Evening star., 1924-08-17
GUARDSMEN COUNT
WEEK PROFITABLE
Review of Half of Encamp-
ment Period Shows Fine
Results.
By a STAN Corrroondent

FORT HUMPHREYS, Va, August
16.-Half OF their annual training
period over. members of the 121st
Regiment OF Engineers and 2sth Mil
itary Police Company. National Guard
OF the District Of Columbia, today are
enjoying a we'll earned rest, reminisc-
ing over the past week and put
ting IT down as a most profitable
one for themselves in improving
physically and mentally and for the
country in Tightening up the national
defense.
These men. civilians most Of the
year. who give their time to fit them
selves for imm mediate service and
without the delay of further training,
have had few idle moments during
the week. Every minute of the Of
ficers and men during the day has
been taken up in some military in
struction or camp duty. and at night
the officers have burned the midnight
oil in their quarters solving some of
the war game problems laid down for
them by the Regular Army instruct
ors assigned here.
Tomorrow will be open house and
the citizen soldiers will be permitted
to entertain their friends and rela-
tives in camp. There will be no du-
ties. except necessary military ones.
After a short close order drill to-
day. followed by battalion inspection
and a general policing Of the camp
so that is will show a spic and span
appearance when the relatives and
friends arrive tomorrow. the troops
were turned loose to use their time
as they saw fit Many Of them headed
for Washington to invite guests
down tomorrow, while many Of them
stayed n camp and participated in
games Of various kinds. The ath-
letic meet, which had been planned.
was postponed until Wednesday aft
ernoon, and Chaplain A. L. Smith of
the 121st Engineers. and also tenn
porarily acting as post chaplain. has
mapped out an elaborate program
which includes running races, jumps,
wall scaling and other military COM
petitions.
Free Fur Sunday.
The troops will be free until to-
morrow afternoon. and then will be
required to perform duty only for a
short time, when they will be as
sembled to put on. for the benefit of
the visitors. a parade and review.
The close-order drill work was de-
clared to be so efficient as a result
of the intensive armory training they
| received during the Winter that their
schedule was modified during the
| week. upon the recommendation of
Maj. Covell, so that they would get a
maximum of engineering work such
as the construction of field fortifica-
tions, construction Of trestlc and pom
toon bridges and their demolition.
The entire program has been put
on the basis of performing the nee
esSary engineering work for an entire
division. for the 121st Regiment of
Engineers of the District Of Columbia
are the only engineer troops in the
2sth National Guard Division. COM
prising the militia troops of this city.
Maryland and Virginia.
CoMnanaer to Inspect.
Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan. COM
manding the District OF Columbia
Militia and the 29th National Guard
Division, Is expected to come to camp
early in the week to make an Official
inspection.
All Of the troops who have never
fired on the rifle range will be de-
tached at periods during the week
and sent to the Fort Humphrey
range, about a 7-mile march from
their headquarters, whore they Will
fire the usual range course. Col
Oehmann has assigned Maj. Julian S.
Oliff, commanding the I'd Battalion Of
the 121st Regiment, and Lieut.. Dunn
of the Headquarters and Service Com
pany, to take charge of this work.
Thursday night the enlisted men OF
the regiment will give a dance. at
which are expected a large number
of friends and relatives from WASH
ington. Free bus service will be pro-
vided between Alexandra and the
post. The following night the OFF,
GERS of the regiment will give a
dance.
weeks Schedule.
The modified schedule for the re-
mainder of the encampment follows:
August 1S-7:3o to $3.50 am. wire
entanglements: $40 to 1880 am,
demolition demonstration, oil COM
panies: Companies A and D will COM
struct foot bridges and have tool
wagon demonstration and Companies
c and F. will build heavy pontoon
bridges on Gunston Cove. In the aft
ernoon there will be musketry for the
enlisted personnel and saber drill for
the Officers.
August accompanies c and F.
1880 to e:3e Am, wrie entang nglemsnts;
$40 to tl:so. demolition with high
Explosives Companies e and b. 1880