Evening star., 1927-08-26
RAIN HALTSG GUARD
IN BATTLE PLANS
Defense OF Mount Vernon Is
Revoked as Men Are
All Primed.
EY WILLIAM j. WHEATLEY,
staff Correspondent OF The star

staff Correspondent of The Star.
CAMP HUMPHREYS, Va, August
a6.--When the troops composing the
lelst Regiment OF Engineers of the
National Guard of the District of CO.
ilmbia were all primed early today to
set out on a road march to execute q
field problem involving the defense of
the home Of George Washington at
Mount Vernon. shower proved more
formida BILE than the imaginary enemy
which already had been reported in
elaborate field orders as crossing the
Potomac River. and drove the citizen
soldiers back into their barracks.
The majority of the troops showed
great disappointment as the recall or
der came. for after the battle" they
were 10 have had the freedom of the
grounds as the guests of the custodian
of the estate. They have been work
ing for nearly two weeks hardening
themselves for this field service; they
have even worked on their field engi-
neering problems in driving rain, but
the officers thought the proposed
march was too much and that if they
got wet they would be taken back to
their homes with heavy colds.
Rain Soon Ceases.
The rain ceased a few minutes after
the troops had been disbanded, but
when 1t was found that the rain was
only a brief shower, 1t was then too
late to start the 12-mile hike and the
men were sent out on the soggy par
rade ground for infantry drill.
However, an advance patrol slipped
out of the camp and across country
before the main body of troops and
was safely entrenched and dry when
couriers were sent out from the camp
to order them back. They did not
even encounter the rainStorm which
proved a barrier to the main body
This was the premier combat ma
neuver on the schedule and the one
toward which the troops had been
working during their encampment
here, but the 1927 training period will
pass into history without this part of
the schedule carried out, for tomorrow
will see only short drill and then
the troops will prepare to depart for
Washington on Sunday morning.
Heavy Colds Prevalent.
The chilly air and the cold, bleak
barracks, in which the troops have
been quartered here, has begun to tell
on a number of the members of the
regiment, who are suffering from
heavy colds which have confined some
of them to quarters. Chaplain A. l..
Smith has been confined to the post
hospital for two days with grip and
today he was ordered sent in the field
ambulance to Walter Reed Hospital
I'm Washington by Maj. George j.
Allen, commanding the Medical Regi.
ment detachment.
Maj. Allen also is giving the
officers their annual physical examina.
tions, which are required by regula-
ton and which it was necessary to
defer In the case Of many of the
officers because they are suffering
from heavy colds.
District troops Joined with the
which was reviewed by Assistant Sec
retary Of War Hanford MacNider.
Maj. Gen. Greed Hammond, chief of
the Militia Bureau, War Department.
and District Commissioners Ladue and
Taliaferro. The soldierly appearance
OF the District troops brought forth
favorable comment from Gen. Ham.
mond. He pointed out, however, that
the Regular troops were better
clothed. and expressed regret that it
was necessary for the National
Guard to be clothed in the various
shaded khaki in which they appeared
on the parade ground. This was the
only feature that marked them as Ma.
tional Guard troops.
Gen. Hammond was taken to the
bridge which has been constructed
here, and said it was the finest piece
he had ever seen done by National
Guard troops.
Concert Is Given.
The 18th United States Engineers
Band and the 121st National Guard
Engineers Band combined in a con-
cert given at the recreation hut last
night for the benefit of the post hos
pital. Eight numbers We're played,
and Meyer Goldman, leader of the
121st Engineers Band, conducted half
OF the concert, while w. III. Horton,
leader Of the Regulars band, conduct
ed the other half Of the concert
Company A Of the District regiment
held its annual dinner last night at
Fredericksburg, Va. Every man of
the command was there, with the eX-
ception Of six. who had to remain in
charge Of the company quarters here.
The officers Of Battery F. 111th Field
Artillery, Virginia National Guard of
Fredericksburg, were guests Of the
District outfit. Addresses were deliv-
cred by Capt. William E. Buechler,
commanding the District organization,
and Capt. Gunyon M. Harrison, com.
mander Of the Fredericksburg battery.