Evening star., 1927-08-07

ment of Engineers, to go to Fort
Humphreys, Va, and the remainder,
composing the Goth Division head
quarters troops, including the goth
Military Police Company, to go to
Cascade, Md, the new camp 0f the
Maryland National Guard, which was
formally opened this year.
The movement of troops will begin
early next Sunday morning from the
armory at North Capitol and ID
Streets Of the two outfits named above,
but the 260th Coast Artillery, which
also will leave the city at that time,
will leave from the Union Station by
the more conventional troop train,
proceeding direct to Fort Monroe, Va,
where it will begin for the first time
instruction under its new assignment
as an anti-aircraft battery.
Every unit of the local Guard will
go into camp this year during the
same period, although there will be
three different camp sites, and for a
period of two weeks Washington's de-
tenders will withdraw for heavy field
training
1t was said at brigade headquarters
last week that the bids for bus trans
portation Of the troops was found to
be considerably cheaper than rail
transportation and will be much more
satisfactory, cutting out many Of the
long delays incident to transferring
troops at various points en- route. I'm
der the bus method the troops will
step into the busSeS right at their
armory and be delivered directly into
camp. whereas, for instance, If the
Engineer regiment had been sent by
special train, 1t would have to march
to the Union Station, there entrain
and proceed to Accotink, Va, where
they would be unloaded, and then
placed on Army trucks for a smile
trip to camp, All of the heavy march
ing packs will be carried in the busses
with the troops.
The Washington Rapid Transit Co.
was awarded the contract for the
movement Of the regiment of Engi-
neers to Fort Humphreys at a cost of
81 per man per round trip, 80 cents
cheaper than the rail transportation,
which did not include the long haul
from the Virginia station to the camp
site. The Blue Ridge Transportation
Co. of Hagerstown, Md, was the sue
cessful bidder for the movement of
the units to Cascade, Md, at a cost
of $3.50 per men per round trip, or
60 cents per man cheaper than the
railroad estimate. The trip to Fort
Humphreys will require IS minutes,
while that to Cascade will require 3
hours.
The division troops. according to Of
ficers of the Guard, have by far the
best camp site of this season, high in
the western Maryland mountains, and
with permanent camp equipment that
has no equal in the East. 1T was said.
Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan, command
ing the local troops, and also COM
manding general of the 29th National
Guard Division, comprising the militia
Of this city, Maryland and Virginia,
with members of his staff, including
Lieut.. Col. Peyton G.. hewitt, division
adjutant, and Maj. e. H. Grove, divi.
sion headquarters troop commander,
returned last week from an inspection
trip to the Maryland camp site. Gen.
Stephan said that the camp was one
Of the most attractive he had ever
seen, and although 1t was only estab-
lished this year, he said the Maryland
Guard officials had made great head
way in fitting 1t out. The gigantic
mess halls, he said, present something
new In such camps. They are built
of cut stone, quarried on the camp
grounds, fitted with factory steel win
dows, concrete floors, and at the end
of each is an open fireplace. The
mess table equipment is so constructed
that it. folds neatly against the walls
and can be hurriedly placed out of
the way when 1t Is desired to use the
hall for other purposes. The water
supply Is adequate and pure, being
obtained from the clear mountain
streams. run direct into a reservoir
which has been built. The supply
Is obtained without pumping at any
stage. He Is enthusiastic about the
camp.
There is a possibility, 1t was said,
that efforts will be made to have the
regiment Of Engineers sent there next
year. instead Of taking their annual
training at Fort Humphreys. the
Army's eastern Engineer training base.
There has been some opposition for
some time to sending the local
troops there continuously year after
year. because of the effect on the
morale OF the men, most Of whom de.
sire to go to greater distance from
the city to take their annual field
training. However. the War Depart.
ment has always objected to sending
these troops for a greater distance
them as engineers at Humphreys,
and also because Of the expense.
| However, 1t was learned last week
that the War Department had order
ed Washington Reserve regiment to
Camp Devens, Mass, for it's annual
period Of field training, and it was
! pointed out that If this can be done
for a Reserve regiment, then there
can be no valid argument against
allowing the additional money for
sending the local Guard troops for
: IL ;rkn
as Cascade next year, taking into
consideration also the fact that it
will be of great value in maintaining
| the esprit Of the regiment.
Company C, 121st Engineers, Capt.
William f. Jorgensen. commanding, Is
| planning an automobile outing for the
members of the command and its
| friends to Morgantown, probably soon
after the return of the outfit from its
| annual period of field training at Fort
Humphreys, Va.
The Headquarters Detachment OF
the 260th Coast Artillery again heads
the list in National Guard attendance
for last week, according to figures
compiled at brigade headquarters from
the weekly muster lists of the various
organizations composing the local
| Guard. This organization had per-
centage for the week of 91.6S. The
other organizations, in their relative
order. with percentages, follow:
Headquarters, 29th Division, 80;
Band, 121st Engineers. 1879; Com
pany A, 372d Infantry. 77.54: Company
c.. 121st Engineers, Is; Battery c,
260th Coast Artillery, 72; Headquar-
ters and Service Company, 121st En-
gineers. 67.34; Company f. 121st En-
gineers. 6471; Medical Detachment.
121st Engineers, 1854; Battery A,
260th Coast Artillery, 63.47; Company
A. 121st Engineers. $3.50; Battery B,
260th Coast Artillery. Gill; Company
d, 121st Engineers, 60; 29th Military
i IL.