Evening star., 1935-12-29
.OR the first time in its postwar
- history the National Guard OF
the District of Columbia Is to

A. have two regiments OF troops.
With fulfillment of the program now
tentatively outlined, it was pointed out
BY those familiar with militia condi-
tfons here, there will be urgent need
for a commanding general to direct
the military affairs of the District, and
the organized troops which include now
one regiment of Engineers, one In
fantry company classed as military
police, a State detachment, another
company of Infantry, colored troops,
as well as the 29th National Guard
Division headquarters.
Since the death of Maj. Gen. Anton
Stephan last year, the local militia
has been without commanding gen.
eral, although the organic act OF the
National Guard makes it mandatory
on the President to make an appoint
ment. The local militia is the only
Federal militia in the country, and
vet, it was asserted, with such a dis
tinction it has been allowed to go along
for many months awaiting an ap-
pointment of a directing head.
Aside from the need of commanding
general to actively direct the activities
of the troop organizations, it was as
serted that as matter of civic pride
the National Capital should have a
general officer for its militia. Many
civic celebrations here, particularly
those which call for parades and
other military participation, would be
given considerable prestige by having
IN
angle and to participate in plans for
their preparation, including the duties
of grand marshal.
It was pointed out that the lack OF
interest up to this time in the present
state Of affairs in the militia here, Is
undoubtedly due to the fact that many
of them do not realize that the War
Department had not taken any action
In the direction of an appointment.
While the President of the United
States commissions all officers in the
local Guard as he does those IN
the Regular Army, whereas in the
States they are appointed by the
respective Governors, the Chief Execu-
tive's duty is largely administrative.
The recommendation for the appoint
ment is made by the chief OF statt
of the United States Army, and his Sc
lection is usually made from several
who might be recommended by the
chief of the National Guard Bureau
of the War Department who examines
the records of any who might be can
didates for the appointment.
- n
the military affairs of the District
have been carried on by the next in
seniority, who, in this case is Col.
John w. Oehmann, who is the COM
manding officer of the only regiment
now here, the 121st Engineers. In
addition to carrying out the regi-
mental duties, Col. Oehmann is the
18th Division engineer officer, which
involves considerable work for the
division.
q. However, under the plans of the
War Department the 260th Coast Ar
tillery here is to be increased to regi-
mental status shortly after the first
of the year. The District of Colum-
bia Guard is to get an allotment Of
troops from the increase in National
Guard which was provided for by the
last Congress, and most of those, it
was said, will be assigned to the Coast
Artillery unit.
Steps looking toward the realization
of these plans already have been taken
by the War Department, which has
authorized the formation here of
regimental headquarters, and Mai.
Walter w. Burns, now heading the
artillery battalion, is soon to be
ordered up for promotion to lieu
tenant colonel. Shortly after this
administrative action is completed it
is expected that plans for the forma-
ton of the new Coast Artillery regi-
pent will be completed and Burns will
be ordered up for promotion to take
command.
When this time arrives there will
be two full regiments of troops here,
with the colonel Of one directing the
affairs of both, as well as other militia
activities in the District. For the
best military functioning, it was as
serted by those in close touch with
military affairs, there should then be
q commanding general who would
have general supervision over all of
the militia affairs here.
In reality, the Guard here has more
military units now than it did before
the war. There never has been here
a military brigade which calls for
brigadier general, but it has been held
heretofore that the military here con-
sisted of sufficient troops to form a
special brigade and for that reason
there was always general here. And,
It was pointed out, the same condition
will prevail when the two regiments
are completed here. They are two
different units. one Engineers and one
Coast Artillery, while a brigade con-
Eists of regiments of the same arm of
the service. However, In actual num-
bers there are more than a brigade
In this city. While the Engineers are
a part of the 29th National Guard
Division, which consists of certain
militia units of this city and the
States of Maryland and Virginia, the
Coast Artillery does not come within
the divisional organization plan.
Under these conditions, the work
Of the engineer commander is sepa-
rate and distinct from the Coast Ar
tillery, and when he is away in the
field for any operations concerning
his regiment the direction of the af-
fairs of the Guard would fall under
the next senior officer, who would be
colonel of the Coast Artillery regi-
inent when that unit is formed. How
ever, with commanding general here,
that official would always be in charge
of militia affairs, no matter what op-
erations the two regiments were per-
forming.
The law provides for the appoint
ment of a brigadier general here
Maj. Gen. Stephan obtained his rank
by virtue Of the fact that he was
the commanding general of the 2eth
National Guard Division. Immedi-
AtelV llDon his death the War De-