Evening star., 1925-08-30
DISTRICT MILITIA
RETURN TO CAPITAL
End 15-Day Training Duty
at Virginia Beach-Sail
Home on Southland.
BY WILLIAM j. WHEATLEY

NORFOLK, Va, August 29.-Their
annual two weeks of training in the
field Of preparedness concluded at Vir-
ginia Beach, District of Columbia
citizen troops tonight are headed for
home. Flowing through the foaming,
salty waters of Chesapeake Bay, the
transport Southland is steaming for
an early berth at Seventh and Water
streets. where she is scheduled to de-
bark the khaki-clad citizens at $50
O'Clock tomorrow morning.
Before the march to the armory.
the troops will unload their camp
implements and, according TO Col.
John w. Oehmann, commanding the
121st Engineers and 29th Military Po-
lice Company, the parade Will be
started at 1880 o'clock. The line of
march will be east on L street south
west, north on Sixth street to New
York avenue, thence east to their
armory at 472 L street. The troops
will turn into their hunks early to-
night to get a rest preparatory to the
long march tomorrow with full packs
on their backs. The 15-day period
of intensive field training Which
these troops are just completing has
made better soldiers of them, more fit
to fight should the war clouds again
gather and darken the nations peace
full advance Hardened and tanned,
chests just a bit further out, and
backs more erect, Washington citizens
along the line of march tomorrow Will
see pass before them concrete results
of the training of District citizenry to
answer the firts call to arms.
Start Preparations Early.
Preparations for the outbound
movement occupied the troops during
the morning and early afternoon, as
the baggage was packed up and load
ed on the box cars Shunted on the
camp site. Camp areas We're policed
and by noon presented a spotless ap-
pearance. Quick work was made Of
the early preparations, and by lunch
time the soldiers had a briet respite
awaiting the sounding of the Gen
eraP' on the bugle. AS the last note
of this welcome call was carried by a
brisk wind over the parade grounds.
every tent dropped and the hhaki-clad
lads jumped to their positions and
soon had them rolled in military
style. Just few minutes and these
We're on the train, and the troopers
returned beside their lines of stacked
guns, strapped on their heavy field
packs, awaiting the command to
march. The bugler sounded Assem-
oily, 1OIlOWeO py fOT"dIu, "neli
the regiment. headed by Col. Och
mann, and with the band playing a
lively march, proceeded the short dis
tance to the waiting troop train, thus
passing into history the 1925 encamp'
ment.
After an uneventful ride of an hour
the troop train arrived at the embark
ing station at Berkeley, Va. The
men were promptly dispatched aboard
and assigned berths. Relieving them
selves of their heavy packs and guns
they were formed and returned to the
dock, where they quickly loaded the
impedimenta and some of the motor
equipment, under the direction of
Capt. Geohegan, commanding the
transport.
Arriving at their armory before 9
am, they will promptly stow their
equipment and form pay lines. prep
aratton for which has been made b.
Maj. ]. r. Lusby. finance officer, who
left for Washington Thursday to
draw the necessary funds.
Col. Oehmann said that he expected
everything will be completed so the
troops may leave for their homes be-
fore noon.