Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-19
D. c. GUARD LAUDED
|. ON CAMP SHOWING.
Col. Alfred T. Smith, U. S. A.,
|nspects Fort Humphreys
Area and Bridge Work.
BY WILLIAM j. WHEATLEY,
staff Correspondent OF The Star.

FORT HUMPHREYS, Va, August
19.-Praise for the methods and efii-
cheney of the 121st Regiment OF Engi-
neers of the District National Guard
was given to the officers and men in
the training camp here today. when
Col. Alfred T. Smith, u. s. Army. In
spected the entire area in which the
District troops are engaged in mill
tary operations. Col. Smith is from
the headquarters of the 3rd Corps
Area, at Baltimore, and Is in charge
Of all National Guard activities in the
District of Columbia, Maryland, Vir-
GINA and Pennsylvania.
After inspecting the spar bridge
which the men are building here out
of materials which they are cutting
In the forests nearby. he said 1t was
as fine piece of work which he had
seen during the entire Summer which
he has spent inspecting Guard activi-
ties in the field. He said that much
credit was due the men for the eff
cient manner in which they had con-
structed such strong bridge in the
short time allotted, and pointed to
the value OF giving to each company
an opportunity Of building the various
sections so that the men would know
how to construct any part Of any
bridge which they were called upon to
build.
All Day in Camp.
He spent the entire day in camp and
went over all of the area, including
the trenches and machine gun nests
which have been dug by the men in
the various parts of the woodland as
a part of their engineering operations
al nj
hope held by officers of the District
Guard Of some time getting the entire
10Th National Guard Division in field
training encampment at one time,
when he said that 1t was not practical
BILE to mobilize them in one place. as
there was not an established militia
camp site within the entire area capa-
BILE of holding a division.
The Goth Division consists of the
militia Of the District Of Columbia,
Maryland and Virginia.
Col. Smith said that he had today
wired Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan Of
Washington, comma nder Of the Goth,
that he would be at Cascade. where
the division staff and other District
Of Columbia units are in camp, on Au-
gust 25 to inspect their field training
MtH StHb tO DOSUc SEcths
A detachment Of the regiment was
sent this morning to the shores OF
Dogue Creek. where the men splashed
around waist deep in the chill waters,
engaged in the construction Of a foot
bridge.
The first of the kangaroo courts held
it's session last night when the unoffi-
cial Army court Of the Headquarters
and Service Company. after its officers
were reported safely in their quarters,
met and melted out punishment to the
recruits of the command, consisting
mainly Of a shower bath and Vigor-
GUS sand and canvas rundown in the
chill night air amid screams and bowls
Of protest. Several prisoners whose
names were on the docket when they
saw the method of punishment made
rapid strides for the nearby woods.
Sergt. Maj. James J. Skelly pre-
sided over the court, while Pvt. Tom
G. Boman attempted to defend the
men.
Sergt. Harry Harth returned to-
day from New York City, where his
father was ill. and took charge Of
the newly organized drum and bugle
corps, which will make it's debut on
the parade grounds at the Sunday
review.
Col. John w. Oehmann will leave
Sunday for Cascade, to report to
Gen. Stephan for duty with the goth
Division staff, which Is to engage in
24-hour field maneuver.
Pvt. Harry Wechsler. chauffeur of
the Engineer headquarters car, also
will go to Cascade, as will Technical
Sergt. Frank B. Kaye, official photog-
rapher Of the regiment.