keep National Guard strength with
in the aggregate contemplated by
the appropriations made at the late
session of Congress for the current
fiscal year.
Already this has been exceeded and
the Militia Bureau officials are con-
fronted with the possibility of the
withdrawal of Federal recognition
from some of the organizations. 1t
l., l..
the normal reduction in strength
which invariably occurs during the
last three months of the year
This year there has been a break
ing of all records in the attendance
of National Guard organizations and
personnel at the summer camps.
Heretofore, the average of attend
| ance has been about 81 per cent of
the actual enrolled strength. This
year it will reach more than 90 per
cent. judging from the units visited.
The writer has just returned from
| visit to various reserve officers of
the states of Virginia, Maryland and
Pennsylvania. The following facts
were CLEANED from the trip. which
| lasted for 10 days: 1t is the unani-
training camp of Camp Meade was
successful in every respect
Cavalry reserve officers will be in
terested to know that a recent change
in the Army uniform regulations pro-
vides for modification Of the saber
knot for that branch of the service
The buttons hitherto used will be
eliminated and stitching will be used
in conjunction with the loop. The
| modified knot will be issued to the
service after the present supply Of
that article has been exhausted.
Official approval has been given by
the Secretary of War to certain
changes in insignia of various
branches of the Army. This change
| concerns reserve officers, National
| Guard and regulars That Of the
collar ornament includes the Chemi-
cal Warfare Service; Judge Advocate
Generals Department; Adjutant Gen.
erals Department
For the Chemical Warfare Service
there is adopted design, which in
corporates benzol ring, three
| fourths of an inch in height, of cobalt
blue enamel. superimposed in a center
of crossed retorts.
The design for the judge advocate
generals department is a balance up