Evening star., 1942-02-14
Gen. Reed Sworn In
As Inspector General
OF District 0. {. D.
Retired Army Chief
To Check on 50, 900
Volunteers IN Area

District civilian defense forces
acquired something more In the
nature of . military organization
today when Mai. Gen. Walter L.
Reed, U. S. A., retired, was sworn
in rs inspector general for the Dis
trict Civilian Defense Organization,
It will be his duty, with the as
sistance OF 10 or more aides who are
to be named, to make a constant
check-up on the near $1,000 volun-
teers now enlisted in civilian defense
work in the District and on similar
workers IN nearby Maryland and
Virginia.
The effort will be to find whether
the defense workers are actually on
duty when they are supposed to BE-
whether the right men are in posi-
tions Of leadership, and similar de.
tailx.
Familiar Task. O.
This will be familiar responsible
ity for Gen. Reed. for he served as
Inspector General Of the United
States Army from 1895 through
1889, until shortly before he re-
tired voluntarily April 20, 1910. after
40 years service.
His appointment was made by
Commissioner Young, United States
Civilian Defense Co-ordinator for
the Metropolitan Area. and was
planned as long as two months ago.
Mr.. Young said, adding:
I'VE now have $4,000 volunteers
in service, and the organization was
built up rather hurriedly. Our ex-
perience is that this is = fine body
of men and women, but IN any army
Of this size II is possible there are
some who are not living up to their
responsibilities, that some may be in
the wrong positions. or some who
have not had proper training. Just
as the Army has m inspector gen.
eral to make such check-ups, I felt
that We should have such a service,
and we are most fortunate to be able
to obtain q man Of the broad ex-
perience of Gen. Reed"
Began - Warden.
Gen. Reed, who resides at 36l0
Thirty sixth place NV, has been
serving in the ranks Of the District
civilian defense organization. start
ing as q block warden In his resi-
Dental area, later being promoted
to . member of the areas Civilian
Defense Committee.
Gen. Reed said he would use his
own automobile in carrying out his
duties so long as my tires last"
Gen. Reed. who is "a. Is the son
of the famous Army medical ofncer
who was sent to Cuba In 1895 to
study tropical diseases and dis
covered the mosquito was tranSmit-
ting yellow fever. His inspection
duties will apply to all phases Of the
District civilian defense organizs-
ton. He vii act as the personal
agent of Co-ordinator Young and
also will serve as an adviser to Col
Lemuel Bolles, civilian defense di-
rector for this area.
The headquarters stan of the DIS
trict o. c. D. previously was
strengthened With the appointment
of Judge Samuel Whitaker of the
United States Court of Claims as
Judge advocate general, to pass upon
any charges that might be made
against District o. G. d. volunteers.
Mr.. Young said today he was con-
sidering the selection Of some one q
quartermaster general for District
o. C. D. forces With the idea Of
further perfecting the army Of VOL
unteer workers.
Gen. Reed, = native Of Arizona,
who has lived here for many years,
joined the Army in 1Soo -, . private
and advanced through the ranks
until he became . major general.
He was awarded the Distinguished
Service Medal for work In eonnec-
ton with the organization and ad-
ministration OF the inspector gen
erals operations at Brest, France,
during the World War.