Evening star., 1922-07-20
DESTROY OUTPOST
IN MIMIC WARFARE
District Engineers "Take"
Fort Washington With Loss
of Only Thirteen Men.
FIGHT LASTS HALF HOUR
Guardsmen Given Splendid Recep-
tion at Post After Scrim-
mage Ends.
FIGHT LASTS HALF HOUR
From a star Correspondent.

From Stah Correspondent.
NATIONAL GUARD EXPEDI-
TIONARY FORCE, FRIENDLY. Md.
July decentralization Of a small out
post Of engineers theoretically de-
Tending valuable stores at Fort
Washington. Md, followed the first
contact between the Red and Blue
forces in a woodland just outside OF
this place early today. The attack
B, c and E, 121st Engineers. National
Guard of the District of Columbia. Is
marching triumphantly into the post
with the loss only of It's advanced
patrol of thirteen men. The latter
marched boldly up the road. without
making any attempt to cover their
advance by the heavy underbrush.
They walked directly into the trap
was depioyed in the thicket on either
side of the road. When they were
within hailing distance the main body
hove in sight and the advance patrol
Of the defending force opened fire
with automatic rifles and moved
them down in their tracks.
The blue or attacking force, COM
manded by Maj. ]. w. Oehman, at the
first noise of the contact Of his patrols
with the defending force. sent out
flank movements of troops on either
side of the road and completely sur
rounded the red army before it could
fall back.
Fight Lasts Half Hour.
For nearly half an hour the rifles of
both sides fired their charges, and
drew from the nearby fields scores
of the populace who watched the ma
neuvers from a great distance. The
attacking battalion exposed its posi-
tion somewhat when it started fire
with it's automatic rifles at small
The defending force sent out outposts,
who brought in Information Of the
size of the attacking army some min
utes before the advance patrol came
into sight in the roadway.
Lieut.. Col r. D. LIE Garde, adjutant
general of the District of Columbia
militia and commander of the force
on this practice march, said that
theoretically the attacking force han
died itself we'll and destroyed the de-
Tending force, and in real war would
have accomplished its object, that of
destroying the valuable stores at the
Army post on the Potomac.
In addition to Col. La Garde, the
Regular Army observers were: Capt
H. H: Bohl. who was with the defend
ers: First Lieut.. Arthur NJ. Andrews,
First Lieut.. John w. Moreland and
First Lieut.. Richardson Selee. The
latter three and Col. La Garde were
with the attacking battalion.
The defending force in the maneu-
vers was Company d, 121st Engineers.
commanded by Capt. J. L. oliff.
Following the battle" the troops
Fort Washington. where they will
spend the night in pup tents. leaving
early tomorrow morning for Camp
Simms, where they plan to arrive to-
morrow afternoon.
Line of March.
The engineers left Camp simms, fol-
flowed by the motor train and am
balances. at $50 this morning. Com
pany D left some minutes before the
main body. in order to establish itself
as the defending force. The troops
were the object of much interest to
the people of the countryside. the
farmers the village blacksmith and
the village storekeepers stopping
commenting that it brought back
memories of the days not 30 long ago
when troops were on the road engag-
ing In training for the overseas war.
Cloudy skies and a cool breeze made
the marching easy and the entire
Shortly after IL o'clock the column
was halted and lunch which was
cooked on the rolling kitchens as the
troops proceeded along the road in
tow OF the motor trucks was served
to the men. After a rest Of half an
hour or SO. the last leg Of the march
was resumed.
Elaborate plans had been made by
Capt. Parkin, commandant at Fort
Washington, and Capt Smith. ex-
ecutive officer. for the reception of
the District troops. When one mile
outside of the post the trumpet corps
Of the Sd Battalion. 18th United
States Infantry, met the District out
at and escorted them into the post.
Honor for ID. c. Troops.
This afternoon the troops stationed
at Fort Washington will be paraded
in honor Of the National Guard Of
the District of Columbia. There will
be a ball game between teams rep
resenting the D. C. NJ G. and the 18th
United States Infantry. and the Of
ficers Of the d. C. N. G. will be the
guests tonight Of the ofhcers tf Fort
Washington at a dinner. Following
the dinner, the band Of the 121st
Regiment of Engineers, National
Guard, Malcolm Horton. director. will
give q band concert
Brig. Gen. Anton Stephan, com
manding the District of Columbia NIL
litia. Is due to- arrive in the post this
afternoon and will remain with the
troops. until they leave toHtiorrow.s
He-Is Frassrs wife fond Of an ar
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