Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-04

With the encampment period of the
29th Division headquarters troops, ana
the 121st Regiment of Engineers. form
ing the largest contingent OF the Ma
tional Guard of the District OF Column
bia, only one week of, the armory al
North Capitol and D streets. Is the
scene of feverish activity as the various
units are making preparations for the
early movement of the property ana
equipment which they must have In
camp for the training, and also for
the troop movement nexI Sunoay: ,1o;
The 260th Coast Artillery, under MAJ.
Walter w. Burns. has now been at Fort
Monroe for a week, and will return TO
washington next Saturday on the eve
of the departure of the other troops,
who will go to Camp Albert G. Ritchle,
at Cascade, Md, for theif two weeks.
The Maryland troops VIII nave COM
pIeted their training the day before the
arrival of the District of Columbia con-
tingents, but the latter will find much
of the preliminaries incidental to set
Ting down In camp already done. The
District troops will use the tents OF the
Maryland National Guard. In addl-
ton they will find among the comforts
there electrically lighted tents ana per-
manent concrete floors. so that tnere
will be none of the laborious digging
usually necessary for drainage purposes
around tents which are set on In the
field without any such: preparation.
However there is some doubt at this
time as to whether the District citizen
soldiers will enjoy the advantages OF
swimming and boating in the artificial
lake, which many of them enjoyed last
wear. AS previously reported, the dam
which backs up the water forming the
lake broke lust before the Maryland
troops started their training. Imme-
date steps were taken to repair 1t. This
was done, and the water had again been
turned into the area, and it was estl-
mated that it would require three weeks
to get the water to its former level
which would have been at the time
of the arrival of the District militia.
However, Maryland officers who recently
visited the camp came back with the
story that the dam had again carried
away, and it seemed doubtful. according
to them, as to whether the District men
would have any more advantages than
the MARYLAND militia in so far as recrea-
ton facilities on the lake is concerned.
However, there are other water sport
facilities in close proximity to the camp,
and it is expected that the troops Will
make full use of them, if the lake Is
not ready as they expected.
The vanguard of the District con-
tingent is to be made up this week, and
it will leave on Thursday in private
Transportation. These will include the
officers and men who will make all
preuarations for the arrival OF the main
body, including the preparation OF the
noon meal on Sunday, when the larger
force is due to arrive. The advance
guard of the division headquarters
troops will be in command OF MAI.
Edward H. Grove, while 1t was said
at brigade headquarters that they had
not vet received any information as to
the commanding officer Of the ergi-
neers' advance guard.
One of the most important prepafa-
tons for the encampment is being car.
ried out under the direction of Capt.
Fletcher F. Bernsdorff, Quatermaster
Corps, and that is the assembling of
the tons Of supplies necessary for the
well-being and internal comfort OF the
troops during the encampment. All
of the non-perishable supplies have
been contracted for and most OF them
have been delivered at the armory,
ready for transportation by motor truck
to the camp. It was announced at the
brigade Headquarters that all OF the
supplies which it is possible to purchase
at such a great distance are being
bought In Washington prior to the de-
parture of the troops.
The loading OF the camp tmped1menta
will begin at the Union Station at
O'Clock next Saturday morning when
five baggage cars will be placed on the
theatrical siding. Two units have been
assigned to car, so that the material
of each command may be kept separate
and easily accessible when the troops
arrive in camp. These cars will be dis
patched separately from the troop train
but they will be on the camp siding by
the time the troops arrive on Sunday:
The headquarters troops and the
Engineer regiment Will march to the
Union Station on Sunday morning in
SUFFICIENT time to board the train so
that it may start promptly at $3.50
o'clock In the morning. Reglmental
and separate organization commanders
have been instructed to submit to the
brigade headquarters before August 2,
a complete list of personnel by name
and grade, who have been authorized
to make the trip to camp in private
transportation. It was pointed out that
the War Department this year has
given authority for certain percentage
of each unit to travel by private auto
mobile, If they desire, and they Will re-
ceive an allowance of 8 cents mile for
this.
Regardless of the number who go by
private automobile, 1t was said, 10
coaches will make up the special troop
train which will leave Sunday morning.
The headquarters and Service Company
will require two coaches alone and the
band one coach. Each OF the lettered
companies dlSU Will IldFC OhC NooCh'
An instruction schedule for the in
tensive training of the Engineer troops
has Just been completed by Lieut..
George F. Hardin, regimental plans and
training officer, and will be issued to
the command this week. 1t gives gen.
eral scope of the results to be obtained
and details the specific periods of work
for each unit. Should rain intervene
and prevent the carrying out OF the
field activities, plans have been made
for indoor instruction. The objective
for the encampment, as outlined, for
all individuals and units is: In gen.
eral, the attaining Of a reasonable pro-
ficiency in the basic training under
taken; in particular, the application to
practical problems, of the theoretical
and practical knowledge gained In ar
mory instruction, in laying out and
constructing simple military field works,
in the application of the pontoon bridge
and the footbridge, including ability
to construct stream crossing eXpedl-
tents; in the handling and use OF mill
tary explosives and in the application OF
the principles of road construction; the
qualification in rifle Workmanship OF
such. men as have not previously quail
fed: and finally. the ability to operate
tactically, as infantry in emergencies,
with reasonable proficiency"
The various units will be put through,
at the beginning of the encampment,
aiY1o iY1cfT1IFfiOfa IN