Evening star., 1926-08-21
GUARDSMEN CHAFE
UNDER INACTIVITY
Held in Barracks for Days
by Rain, Many Object
to Guard Duty.
By WILLIAM j. WHEATLEY.
Staff Cofrespoudent of The Star

FORT HUMPHREYS. Va. August
21.-Troops of the 12lst Regiment OF
Engineers. District National Guard,
taking their annual field training here.
were awakened this morning to face
a day in the field shedding tears TO he
produced by the setting of of gas
bombs, as a part of their INTRODUCTION
to modern gas warfare.
But they also faced a heavy down
pour of rain and as the time for them
to go TO the gas area approached the
citizen soldiers had experienced
enough to make them shed their nat
ural tears. through confinement TO
barracks to five days on account of
the inclement weather. so that their
officers decided not to agSravate the
situation, and called off the war.
1t meant another day of conflne-
ment to quarters. without any of
the field training to which many OF
them have been looking forward with
interest.
Complaints Are Growing.
The rainy spell which the troops
We're unfortunate enough to hit is
becoming now a source of worry.
With little work to occupy their
minds, some OF the men are be-
ginning to complain. One company
today formed grievance Commit-
tee while loafing around the bar
racks and dispatched it to the top
sergeant to register kick about
guard duty. which Is made more
frequent for the veterans because
a large portion of the command have
been sent to the recruit school, max
ing them ineligible for this feature
of the soldiers duties.
The grievance committee asked, III
fact, almost demanded, that the re
cruits be recalled to company duty so
that the older members would not have
to tramp the lonely post in the rain so
often. They argued that walking
post on guard duty was just as I'M
portant a part of their field training
as learning how to salute and handle
a rifle But the top sergeant was
adamant, and the grievance commit
tee was dispersed with an adnonition
that If they were in the regular serV-
ice they would get for their action
some extra duty with man walking
behind them with a gun TO see tnat
they did it. This is but one indica-
ton of the temperament developed
by the idle minds of the troops slttlnS
around the barracks.
The euardsmen passed through
their first inspection of quarters and
equipment today. All Of their field
paraphernalia was laid out for the
inspecting officers. Maj. Joseph *.
Mickey inspected the 1St Battalion.
Mai. Julian Diff inspected the End
Battalion and Capt. G.. Earl Smithson.
regimental adjutant, inspected the
headquarters and service company.
The great stoves in the frame bar
racks in which the troops are
Is@rt1 4aI tn6n to Al
the rooms out and to make the men
more comfortable while lying around
waiting for the rain to cease. Their
field training has almost been for
gotten.
All of the practical engineering
plans mapped out in elaborate fashion
for what was destined to be one OF
the most profitable enCampmentS has
been abandoned during the past week.
Two mimic battles are scheduled for
next week, but If there is another
period of such weather as have been
experienced during the current week,
the men will spend it in their bar
racks.
Many Get Leave.
The regiment is expected unoftl-
ciallv to return to Washington TINS
afternoon, as the men are planning
a general exodus on passes allowing
them to remain out of camp over
night and until o'clock tomorrow
afternoon With completion of the
inspection and abandonment of the
gas warfare demonstration today the
men will have no work to do. Even
the athletic meet planned by Chaplain
Arthur l.. Smith has been put in the
discard and the troops will be left to
seek pleasures according to the die
tateS of their consciences. The com
pany unfortunate enough to have
guard duty and the few troops not
desiring to leave will he about <he
only ones in camp tonight.
There is a strongly expressed hope
of the majority of the troops that the
rains will cease and the sun shine to-
morrow. so that they may show their
friends a real parade and review to-
morrow afternoon 1t is expected that
large number of persons will come
down from Washington If the weather
Is good.
The incement weather. however,
did not prevent the scheduled dance
from being held in the hostess house
last night. A number of visitors from
Washington helped the men of the
121st Engineers celebrate. The music
was furnished by the 121st Engineers
Band, Meyer Goldman. leader.