Evening star., 1935-05-26

in the East. With other officers OF
the Goth National Guard Division,
which comprises the citizen soldiery of
this city, the States Of Maryland and
Virginia and a portion of PennSylva-
MIA, the local officials have made a
survey not only of the camp area as
signed to the local troops, but of the
general territory in which the opera
ti0nS will be carried out.
Col. John w. Oehmann, command
ing the local militia and the 121st
Regiment of Engineers, the latter the
division Engineer regiment, with Capt.
Walter S. Welsh, commanding the
Headquarters and Service Company Of
the Engineer outfit. made study of
the available camp facilities at Mount
Gretna, Pa, where the local troops will
be based.
There they found practically all OF
the camp facilities in good shape, and
except for few minor repairs to camp
buildings, there is little to be done. 1t
was stated that the Pennsylvania au-
thorities already had made prepara-
ton for the necessary repairs by sub
mitting estimates to the National
Guard Division of the War Depart
ment.
1t was said that 60 officers attended
the Pennsylvania conferences, includ-
ing all of the 29th Division officers,
some from the 28th Division in Penn
sylvania, and some from the Sd Corps
Area headquarters at Baltimore. Md.
The camp where the Washington
troops will be located it was said, is
on a large lake, where the men Will
be able to enjoy aquatic sports. Also
there are available q number OF pom
toons. to be used by the Engineer
troops for construction of bridges dur
ing the training period of the first
week in camp. 1t was said to be prob
able that during the first week the
troops will be trained in camp in prep
aration for the field maneuvers, which
are expected to take place the second
week
It was also pointed out that stoves
will have to be provided for the camp
kitchens as well as ice boxes There
is large drill ground available. which
also will be used in conjunction with
the 104th Medical Regiment from Bal
timore. The camp area assigned TO
the District of Columbia troops is
about half a mile from the division
headquarters Nearby will be located
the 9lst Infantry Brigade of the Vir-
ginia National Guard. commanded by
Brig Gen. S. Gardner Waller, and the
58th Infantry Brigade, Maryland Ma
tional Guard. commanded by Brig.
Gen. Washington Bowie, jr. 1t was
said. however, that considerable camp
construction will have to be done for
those troops. While the water mains
are in place, laterals will have to be
constructed to the camp facilities,
such as showers, and water for kitchen
use
While preparations are going for
ward for the participation Of the
militia in the general maneuvers, it
was said that no informal ton has as
yet been received from the Regular
Army authorities as TO the allotment
Of time for the various operations.
No definite time has been fixed for
further divisional conferences on the
maneuvers, it being pointed out that
Mai Gen. Milton A Reckord, COM
manding the 29th Division, will call
a conference as soon as he finds that
it is necessary. In the interim the
officers who attended the conference
will go ahead with their plans in a
general way, such as the preparation
of field equipment for service, and
planning the movement of the troops
to the camp site. The detail of the
manner of their movement has not
been decided. 1t is probable, however,
that with motor equipment at pre-
MUM for such a large movement the
local troops will be dispatched to the
war area by railroad. But this is a
detail to be worked out as soon as word
is received from the Army authorities
as to what is expected from the local
troops and the others in the division.
1t is possible. however. that enough
motor equipment may be available for
| the movement of those troops close to
the camp site, leaving for railroad
movement those some distance from
the scene.
Col. Oehmann addressed the men,
bers of the conference on his tenta-
tive plans for the training, and eX-
pressed the desire to have his regl-
ment work with the Virginia and
Maryland infantry brigades. provid-
ing the engineering work necessary
for field operations. This is the first
opportunity which has been presented
to the local Engineer regiment for such
work. In fact, it will be the first time
in the history of the division that
it has been modified as a unit, and
it will furnish the first real checkup
of its ability to operate as a unit.
Officers of the Guard found out that
there is considerable detail work to
be done prior to the time the troops
start for the camp. All equipment
must be checked and that found un-
serviceable must be replaced before
the field operations begin. They will
| be required to have on hand every
article and piece of equipment which
would be necessary to maintain them
| in the field under wartime conditions
Target practice on the local rifle
range will be resumed today by the
| local Militia, when the End Battalion
the field. 1t is expected that there
will be 200 officers and men on the
range.
! Pvt. First Glass; George w. Cow
perthwaite has been ordered promoted
to corporal In the 10Th Division Mill
tary Police Company.
| The following have been ordered
| transferred from the active to the in
active list of their respective units,
for the reasons given:
| Business interference with the per-
formance of military duty-Pvt. Glenn
]. Bode, Medical Department Detach-
ment, 121st Engineers: Pvt. Edward L.
Sabatini, Medical Department Detach-
ment, 121st Engineers; Pvts. Ross E
| PAYNE, Melvin F. Carroll and Pvt
First Glass; Normal A. Browning, all
of Battery C, 260th Coast Artillery;
Pvt. Lawrence Persons, Battery E,
260th Coast Artillery.
Temporary removal from the city
Pvt. Augustine B. Crovo, Battery E,
26Oth Coast Artillery.
rz,~1 p;,I,ord n yXToI1y,,on D,tt,r,,