Evening star., 1934-08-07
121ST ENGINEERS
DIGGING TRENCHES
Guardsmen Down to Hard
Work at Cascade-Gen.
Reckord Greets staff.
BY w. S. TARvER,
stafr correspondent Of the star.


CAMP ALBERT c. RITCHIE, CAS-
sCADE, Nd, August T.-wfth ideal
weather prevailing, the 12lst Engi-
neers got out their picks and shovels
this morning and went to work dig
ging trenches, throwing up wire barr
ricades and preparing camouf1age
positions just as they would be called
on to do under actual war conditions.
The sky was clear and the sun
beat down strongly through the thin
mountain air, but low temperatures
and cooling breezes made even such
strenuous physical exertion less ar
duous than in lower attitudes.
The men worked with a will and
when noon recall was sounded trooped
back to camp ravenous for the plenti-
full meal which was ready for them.
All messes in camp have been uni
formly good this year and no COM
plants have been heard.
The 1st Battalion of the Engi-
neer Regiment was scheduled to begin
range and musketry firing this after
noon under direction of Capt. Just C.
Jensen, ordnance officer, and Maj.
Ralph S. Childs, battalion COM
mander. The I'd Battalion will
not go on the range until next week.
Most of the firing today was to con-
sist of combat training and rife
target practice, although Capt. Jensen
said he thought few of the men
would be able to begin firing for
record.
I'd Battalion to Parade.
Late this afternoon the I'd Bat
talon win put on an informal guard
mount and then will parade.
The first regimental parade of the
encampment was held yesterday after
noon, with Col. John w. Oehmann
Of the 121st engineers and camp COM
mander. reviewing his troops. He
later commended the regiment for its
appearance and drill. There was also
formal guard mount, with Lieut..
John T. O'Neil relieving Lieut. Howard
Burd as officer of the day.
The 29th Division staff was working
this morning on revision and modern
ization plans. Within the next few
days the staff expects to have pre-
pared detailed orders, which would
set in motion the entire complicated
mechanism of the division at any
given date it might be called to active
duty.
Units not now in existence, but
which would be necessary to complete
the division set-up in war time, are
being assigned to towns and sections
where they could be recruited. Plans
also are being made for locating and
training the various specialists neces-
Sary for smooth functioning of the
organization.
Gen. Reckord Greets Staff.
The first meeting of the division
STAFF since Maj. Gen. Milton A. Reck-
ord was appointed division COM
mander to succeed the late Maj. Gen.
Anton Stephan was held yesterday,
and Gen. Reckord officially greeted
his officers. He formerly was the
brigadier general commanding the
5Sth Infantry. Maryland National
Guard, and was promoted shortly
after Gen. Stephan's death last
March. Gen. Reckord discussed the
recent law which Federalized the Ma
tional Guard. making it component
part Of the United States Army.
He announced the death several
months ago of Lieut.. Col. William e.
Withgott, finance ofhcer, who was q
Maryland State Senator Lieut.. Col
j. Harry Wagner Of Baltimore viii
succeed him. Announcement also was
made that Lieut.. Col. Richard Bid
good Of Richmond, Va, Is III and un-
able to attend camp.
A talk on leadership was given by
Col John c. Cutchins, chief Of staff.
He illustrated his points by citing
specific World War instances.
Pvt. Charles r. Fisher Of the mil
itary police company, who was Sc
verely burned by flaming kerosene
Sunday morning, was to be trans
ferTed today from the waynesboro,
Pa, Hospital to Walter Reed Hospital
in Washington.