Evening star., 1926-08-13
GASATTACK TESTS
D. c. ART|LLERYMEN
Sham Battle Conditions Ex.
cite Camp and Ships Un-
7 til Secret Is Told.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


FORT MONROE. Va, August 10
General disorder reigned supreme in
this Army post today when the 260th
Coast Artillery, District of Columbia
National Guard did their subcaliber
firing under a sham smokegas attack,
which was ladi over the bun emplace-
ment by Sergt. Cox, Chemical War
fare Service, of Fort Monroe.
The plans for the sham battle had
been kept secret in the post until the
last minute. in order that the firing
might be conducted under regular
wartime conditions. When the smoke
screen was laid it completely envel-
oped the emplacement, and in a short
time. as it began to roll, Camp No. /.
which is near Battery PARROT. where
the guardsmen were firing was hid
den from view entirely in the dense
clouds of smoke.
Members of the 523d Coast Artil
lery, who were quartered in Camp
No. l. not knowing what was causing
all Of the smoke, instead of investigat-
Ing. turned in a general fire alarm,
and in a few minutes fire engines
and apparatus were rolling up to
Battery PARROT from every direc-
ton. There were several ships in the
harbor and their sirens were blowing
continually Between the smoke and
the noise caused by the guns. fire
engines and ships the practice was
reproduction of a naval battle.
Ships Are Signaled.
AS soon as the excitement had sub
sided Maj. Walter w. Burns, com
manding officer of the organization,
informed the tiremen Of the error.
the ships were signaled and in few
minutes the noise had let up and
everything was normal again. except
that the smoke fingered over the EN-
placement for several hours.
This practice was valuable to the
District Guardsmen, coming as 1t did
Immediately after the lecture yester-
day to the officers by Capt. w. w.
Wise. G.. w. s., l.. S. A. The battery
commanders, after receiving the adj
vice of Capt Wise. directed the move
ments Of their men so effectively that
they had ample time to escape the
gas and smoke The gas was, of
course, harmless. a fact that was kept
from the men up to the time the at
tack was laid.
Mai. Burns has been busy renew
ing old acquaintanceS this week. he
was visited yesterday by Maj. Louis
G. Wilson, q. NJ. c.. L. S. A, who at
one time WAS a ma jOr, IN the Quarter
the District of Columbia, and later
was United States property and dis
bursting officer for the District.
Later in the evening Maj. Burns was
pleasantly surprised by call from
First Lieut.. Charles NJ. Meyers.
former Washington man. Lieut.. Mey-
ers was one of the first mechanics in
the old Goth u. G. Coast Artillery, and
was the second man to be first ser
geant of Battery a, which was at
that time commanded by Maj. Burns,
who was then captain.
Renowned During War.
The Goth {. A. c. was one of the
most renowned regiments of the
United States in France. Maj. Burns
was also host last evening to Capt.
Donald l.. Dutton, G. a. c., assist
ant editor of the Coast Artillery Jour.
nal.
1t has been decided that the bat
terry with the highest degree of ex
cellency will fire a target course on
the 155-millimeter gun. This will
cause keen competition between the
batteries, as both are ANXIOUS to fire
this gun.
Private Edward F'erneyhough, Bat
terry 4, was excused from further
duty today to return to his home, at
1000 II street northwest, to attend
to urgent business matters.