Evening star., 1936-08-12
GUARDSMEN HOLD.
CAMP CEREMONIES
Over 100 Recruits Inducted
Into 121st Engineers at
IndiantoWn Gap.
ny WILLIAM S. TARVER,
STAR CORRESPONDENT of The Star.

Stah Correspondent "a hc oboA'
rNDIANTOwN GAP, Pa, August
12-Annual regimental day cere-
monies were being held here this att
ernoon by the 12lst Engineers 1or the
formal induction into the organiza-
tion of more than 100 recruits. Maj.
Gen. Milton A. Reckord, ad1utant gen
eral of Maryland and commander OF
the 29th National Guard Division, OF
which the Washington regiment Is
part, was to be the principal speaker.
Following the custom of past years,
the regiment was to be formed IN q
hollow square on the parade ground
to hear It's commander, Col. John w.
Oehmann, give an inspirational ad-
dress. Mai. A. L. Smith, chaplain,
was to recite the history of the regi-
ment. The ceremony closes with a
pledge of allegiance by the recruits
and a formal parade. Because of the
distance of this encampment from
Washington, few, if any, visitors from
the District were expected.
Salvos Of artillery fire continued to
echo through the gap this morning
AZ the saith Brigade began its third
successive day on the range, located
dozen miles from camp, atop ridge
in the foothills of the Blue Ridge
Mountains.
Handle Big Guns.
The 10th from Maryland. the llltn
from Virginia and the 176th OF Penn
sylyania. which compose the brigade,
took turns handling the big guns, sup
nlementing theoretical training ac-
uuired during the Winter in armorles.
Led by Lieut.. Col. Edwin P. Con-
quest. division intelligence officer, the
division staff set out Tor recon-
naissance of the Granville area to
the south of camp, which will be the
scene of defensive field problems to be
worked out with the entire personnel
next week. Their purpose was to plan
the tactical organization Of the posi-
ton preparatory to its actual occu-
pation by the division personnel.
Original plans called for the opera
ton officer, Lieut.. Col. George Hender-
son. who, in civil life, is Mayor OF
Cumberland, Md, to conduct tne
reconnaissance, but he was calleo 10
Philadelphia today to atteno LIE
funeral of an uncle.
Most training this week Is oeins
conducted with the object OF prepar-
ing for the war games next week.
with that purpose in mind. Col. Oen-
mann took the officers and non-com-
missioned officers of his regiment into
the field last night to practice recon-
noitering and marching by compass
in the darkness.
Three Problams Worked Out.
The 1st Battalion, Maj. Ralph >.
Childs commanding. went 10 ue
Swatara Gap area and there WORKED
out three problems requiring the
Guardsmen to grope along roads and
across rough terrain with only the
illuminated face of a compass 1or
guidance. Each time the party reached
its destination promptly.
The I'd Battalion group. led by
Mai. Clarence S. Shields, practiceo
nighttime reconnaissance of roads.
rough country and bridges. 1t operated
in the Granville and East Hanover
areas, which it will occupy during the
field maneuvers.
This morning the engineers were
hard at work repairing their pontoon
bridges and other equipment, which
will be necessary to the smooth opera
ton of the division next week.
Pvt. Herbert E. Morgan of the 121st,
who was stricken with appendicitis
Monday night, still was in the Harris
burg (Pa.) Hospital today, but was
reported improving.
Lost Battalion" Arrives.
The "lost battalion of the 116th
Virginia Infantry finally arrived in
camp late yesterday, almost two days
late. It had been left behind in Front
Royal because of lack of trucks.
The 58th Maryland Infantry Brigade
was to begin today its movement from
the State military reservation at Cas-
cade, Md, to Indiantown Gap, where
it will complete the first concentration
of the entire 29th Division since the
World War.
Dividing his command, Brig. Gen.
Washington Bowie ordered the 1st
Regiment to move out today and the
5th Regiment tomorrow. Arrival here
of the 1st was expected this afternoon.
The 5Sth Brigade has spent the last
two days at Cascade on the rifle range.
The 91st Infantry Brigade, Virginia
National Guard, went on the rifle range
today.
A field command post, which is the
nerve center of division, was set up
yesterday by the Norfolk Signal Com
pany with the assistance of other COM
munications sections and was in full
operation today.
Planes Get Messages.
Airplanes Of the 104th Observation
Squadron, Goth Division aviation,
swooped down at intervals to scoop
up messages from lines strung between
poles, and were in almost constant
radio communication with the opera
tions, center. ground communi-
cation also was carried on by means
of white cloth panels laid on the
ground and plainly visible from aloft.
The first military intelligence prob
lem for a whole brigade, under the
supervision Of the division intelligence
officer, was worked out yesterday, with
Lieut.. Col. Conquest and his assistant,
Maj. Sidney Morgan of Washington,
directing.
Trained observers had enacted be-
fore them a 14-stage simulated at
tack and we're required to report ac-
curately what occurred and prepare
maps showing the terrain and exactly
where each development was OBJ