Evening star., 1934-08-06
D. c. GUARDSMEN
BEGIN RIGOROUS
TRAINING TOUR
121st Engineers, 600
Strong, Arrived at Camp
Ritchie Yesterday.
MEMBER OF ADVANCE
GROUP BADLY BURNED
Pvt. Charles r. Fisher Injured
When Flaming Kerosene Splashes
on Him in Kitchen.
BY w. S. TARvER'
stan Correspondent Of The Star.

CAMP ALBERT C. RITCHIE, CAS-
CADE, Nd. August 6.-Fairly well
settled in camp. the District National
Guard. which arrived here yesterday
some 900 strong, turned today to the
rigorous training program which has
been mapped out for its two weeks
annual field duty.
Combining training with practical
administration, the 12lst Engineers,
who include the large majority Of the
troops in camp, concentrated this
morning on camp engineering. Under
the direction of their officers, the men
began making the various improve
ments desired for rendering their stay
here more pleasant.
This engineering work preceded by
the usual first-day hygiene and sani-
tation lecture, which was delivered by
Maj. Joseph J. Greenlaw, regimental
surgeon, there also was physical drill,
close-order drill and instruction in
military courtesy and interior guard
duty.
Burned by Kerosene.
The first serious accident of the en-
campment occurred early yesterday
morning. before the main body of
troops arrived. Pvt. Charles r. Fisher,
% years old, of 1881 Naylor road,
was burned by flaming kerosene. He
was sent to the Waynesboro, Pa, hos
pital where physicians said he was
suffering from Second-degree burns TO
his right hand, arm and leg.
Fisher was saved from more serious
injury by the quick action of his
brother, Corpl. Richard T. Fisher, who
caught him and stripped of his blaz-
ing clothes after he ran screaming
from the company kitchen.
The accident happenened when
Pvt. Peter P. Panagopoulus of 1880
Thirty-sixth street threw kerosene on
a slowly burning fire in the kitchen
stove. The flames shot out of the
can Of the inflammable fluid and
Panagopoulus hurled 1t from him.
The kerosene splashed on Fisher, who
was standing nearby, and his clothes
were ignited. Sergt. B. M. Dorsey,
also of the Military Police Company,
took him to the hospital. Fisher was
member Of the advance mess detail
which came to camp Saturday Be-
cause of the work of this detail, the
main body of men found an elaborate
Sunday dinner waiting for them when
they pulled in.
Troops Arrive at Noon.
The troops rolled into camp around
noon yesterday by train and automo-
bile after an uneventful trip from
Washington. Col. John w. Oehmann
of the 12lst Engineers, the camp COM
mander, commended his officers on
! the smoothness of the movement The
troop train arrived about on Sched-
ule, the Guardsmen formed in a COL
umn of squads and marched to
,, the respective company street of
each component. The 121st Engineer
Band, under command of Warrant
Of1cer Meyer Goldman, led them. A
motor convoy of 10 automobiles and
three motor cycles was brought to
| camp by Sergt. Elmer Skinner of the
Military Police Company.
Upon taking command of the camp
Col. Oehmann issued the first order
of the year, naming the following off,
GERS as the camp staff: Capt. Charles
! -" ASAAASAAoOAly Ndpb. Wd1LCI
S. Welsh, supply officer; Mai. James
r. Lusby, finance officer; Maj George
J. Allen, medical and sanitation off,
Ger; Maj. Greenlaw, assistant medi-
cal and sanitation officer; Mai. Sidney
Morgan, inspector; Capt. Ralph L.
Walker, assistant inspector; Capt.
Just c. Jensen, ordnance officer: Capt.
Claude Burlingame, utilities officer,
and Lieut.. Henry B. Cockrell, trans
portation officer.
Shortly after the District troops ar
rived here the 29th Signal Company
OF Norfolk, Va, pulled in. The Vir-
g1nians Travelled by boat to Baltimore
and then by train to camp. The COM
pany is commanded by Capt. Louis
Philhower.
Band Concert Tonight.
The first of series of regular band
concerts, staged especially for the en-
listed men, will be given tonight. Every
night hereafter the band will play,
Last night there was a special concert,
directed by Leader Goldman for the
l2lSt Engineer officers. Tomorrow
morning the band will travel to Sabil-
lasville to play at the Maryland State
! tuberculosis Sanatorium.
Preparatory to the beginning of
| training Col. Oehmann called his off,
GERS together and outlined to them
the broad objectives of the encamp-
| ment. The officers reported to him
that they found the camp fairly clean
and in comparatively good shape.
Col. Oehmann designated his execu-
tive officer, Lieut. Col. Julian S. Off,
Maj. Greenlaw and Capt. D. Lee
Hooper, Regular Army Engineer in
structor, as an inspecting board for
the daily inspection of kitchens and
company areas. Based on their de-
ciSions, efficiency flags are to be
awarded daily.
Maj Ralph S. Childs, commander of
| the 1st Battalion; Mai. GreenIaw and
Lieut. Francis N. Strawbridge, Med
lcal Corps, were designated to the
board. which will inquire into acci-
dents and sicknesses.
The officer of the day was Lieut..
Howard Burd of Company z, 121st
Engineers. There was an informal
guard mount yesterday Formal guard
| mount and regimental parade are
scheduled for late this afternoon.
The staff of Maj. Gen. Milton A
Rockford, commanding the 29th Di-
vision, began arriving yesterday and
continued to filter into camp today.
The slst and 58th Brigade officers will
, not come to camp until next week,