Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-15
D. c. GUARDS BEGIN
CAMP WITH V|GOR
Engineers to Build Large
Span Bridge in 2 Weeks
at Fort Humphreys.
Nv a STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

By a STAFF Correspondent OF The star.
FORT HUMPHREYS. Va. August
15-Into the woods and morasses OF
this Army engineer post some 400
citizen soldiers, composing the Hist
Regiment Of Engineers OF the Ma
tional Guard of the District, marched
TODAY. to transform the almost i'm
Venerable area into orderly lanes Tor
the movement of a theoretical army.
In the short space of "a hours
clerks. scientists, Office men or all
kinds. used to cooling electric fans
in Washington. stood shoulder 10
shoulder with chauffeurs, mecha mes,
laborers and the like in the burning
sun and were transformed into WOOD
men, bridge builders and trench dig
gers. TT.
They went at it with a fighting spirit
this morning after they had been turn
ed out Of their hunks at $50. 1t was
their first work day in the camp. What
the day has in store will be told When
Mai. George J. Allen, commanding the
medical detachment, holds sick call to-
morrow morning. To manicuied.
whitened, tender hands were intro
duced axes. croSs-cut saws, hammers
and long spikes. all preliminary to the
construction of a great spar bridge.
which will require two weeks in tho
making. Squads Of men with saws
and plistening axes were sent into the
heavily timbered area OF the post
to cut down many tail trees and dress
them for the supports or the DrldSe'
which is being erected in the VlclnitF
of the pig farm, located consideraole
distance away from the main part OF
the post and the barracks Where tne
District troops are quartereo 1or lhelr
two weeks stay.
Weeds Are Barbered.
Even the Medical Corps, when is IN
camp TO minister to the casualties SuS'
tanned by their comrades in arms,
was put in a more sympathetic mood
when Mai. Allen turned 1t out OF the
hospital shack where its members
were placing bottles of pills ana gai,
ions IF iodine on the shelves, and
handed them implements for cutting
down the four-foot weeds that almost
obscured the hospital.
The usual amount Of soldering
| appeared at the first sick call TO-DAY,
| being particularly prevalent among
the old timers. But Maj. Allen weeded
them out and sent them back to duty
in time to go into the field with the
main body of troops, leaving no one
on the sick list.
The two battalions composing the
regiment were sent into the field to-
day under their battalion commanders.
Mai. Julian S. diff and Maj. Ralph
w. Childs, the latter taking his frst
| tour of duty in the field as a battalion
commander. Both are working In the
same area. one outfit being engaged
| in bridge building and the other IN
laying out and digging the line OF
trenches preparatory to mimic pat
tie to be held later in the encampment.
/ MI oyIla rIv nip1ElnR 10
the troops was the prompt function
| ing of the food supply organization.
which began Immediately upon arrival
of the citizen troops into camp. They
were served a complete noon meal
when they reached their mess shacks
after the trip from Washington in
| BUSES.
| Bus Movement Satisfactory.
| Col John w. Oehman, command
| ing the regiment, said that the Dus
movement was the most satisfactory
method of travel that he had ever
| had for his command. The troops
| were moved from Washington to the
camp in one hour and half.
| The early part of yesterday after
! noon, following the noon meal, was
| given over by the troops to getting
their barracks ready for an early re.
| II.
military instruction course yesterday
afternoon when they listened to lee
lures by Maj. Finch, commandant o!
this Engineer post. and capt
Weaver. also attached to the Regu'
lar Army contingent here.
| Reports to headquarters toda:
showed there were in camp 406 en-
listed men, "a commissioned officers
and one warrant officer. These figures
according to officers. showed that tnt
regiment was only IL men below peaci
strength and represents the larges'
number of men that the regiment hal
taken into camp since it was organ
| lied.
There were 1875 men on the rolls OF
the regiment who did not report Tor
camp duty.
Company A. Capt. Buchler. com:
| manding. was given the first tour OF
guard duty around the barracks, while
Company 3, Capt. Mushake, COM
mander, took up the duty today. The
troops are quartered in the old. dilap-
| idated war-built barracks which they
have occupied for several years.