The Washington times., 1919-02-15

CAMP MERRITT, N J., Feb. 15.-
The Washington men in the first in
tantry unit Of the old District Ma
tional Guard to return to the United
| States Of America from France are
camped here today, preparing for
transfer to Camp Dix, N. J., where
they probably will be demobiIized and
| given discharges.
These Washington men now ARE
known as the 1880 infantry, Forty
| hrst division, which debarked from
the Leviathan at Hoboken..N. J., late
Tuesday night, from Brest, France.
Ihe l63d infantry was formed from
companies l. K, L and NJ, Third in
fantry' Of the former District national
guards. .-. -
The stories being told in Camp Brer-
ritt today reveal, for the frst time,
the adventures OF the Washington
men In the 163d infantry in France.
Sergt. Alvin ]. Fraile, of 1924 Fiji
teenth street northwest, and Corp.
Edmund Hemphill, of 19O9NN street
northwest, were foremost among
| these story telIers.
Landed In Liverpool
"The accomplishments of the Dis
trict national guardsmen in France
hardly can be described" said FraiIe-
g.,
for Brest, and landed at Liverpool.
England, on Christmas Eve. A short
time later We arrived at Havre,
France, and on January 25 reached
Locortne, where the old Third infan-
try of the District guards was broken
up. The Washington men were sent
to the front at once, only noncommis-
stoned officers being held back. Be
cause or their training and expert
ence these noncoms were given the
task of instructing the thousands of
men who were arriving in France
daily. l was among the thirty-one
Washington men who for twelve
months instructed men in the use of
hand grenades and other war imple-
ments.
About February l we were sent to
the instruction schools at Mont Rich
ard and st. Afghan. We were told
that our work was to instruct recruits
in the use of the gas masks, handling
Of large guns, throwing hand gren-
AIDES, and the using of any warfare
implements.
Taught 10000 WeekIv
"Wheu our work was started we
handled about 500 men a week. Grad
ually the number became larger, and
by June, 1918, around the time of the
battle of ChateaU-Thierry, the District
men together with several hundred
men from Montana, taught over 10000
soldiers a week how to fight when
they were sent to the front"
Fraile says the impression the pco-
pie of Washington held. that these
men were safe behind the lines was
wrong. after we trained them, we
personally had to accompany them TO
the front line trenches" FraiIe said.
"and during these trips to the front
numbers of men were 'knOcekd Off or
wounded"
Corporal HemphHl added to the story
Of what became OF the old Third in
fantry, District national guard. Hemp
hill is a member OF the headquarters
company. 1G3d infantry regiment, 10
which at least 200 men are attached.
He says:
Twelve months ago yesterday more
than 1000 men from Washington, ID. Z
C. went into the trenches. Hardened
by their vigorous training while sta
toned on the border during the Mex
lean war. these men were sent face
to face with the enemy within forty
days Of their landing overseas.
Sauers First to Die.
"The first days casualty was Ferdi- |
nand Sauers, who was killed. Sauers
knew that he was going into a place ,
from which he probably would not
come out alive, and yet he never
finched from the task cOnfrontinS
him. He was the first District Ma
tiOnal Guardsman to be killed in this /
war, and we are proud of him.
when Sauars was knocked off there /.
was much sorrow among all OF the
District soldiers. SaUerS was from
Langdon, y. c., and just before he F.
entered the trenches he remarked to-
one OF the men, God knows I am go
ing TO do my part. If ] don't get