The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-02-27
MOTOR TRUCK UNITS OF
ENGINEERS ARE FEATURE
OF THE THIRD DIVISION

ddd- llilIiG GiNlSaS"
The motor truck units OF the First
battalion, 22Oth regiment of engi-
neers, Washington barracks. is prob
ably the star attraction of the Third
division, and is receiving an ovation
all along the line of march.
They are close rivals in interest
with the ordnance detachment of en-
gineers, Of the Government proving
grounds at Aberdeen, Md, who are
also in the division.
Marshal Thomas ]. Fisher. OF the
District Surveyors office. and his
aide, Major William Sheets. arc head
ing the division Of engineers. infantry
and cavalry.
All along the route of parade the
thrOngs are getting a first-hand view
Of the motor equipment used by
American engineers in France. They
are getting n closeup view of the
equipment with its fighting clothes on.
Three bands are providing music
for the Third division.
Captain Berdeau Heads Engineers.
The battalion of engineers is in
command of Capt. R. W. Berdeau. The
division is being led by the battaI-
IONS band of sixty pieces. with Lieut..
Frank Weber bandmaster.
Captain Berdeau and his staff
Capts. G. L. Howard, +. r. Elan and
c. L. Waite. and L!euts. Peter Heth
ertOn and J. 4. Hart-are mounted.
riding ahead Of the division with
Marshal Fisher and Major Sheets.
In the division is a complete tool
shop, u portable machine sho0,
mounted on a fve-ton Mack truck.
The latter includes q lathe, drill
press, dynamo, power being obtained
from the truck. There is also a car
penter shop. with an immense circU.
lar saw. mounted on a truck
\ blacksmith shop. also mounted
on a truck, presenting forge, anvil.
etc, and a material shop. of bolts.
nuts, nails, etc, are attracting atten-
tion.
Sound DetectOr shown.
But among the biggest attractions
of the engineers are big ffve-tOn
truck, mounting a 36-inch search
light. with % k. W. power, and
three-ton Riker truck, mounting
paraboloid. The latter is a sound de-
tector, an engineering device used in
war to locate discharges of cannon.
Another unit of the engineers is
the pOntoon division, with it's col
lapsible bridges. boats. etc. used in
fighting the Germans.
Following the truck units come 200
members Of battalion in regulation
attire
II, &c
gel fifty District troops from Camp
Humphreys, some Of whom have seen
overseas duty, are marching. The
men represent the cloth, Sixty-sixth.
and Second regiments of engineers: a
headquarters detachment, a motor
truck company, 4 barrage company. a
development company, and a provost
guard. With them are Lieutenants
Pierce Momb, and Hart
Then come four companies OF we'll
trained men of the SiXty-third infan-
try. Potomac Park. in command Of
Major II. II. Walker.
These soldiers were detailed to the
District for provost duty during the
war, and they have done it well.
Fort Myer Cavalry.
Next comes the Eleventh Cava "
from Fort Myer. led by it's mounted
band 1t is seldom that a mounted
band is seen in the citys streets, anI
the cavalry pride themselves on hav-.
ing some band" Lieut. David '.
Sylvan is bandmaster and the musi-
clan cavalrymen are receiving big
recognition IS they ride by on their
prancing horses. In the detachment
are Troops D, c, and f, and machine
gun troop, in command of Major Hen
~ L. Flynn and his staff-LieUt. How
ell a. Hathaway. Sergt. Maj John y.
Furlong, and Robert +. Breen.
The caterpillar" tractor, that prod
uct Of American ingenuity used by TIE
allied armies TO haul their great guns
to crush the Germans. is the big fea-
ture Of the units Of the ordnance de-
tachment Of engineers from the Gov
proving grounds. There are
units OF tanks, tractors with howitE-
ers mounted on them. and one tractor
trailing an eight-inch howitzer and
caissOn. There is a complete heavy
field repair unit, d fIye-tOn cargo
carrier and trailer and other equip
ment used in modern warfare.
1t was a big day for the detachment
OF fifty men. all mounted on the trac-
tors and other equipment. They re-
ceived an ovation all along the lire
Of march. The boys brought along
their band. which played continuous
ly. Lieut.. Col. c. J. Browne was IN
command of the detachment.