Evening star., 1935-08-11
REAL test of the mobility

ing maneuvers which are to be held at
Mount Gretna, Pa, when the 3rd
Army Corps units will serve as a re-
serve in the war games Of the 1st
Army at Pine Camp, N. Y.
The 29th Division was reconstructed
following the World War as the sue
cessor of the 29th or Blue and Gray
Division which served in France.
This will be the first year that the d.
vision has participated in a joint
camp. The 18th Division is composed
Of units from the States Of Maryland,
Virginia and Pennsylvania, and the
District Of Columbia. Heretofore, the
troops of the various States and the
District Of Columbia have held their
own field training camps. The en-
campment this year is part Of the
concentration and training Of the 1st
Army under the command of Mai.
Gen. Dennis z. Nolan. ALI troops OF
the First Army except the Sd Corps
will 20 into training in the vicinity
of Pine Camp, N. Y. Units Of the Sd
Corps, commanded by Mai. Gen. Rob-
ert z. Collan, have been detached
and will train as strategic reserve in
the Mount Gretna and Indiantown
Gap, Pa, area. Third Corps head
quarters. the 2sth Division, and the
10th Brigade of Regular Army troops
will camp at Indiantown Gap. The
29th Division, under the command OF
Maj. Gen. Milton A. Reckord, will
camp on the Pennsylvania State Mil
itary Reservation at Mount Gretna.
The purpose Of the concentration,
II was explained at local Guard
headquarters. will be:
I. To test the ability of active units
Of the Sd Corps to concentrate ST.
multaneously at existing strength,
prepared for field service.
2 To train all eschelons In the To-
gistics Of concentration, that is, the
time and space required for given ac-
concentrations, road marches
etc.
8. To provide combined field train
ing for all units of the Sd Corps so
that they may function smoothly in
the initial stages Of an emergency.
The first purpose Of the training. It
was added, will be the requirement
that the troops assemble at their va
rious armories. load the various items
of impedimenta and equipment which
will accompany them, proceed to the
various training camps, unload their
property and establish themselves In
camp on the first and second day OF
the training period.
The 121st Engineers of the local
Guard will move by motor. with Col.
John W. Oehmann in personal COM
mand of the movement. All other
units of the local outfit will move by
rail, under command of Mai. William
T. Roy. The motor distance of $50
miles win be covered in approximately
eight hours, the movement being made
at an approximate rate Of IS miles
per hour with two one-hour stops for
meals.
1t is now planned that all Of the
local units will assemble IN the arm
ory on the evening of August 16 for
an armory drill. remaining in the
armory over night, in order that all
troops will be available at an early
hour on the morning of August II.
Loading of supplies and equipment
on freight trains will begin at ap-
proximately 5 o'clock Friday morning.
It is estimated that the loading of
equipment will require four hours, this
being governed by the small doors
Of the freight cars and not by the
number Of men and trucks available,
it was explained. The motor caravan
and the troop train, it was said,
should leave the city more or less
simultaneously. However, 1t Is ex-
pected that the troops on the train
will arrive at the Mount Gretna des-
tination earlier than the others.
The State detachment of the Dis
trict of Columbia, under command of
Capt Fletcher F. Bernsdorff, Quarter
master Corps, will form a provisional
quartermaster supply organization,
which will assist in the handling of
all supplies and motor equipment. The
29th Division is said to be handicap
ped in this proposed maneuver by the
fact that certain new units allotted
to the District of Columbia for for
nation have not been organized under
the War Department policies, which
require maintenance Of National
Guard units as authorized In budget
allowances. These units comprise the
29th Division Quartermaster Regi-
ment. including motorized and ami
mal-dyawn trains; 104th Ordnance
Company, Division Headquarters Com
pany and certain other specialized
units. The Division Headquarters
Company will be missed particularly
this year. 1t was pointed out, in view
Of the fact that the operation of the
division headquarters will be at q
disadvantage when compared with
other division units in the Army
maneuver.
In order to partially overcome this
handicap Col. Oehmann has author
lied the allotment of additional
SRCNAuA SAOOPo
Maj. Roy to partially perform duties
which normally would be performed
by the division headquarters COM
pany. This increase in strength for
the special troops, it was announced,
has resulted in corresponding de-
crease for other local National Guard
units.
The l21st Regiment Of Engineers,
which are now at maintenance
strength provided for National Guard
organizations, have been Professionally
organized on o company headquarters
section and one platoon basis. The
normal war strength engineer COM
pany Is composed Of two platoons or
work units. Engineering instruments
and supplies for these two work units
are furnished. However, 1t was said
that because Of the reduced numbers
in a National Guard division. 5000
compared with war strength division
of $4,000, each company will take to