Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-17

Nl'ltl 'tltN Hdu received during the
first two days of training, with the
more formal school instruction sup
plemented by new sidelicft-s into
Army methods impaired by old timers.
In their lessons as to. how to Law
out trenches and machine gun nests,
they have been taught that il is pri
mary that they should he concealed
from view. The effectiveness with
which Il number of them concealed
themselves from the non-commiSsioned
officers behind tree stumps and under.
brush, leaving many shovels and picks
unnamed in the trenches. speaks well
for the rapidity with which the men
have absorbed this part of the mill.
tary game.
New Men Work Hard.
The now men of the regiment are
now bearing the brunt of the heavy
duty. for the old-timers consider if a
part Of their work to show tho young.
sters how the jobs should be per.
formed. They show them and then
leave for comfortable seat with n
rice tree stump for n back support.
But the men are bearing it without
complaint, though aching backs and
tender, unused muscles impressed
realistically upon them at each move
of the body that they are good soldiers
in the making.
1t appears to be below the dignity
or veterans to take the observation
post duty, which consists of sitting in
the tops of tall trees and viewing the
scenery while the newer laborers
work assiduously in the trenches. But
no enemies are sighted until 11:30
when the welcome note of the bugler'
drlll recall penetrates the dense
forest area in which the men are
working. not only at cutting down
heavy timbers for the bridge. building
operations, but cleaning out the sap
ilnga ana brush to give IL direct line
of fire from machine gun nests.
The arduous duties in the battle
area are beginning to tell on the re.
crtits and weigh heavily on their
shoulders, and the veterans are play
ing on imaginative minds. The word
has spread that there are light and
heavy rifles. and Supply Sergt. John
NJ. smith of Company + was nearly
scared out of his job today when
more than a score Of the new men
stormed him with appeals for light
rifles.
But, being diplomat as we'll as n
veteran suardsman. Smith solved the
difficulty by shifting the firing pieces.
ana the men went away satisfied that
they had been given a 1O-pound in.
stead of 16pound rife.
While the officers spend practically
the entire morning in directing the
digging and wood-cutting operations
or their men, i'll the afternoon some
OF them attend classes in military en-
Eineerinc Conducted by the reeular
ofhcers OF the post. while others are
sent out of the fort in various direc-
tons To map the Topography in
preparation for the mimic warfare
winch Is to take place next week.
This afternoon a groun of officers
headed by Lieut.. Col. Harry Black
man, executive officer of the regi
ment. went to the vicinity of Pohick
Church to map the land.
Dance Planned Friday.
While n dance is being planned for
the enlisted men on Friday night, at
which the 121st Engineers Orchestra
will furnish the music. orders have
been issued for the first kangaroo
court of the camp. the unofficial
Army court which every camp must
nave to strike the fear of veteran SUI
reriority into the minds of the re-
cruits. Company + is the first to
get out its orders and it has printed
a very official-looking summons.
which is being served on the recruits
by Marshal Thomas McGaffin, who
is mllitarized as n corporal
The court is called to convene at
30 O'Clock Friday night and is pre-
! "A rod ia Il
tair or foul, and to strike fear into
the most hard hearted. Adam r.
Mouton is TO be the Judge of the
court; Paul Worksman. prosecuting
attorney; Raymond Gala tin, bailiff,
and Joseph Bowman. defense attor-
ney. who is sort of fifth wheel as
no defense has ever been accepted at
a court in the pre- or post war history
of the District Guard.
1t has been found that the warm
weather thins out the ranks some
what on the parade ground during in
tantry drill in the afternoon and the
answer may be found at the river
front of the camp. where some of the
men appear to have more time for
swimming than for absorbing the close
order infantry drill. clothed in khaki
on the heat reflecting parade ground.
Only recruit would be dumb enough
to drill in the afternoon, remarked
the old-timers.
Post Rules Are Strict.
The great majority of the enlisted
men of the camp ran afoul of the post
regula tons last night and incidentally
caused disappointment to wives and
sWeethearts who may have expected
them home.
This is the explanation for and on
behalf of them, to strengthen any
other alibi they might have had. The
post regulations require that men may
only leave the fort in their garrison
hats, Wheheas the gllardSmen have
only their campaign hats with them.
When they reached the guard at the
main gate last night armed with pas
as. they were refused exit because the
guard didn't like the shape of their
headgear.
Plans are being perfected here for
the annual banquet of the 121st Regi-
ment officers. which is to j., given Fri
day night at the George Mason Hotel
in Alexandra, the leading stag affair
of the encampment. to he followed on
the second Friday in camp by IA dance,
in which the regimental officers will
he hosts to their friends in Harris
Hall, the officers hotel at the post.
Base Ball Games Played.
The rank and file of the men got
their first respite from military duty
this afternoon, when two base ball
games were played on the post dia-
mond here between teams representing
each of the two line battaions and
one representing the Medical Depart
ment III Il competition for the Com
handing Generals Cup, which IL pre-
scented by Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan.
Col. John w. Oehmann, who com
mands the regiment, plans to leave
camp Sunday morning for Cascade,
Il la 4,t.. I, ;1,