Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-26
BILL. TO PROMOTE
BRETT APPROVED
House Committee Indorses
I Measure to Make Him
! Brigadier General.

Iegislation providing for the pro
motion Of Col Lloyd NJ. Brett, adJu
tant general of the District Nationa
Guard. to the rank of brisadier gen
eral reached it's Anal stage when tn
House today. on motion of chairma
James Of the military affairs commit
tee, approved the conference report or
che Porter bill.
Five other veteran officers are eli
gible for promotion under this act
Theee are Col. William J. Nicholson
Col. ". C. Brown. Col. William ID
Beach. Col. r. n. Dugan and Col. w
D. Wilder.
This measure has been before ths
last three Congresses and the CON
ference report approved THURSDAY
by the Senate and today by the
House reverts To the original Porter
hill. During the rendency Of this
LEGISLATION attempts were made both
in the House military affairs ccm
riittee and In the Senate militar.
affairs committee TO load II down
with other promotions
- Provisions Of Bill.
The hill provides: THAT the Presi
dent Of the United States, in his
discretion, be. and he is herebS
authorized TO appoint, by ana WIN
the advice and consent Of the Sen :
ate, to the next highest grade any.
ofilcer not above the grade OF colonei
now on the retired list of the Army
who has served with exceptional
efhciency as commissioned ofiicer
en the active list for over 40 years
participating in actual field service
against hostile Indians and In the
Spanish American War, and who has
heen awarded either medal OF
honor or distinguis service
medal and who has served In France
I'm the World War. and, before re-
tirement was repeatedly recommend !.
ed for promotion TO the grade OF
brigadier general.
), Col. Brett had previously served
Hye.year term az sdjutsHt Of the Dis
triet National Guard. He served as
O brigadier general throughout the
World War comma nding the l60th
Brigade OF the s0th Division. He also
served during more than 20 years Of
military career against the Indians
and I'm the SPA nish-American War
and was decorated for bravery. He
was promoted to the coioneicy in Au'
gust, 1914. and was retired Febru
sry a.. 1920, hut was called hack into
active duty. He is now in his seventy
second year.
Supported by officials.
The bill carried the hearty support
Of ali the high officials OF the War
Department. AT a hearing five years
ago the then Secretary of War, John
". Weeks, stated both Col Bret
and Col. Nicholson have very credit
able records as brigade commanders
Of combat troops In action
In testifying at hearings Gen
go - ~
Brett. Z. 8. A. retired have been of
very high order His efficiency
throughout has Away been above
the average. During the World War
he served with great ability, and be-
fore his retirement i recommends
that he be promoted to the grade OF
hrfgadier general. but the law made
this impossible l hope to see him
receive this we'll merited advance"
During 1914 years of service in
which he participated In many India n
campaigns and skirmishes. Cox Brett
received the Congressional Medal of
Honor and specific commentator
from the department commander.
Gen. Nelson A. Miles.
He participated In the Santiago
campaign and was made provost
rnarHhal general of that Army and
had the distinction of being selected
by the comma nder-in chief to com.
fnand the 100 picked men of the Amer.
lean Army To receive the surrender
of Gen. Torsl and his army and later
the city of Santiago de Cuba.
Recommended for GalIantry.
He was recommended for the brevet
OF major for gallantry in action in
that campaign. He then went into the
Philippine instruction and partici
pated in skirmishes. 1t was following
this that he served for five years with
the District National Guard.
He was also for six years superin-
ten6ent of the Yellowstone National
Park.
During the hearings testimony re-
gardins Col. Brett's efficiency was
put into the record from Gen. Hunter
Iiggett. commanding the 1st Army;
Gen. William NJ. Wright, comma nding
the LIST Corps, and Gen. S. r. Sturgis
comma ndins the s0th Division, and
from Mai Gen. Cronkhite, who had
previously comma nded the Sth Divi-
sion.
Won Congressional Medal.
Col. Brett was awarded the congress
eional medal of honor, the citation
reading, for most distinguished gal
Isntry in action against hostile Sioux
Indians near O'Fallons Creek. Mon,
April J., 1850. by fearless exposure
and dashing bravery. cutting OF the
Indian pony herd and greatly gripping
the hostiles while second lieutena mt
Of the ID Cavalry
Among the foreign decorations he
received are: Officer Of the Legion of
Honor: CroiX de Guerre with Palm.
from France, with citation which
recites that he made of his brigade a
choice unit through which he broke
the stubborn resistance of the enemy
in October and November, 1918"
Col. Nicholson served from 1875;
Col. Brett graduated in 1879. and Col
DuRan in 1881. All of the men covered
by the legislation passed toda " have
had unusually distinguished records.