Evening star., 1924-09-01
In|AR|NES GREETED
|BY RECORD THR0NG
Largest Crowd Ever Assem-
/, bled in Frederick Pays
Il Visit to Camp.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch 10 The star.
: FREDERICK, Md, September IA
throng pronounced by observers to be
the largest crowd ever assembled in
This old historic town came to Frede-
rick yesterday to visit the camp of
the Marine Corps Expeditionary Force
at the County Fair Grounds. From
shortly after daylight to long past
dusk automobiles and carriages
poured into this city by every road
and highway and from reville to taps
the marine camp was alive with visi-
tors and parking space in its vicinity
was at a premium.
So great was the demand for places
TO park cars of visiting parties that
shortly after noon Brig. Gen. Dion
Williams. commanding general of the
force, ordered a field which had been
Assigned to a unit of the marine
artillery to be turned over to the pub
lie as an official parking space, and
at one time more than 1900 cars were
counted within this space. bearing
licenses from nearly every State in
the Union. In all 1t is estimated that
IN the neighborhood of $4,000 guests
Visited the camp during the day.
War Equipment on View.
In preparation for the throng of
guests Gen. Williams had issued
orders that a sample of every weaponi
aHu y pc ol llhpteInent OF war IN the
equipment of the sea soldiers be pre-
pared for the inspection Of the crowd
and that a corps of we'll educated Of
fcers and men, able to explain the
workings of each be designated as
guides and exhibitors. This feature
proved extremely popular with the
Visitors and knots of spectators re-
Fained grouped around each exhibit
all through the day, necessitating
frequent reliefs of the officers and
men doing the explaining. Included
In the exhibits were French 75s,
with which the light artillery arm
OF the marine force is equipped huge
toos. throwing 100-pound shells.
which supply the heavy artillery;
trench mortars, light and heavy ma
chine guns. automatic rifles. hand and
rifle grenades, antiaircraft cannon
and machine guns, searchlights.
tankS, engineer equipment and air
planes of all types, ranging from
huge Martin bombers. capable of car
rNing more than 4 ton of high ex-
plosives, to tiny fast fighting ma
chimes with a speed of more than
hundred miles.
Military Tactics Explained.
Talks on tactics were also given
and explanations made of the train
hg and preparations which go to
make the marine expeditionary force
Che most efficient military organiza-
Qon maintained by any nation of the
world during times of peace, capable
of putting fully-equipped reinforced
brigade with all arms Of the service
On the firing line or on board a trans
port ready to start for the scene of
action within twelve hours. Talks
also were given on the training of
soldiers and attention drawn to the
case with which the marine force
makes marches of the greatest length.
Thus far on the present maneuverS
the force has averaged nearly fifteen
miles a day. while ten miles is con-
Sidered a good distance for force
Of this size and character of equip
nent This was illustrated by many
instances drawn from history. such as
the historic forced march of Jackson's
force in the Antietam campaign of
the Civil War, when historians re-
corded with amazement his feat in
covering thirteen miles within twen-
ry-four hours. After passing through
the marine camp, many of the guests
expressed themselves as having
comprehension of military tactics and
problems and a realization of the
value of national preparedness be-
yond anything previously experienced.
Pleasure Program Faultlexs.
The greatest satisfaction was ex-
pressed by the American Legion
authorities in Frederick at the great
success of the dances held last night
At the National Guard Armory a
crowd, estimated at 1000 couples, was
present. and the floor was crowded
until midnight, while at the Catoctin
Country Club a successful affair also
Vas held. A feature of the occasion
was a dinner given by Col. D. j. Mar
key. commanding the 1st Maryland
National Guard, to Brig. Gen. Dion
Williams and members Of his imme-
diate staff. Besides Gen. Williams,
Col. Macker Babb, his chief of staff:
Maj. T. S. Clarke, Maj. r. L. Denig,
Maj. E. p. Moses, Lieut.. G. M Sturgis
and Lieut. r. c. Kilm&rtin were :.
Among the guests.
{ The Marine force broke camp at
daylight today and marched off at 6
o'clock on the last days hike to the
Civil War battlefield of Antietam.
where maneuvers of two weeks dura-,
tion will be conducted. eliminating
September with a duplication of the
Antietam battle. The force will then
march back to Quantico, reaching
Washington September IS.