Evening star., 1936-01-05

l. ttonal Guard OF the Dlstrlct OF
Columbia has been without
Il commanding general to direct
its affairs. It was in April, 1884, that
Mai. Gen. Anton Stephan died, ending
a lcug military service with the local
Militia and with the Army in France,
and leaving the Militia without gen.
eral officer.
AS far as those familiar with the
history of the local Guard can re-
member, this is the longest period
since the organic act was put into
effect IN 1889 that the local citizen
soldiers have been without a general
officer to handle its affairs, diverse
rs they are because of the several
different arms of the service repre-
sented in the citizen soldier forces
here.
Even during the World War after
the main body Of troops were sent to
the frcut, and the then commanding
general was called into the Federal
service, the President named a COM
manding general to direct the affairs
of a home guard then formed. This
officer was Brig. Gen. Richard D.
Simms, who had been a colonel n the
National Guard here but had retired
at his own request in 1910. Never
theless, President Wilson realized the
Importance Of having general officer
here for the home forces and promptly
selected Gen. Simms because OF MS
military training.
When the forces were returned here
after the arnistice, Gen. Simms re-
manned in command, and held the
highest military Office here until his
death in 1920. Within a couple OF
months after his death, the position
was filled by the appointment OF Gen.
Stephan who remained in active
charge until he went On sick leave in
September, 1888. However, he still
retained his position as commanding
general, and a vacancy was not Gre
ated' until his death h April, 1884.
Under the organic act of 1889. un-
der which the local Guard operates,
the President of the United States is
the ommander-in-chief of the local
Guard and the duty of making an
appointment to fill the vacancy left
by the death of Gen. Stephan falls
directly upon him. The law, as read
by those familiar with it, is manda-
tory as it says that the President
''shall' name a commanding general
for the National Guard of the District
of Columbia.
The necessity of making an appoint
ment to fill this vacancy OF long
standing is held by those familiar With
Guard affairs to be most important at
this time. The estimates for the sup
port of the local Militia for the fiscal
year beginning next July are N the
hands of Congress. They are part
of the District of Columbia estimates,
and as soon as they are reached by
the committees in Congress, 1t was
pointed out, it would be better II they
were justified by an officer of the rank
of general.
Furthermore, it is likely that Con-
eress will be asked to consider more
than the maintenance estimates for
the opei alton of the Guard during the
next fiscal year. There is the matter
of an Armory to house the local
Militia. 1t is probable that efforts
will be made to have Congress author
lie an Armory here at the short ses-
sion, and provide sufficient funds to
begin the plans and construction.
This matter becomes Of greater i'm
portance with the recent announce
ment that the District authorities
proposed to seek permission to sell the
squares bordering on Pennsylvania
avenue which we're acquired as part
of the site for the proposed Municipal
Center, but have been declared not
to be needed now. On one OF these
squares is the old National Hotel
which has been allocated to the Dis
trict Guard as an Armory, and which
houses its largest force.
Should Congress approve the pro-
posal and the sale Of the property
effected, then it is likely that the
militia authorities would have to find
another place in which to maintain
troops.
The planning for these projects
alone requires considerable time on
the part Of the directing head OF the
Guard, and would be one of the func-
tions of the commanding general, who
would have clear perspective of the
needs of the troops here. Under the
system now in vogue the Guard affairs
are being directed by the colonel COM
manding the engineer regiment, which
also is the 29th Division Engineer
force. This is held to be big job in
itself, as the officer has dual function
of commanding the whole Guard which
includes coast Artillery, two Infantry
units and division headquarters troops,
and supervising the training Of his
own troops in the armory and at the
same time making preparation, in con-
nection with divisional plans, for the
annual field encampment.
It was asserted that the appointment |
of a commanding general here would
leave all of the units to function in
their particular strategical spheres
according to the Army tables of Or.
ganiZation. With the aid of we'll
organized staff the general in COM
nand of troops here, it was said, would
be free to observe the needs OF the
entire force and formulate plans to
obtain them.
While the military phase is impor- !
tant and paramount in the appoint
ment Of general to command the |
local citizen soldiers, nevertheless |
there Is another angle which must be |
considered. The local National Guard |
has been held to be a Federal force:
In fact 1t Is the only Federal force
In the country, the others being par
ticularly State units. It is the mill |
tary force Of the National Capital and |
st was pointed out it should have a |
general oficer to direct its affairs and |
10 give It prestige in military matters
here, particularly at time when civic |
parades and other formal ceremonies |
are being planned.
The matter Of making the selection |
of q general here, IL was pointed out |