Evening star., 1924-08-18
ENGINEERS BLAST
ROUTE FOR TROOPS
District Regiment Also Has
Practice in 0bstructing
Progress of Enemy.
BY STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.

BY STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.
FORT HUMPHREYS. Va. August
1S.-Demolition troops OF the 121st
Regiment Of Engineers. N. G., D. c.,
literally blew their way through a deep
ravine here today when scores Of
charges of INT were exploded to
train the troops In demolishing ter
rain to impede the progress Of an
enemy and also to clear passages.
The charges were get in the ground,
on large steel beams, and necklaces
of it were made and strung around
large trees. After the charges were
set the officer in charge had little dif-
ficulty in clearing the curious away
from the scene before it was deto-
mated.
Capt Harley Latson. United States
Army Engineer Corps, temporarily
detailed as instructor with the Dis
work. and at the officers conference
at noon highly complimented the
troops for the manner in which they
performed this work.
Foot bridges Constructed.
Another detachment OF the enGi-
neers, under the direction of Capt.
II. II. Tohl, United States Army En-
gineer Corps. was engaged part OF
the morning in the construction Of
foot bridges across Gunston Cove. He
had with him Companies A and d. He
reported at the noon conference that
these troops had not done as we'll as
other detachments which he inspected
last week.
There is keen rivalry among the
organizations for the highest effi-
cheney in engineering work during
this encampment. The gold medal
hn IoI hx. 81 I@hv
Oehmann, commanding the regiment.
at the close of the encampment, for
the highest efficiency rating during
the period.
The troops have been somewhat lax
in getting out in time for drills in
the morning, and Capt. Latson re-
ported that few minutes delay in
assembling the troops after drill
corps cuts out much of the training
period, all of which the troops need.
Warns Against Tardinesx.
Lieut.. Col. Harry Gladman. second
in command Of the 12lst Engineers.
who conducted the officers confer
ence yesterday in the absence OF Col.
Oehmann, who was attending con-
ference of officers with Col James A.
Woodruff. commanding this post. ad-
monishcd the officers that they must see
tll'il tlt are TedfS 10 IndTCn intD
the field promptly each morning and
afternoon.
Members Of the military affairs
committee of the Washington Board
of Trade. of which Lieut.. Col. Glad
man is chairman. have been invited
to spend next Thursday in camp to
inspect the work OF the Guard. II the
Invitation is accepted the regiment
will be paraded in review in their
honor in the afternoon.
Maj. Anton stephan. comma nding
the District OF Columbia militia and
the 29th National Guard Division.
comprising the militia troops of the
District of Columbia, Maryland and
Virginia. is expected to come down
here some time during the week to
make formal inspection Of the Dis
trict troops. 1t is probable sthat
when he Is here that there will be a
consolidated parade and review Of
the regular and militia troops now in
camp here. :. ;
Friends Visit CaRp.
There will he band concert this
evening by the 121st Engineers Band
and a series of boxing bouts under
the direction Of Chaplain A. L. Smith.
Hundreds of relatives and friends
of the District troops were in camp
yesterday as guests of the local mill
tiamen. They inspected the quarters
and many of them were guests at
the meals. All of the visitors wit
messed one of the best regimental
parades ever put on by the District
troops. The regiment was reviewed
by Brig. Gen. Edgar Jadwin, assis-
tant chief of engineers: Col. James
a. Woodruff and Col. Frank Halstead.
Many of the troops yesterday morn
ing attended services in the chapel,
conducted by Assistant Pastor Winter
Of the First Congregation Church,
Washington.