Evening star., 1925-11-29

col John w. s4SSsSsss
pehmarn. com >$$$$s3$$ $3#$$s
luandiug the En-
rineer Regiment
has recommended l-
10 Maj. Gen. An Col. J. w. Oehmann.
ton stephan, com
handing the local militia, that the
engineer outfit be sent To Humphreys
August Is to August %, inclusive
It is probable that the recommends
tion of the engineer commander Will
meet with the hearty approval OF the
corps area headquarters at Baltimore
and the War Department, as there
was ConSidera BILE opposition to sending
the local outfit to Virginia Beach,
Va last Summer, and il is doubted
If the officers and men received the
fun measure of training that lhey
would have received had 1t been sent
to Humphreys, which is Regular
Army engineer post, and where all
of the necessary engineer field equip
ment is at hand. There was even
considerable opposition in the regl-
'nent itself to going to Virginia Beach
last Summer.
There is much to be said on both
sides of the question Aside from
the matter of funds involved in the
TRANSFORMATION. there is TO be conSld-
cred the psychological effect on the
Der.Sonnel of the regiment by taking
the men some distance away from
home. to places where they maven [
j,eeu, and thus building up the morale
and, on the other hand, there Is the
great military problem OF getting lhe
most training in the field for the
least money. and there is little doubt
on this point. because il Is known
that the very best engineering tram
ing can be obtained at Fort Hum
DhreyS Not q small number OF lh-
officers and men prefer humphreys
because il is close to home ana the
officers and men may come 10 WASH
incton in the evening and keep IN
close touch with their business al
fairs.
There has been some discussion OF
holding a divisional training camp
this year of the 29th National Guard
Division. which is composed of militia
troops of all branches in the states
of Maryland and Virginia and in the
District of Columbia. Since the dl-
vision has been formed, there has
never been a division mobilization, and
there is a desire in some quarters TO
test out this organization by mohlllZ-
ing at Virginia Beach, at the State
rifle range, which would be the mo-
hilization area of this division in time
Of national emergency. Should such
plan be brought about, of course the
local engineers being the only engi-
neer regiment in the division would
have TO mobilize at that point. The
division has now been organized on
paper long enough, 1t is contended,
and it should be put to real test In
the field One of the factors against
such a mobilization of the division
at this time is the road leading to the
camp at the beach. 1t is two and one
half miles from the State road be
tween Norfolk and the Summer re
sort, in bad repair and poor road
bed. There is doubt whether it would,
in it's present condition, stand up un-
der movement of division of troops
with it's accompanying heavy truck
trains, tractors, artillery, etc. Recon-
mnndationS have been made that 1t be
promptly improved to handle such
heavy traffic. but to date they have
been of no avail, and should the dl-
vision move over 1t in bad weather.
il wouldn't even support portion OF
the division, it is pointed out by mill
lary experts familiar with the condl-
tion of II.
While Fort Humphreys has been
recommended by Col. Oehman, Gen.
N-'NNN
favors sending a portion of his COM
mand to Valley Forge or some other
point close to Philadelphia at the time
Of the SeSquicentennial celebration
next year. An invitation has been re
Ceiyed for the local organization to
participate-in fact an invitation has
been extended to the entire division.
This proposal is also welcomed by
large number of the enlisted personnel
,I, tn q
long trip away from base. Many of
them look on such a trip as a vaca-
7ion and they do not relish orders
sending them to such a near post as
Fort Humphreys. But transportation
funds also enter into this question and
may be the deciding factor. The 29th
Military Police Company, an infantry
organization, commanded by Lieut..
Raymond NJ. Peak, usually goes TO the
same camp as the engineers, but there
is a possibility that if only a small unit
is sent, this command will be the
one to represent the District of Co
lumbia military at the great cele-
bration. However, the matter of a
camp site in Pennsylvania is being
considered, and to date the matter has
not been finally decided.
Field training for the Engineer
regiment may be started earlier next
Summer than ever before. under plan
being worked out by Col. Oehmann.
lie is giving consideration to the idea
IF shifting the drills from the armory
early in the Spring to the rifle range
of the Guard at Camp SimmS. Con
Cress Heights, d. c. Necessity is, per-
haps. the mother of this idea. The
local guard will be required to move
out of it's present home at 472 l. street
northwest, on June 80. as the present
owners of the building refuse to re-
new the lease, and the efforts of the
Guard officials to find suitable quar-
1ers to date have been of no avail.
The drill hall in the present build
ing is hardly large enough TO drill a
platoon in close order with practical
" no room at all for extended order
work. In fair weather the troops have
permission TO set off a portion of the
public highway on New York avenue.