Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-04
GUARDSMEN TAKE
WATER INTO CAMP
121st Engineers Carry L.
500 Gallon Tank From Wash
ington to Fort Humphreys.
BY a staff Correspondent of The Star.


FORT HUMPHREYS, Va, August 4.
Solving the water problem at least
temporarily by bringing 1,50O-gallon
container with them, the 12lst. Regi-
ment of Engineers, District National
Guard, arrived here yesterday under
the command of Col. John L. Oehmann
and set up tents for two weeks en-
campment.
Attacking an area 800 yards by 800
yards near the entrance to the military
reservation on the Westinghouse Rich
mond Highway, the seven companies
cleaned up a dense primitive growth
to such an extent that company streets
were outlined and tents put up before
nightfall The work of clearing away
underbrush continued today, one-fourth
the regiments strength of 400 officers
and men being engaged. and Col.
Oehmann planned to make his first
inspection late this afternoon.
Bring Tank Here for Refill.
Shortage of water which has been
felt at Quantico, Va, where the United
States Marines are quartered, and
threats of a shortage at Fort Hum
phreys. held Col. Oehmann to bring
along a 1,500-gallon tank he borrowed
from the District Water Department.
The tank is taken to washington and
refilled as soon as it is empty and
thus far, Col. Oehmann said today, mas
proved entirely adequate.
Road construction, pOntoon work,
fertilization problems and similar tasks
for the engineer mind are to engage
the Guardsmen until August IT. The
regimental complement is six line COM
panies, one headquarters, one medical
and the regimental band, which Is di-
rected by Myer Goldman, the well
known washington orchestra leader.
Col. Oehmann and 80 officers under
his command are directing the work.
Much of the activity thus far has been
manual, with the men cleaning away
underbrush and improving roads many
of them stripped to the waist. Despite
the intense heat none suffered notice.
ably yesterday or today and Col.
Oehmann said nobody had complained
of "eVen a headache" Bathing faclll-
ties were said not to be as plentiful as
the men might want, but Maj. George
w. Allen, chief medical officer, anticl-
pated no difficulties. Bathing in the
nearby river had been dispensed with
on account of the danger of typhoid
fever.
Food Supply Is Plentiful.
The camp is located 1our-tenths of a
mile from the Regular Army post, a
distance to preserve independence OF
the regular soldiers, Col. Oehmann said,
but near enough for any service that
might be desired. Food supplies were
said to be plentiful and the temporary
field kitchens were among the nrSt
equipment thrown up.
An original road of 200 yards in
length is being constructed by the
Guardsmen and at one end the en-
gineers will build a bridge across q
stream, thus affording 1ngress and
egress to a large parking space for the
regiments automobiles, OF which there
are about IS. The men are following
the various courses of instruction In
groups, which assures variety and in
tensive instruction.
The work today was being done TIC
the accompaniment of the regimental
band. whose members, SO in number
Capt. Goldman had out under the
trees near the roadway. Goldman
said none of the players was pro-
fessional, the band being recruited
from bookkeepers, lawyers. clerks, and
the other vocations. Col. Oehmann
declared he would put the band UP
against any Regular Army outfit. y
The bandSmen are working, too. The
members put up THEIR OWL IeutS'
Fireworks Come High.
Pvt. ]. F. Gates of Company A was
the camps first casualty. He chose the
first night to set off fireworks and to-
day, while his fellow soldiers fought
underbrush, rustled stove wood and
worked on the road, young Gates
strolled around marked-of area with
a large mallet on his shoulder and an
armed guard at his heels. He volun-
teered his name sheepishly and added
that he had -four brothers" though he
didn't explain what that had to do with
his carrying the mallet.
Tactical problems will be taken UP
in earnest as soon as the camp is Mt
ted out properly. Each tent has elec-
trio lights installed by the Engineers
themselves and every convenience
known to men living under the condi-
tions has been provided. Col. Schultz
commanding Fort Humphreys, planned
to inspect the camp informally this
afternoon. Later a board of three
Regular Army officers will inspect the
encampment and make a field inspec-
ton report on their findings. Col
Oehmann was much pleased with re-
suits.