Evening star., 1938-08-01
Oehmann Says Checkup of
Force Could Have Been
Done in Three Days.
PHYSICAL REGULATIONS
PROVED BY INSPECTION
Only Four of AIS Enlisted Men
Have 1mpediment-These
Can Be Corrected.
By ROBERT A. ERWIN.

physically fit and ready for any
duty" was the pronouncement of Col
John w. Oehmann and other officers
of the 12lst Engineers of the Dis
trict National Guard as the regiment
progressed rapidly today toward COM
pletion of its test mobilization at
Camp Simms in Anacostia.
"Out of ATS enlisted men only four
had any impediment to which there
might be objection in case OF actual
mobilization" Col. Oehmann said,
land these impediments might be
overcome with treatment. This lndl-
Gates the thoroughness with which
the National Guard physical regula-
tions have been carried out"
The two-week training schedule for
che engineers calls for additional
physical examinations and property
counts for the remaining units today
and tomorrow, but Col. Oehmann de-
clared we could have completed this
mobilizat ton within three days. in
stead of four, with the perfected sys-
tenn now worked out. This is far
cry from the World War days of 1917,
when it took us eight days to mobilize
at Fort Myer, Va. We were in camp
five days before war was declared and
three days after the declaration. What
we are doing today is no different.
1t is all in the method and in the
efficiency now practiced."
Property Count Continued.
The Sunday mobilization program
included continuation of the count of
military and personnel property and
physical examination of Companies A
and B in the morning and regimental
officers in the afternoon.
A staff of reserve medical officers
from Pennsylvania, dispatched here
by 29th Division headquarters at
Baltimore. conducted the eXamina-
tions, completing physical check
up of an enlisted man ever two min
utes during the Sunday morning ex-
animation period.
Capt. Edward H. Walter, c. E., Reg
ular Army instructor assigned to the
engineers, said the medical side of the
mobilization had progressed very
smoothly and according to schedule
We are pleased with the condition of
the men. They are Of very high
type. Complete reports are being
compiled for each man, and these will
become a part of the records of the
War Department"
Better Mobilizat ton Methods.
Engineer officers agreed generally
that present mobilizati0l A methods are
100 per cent improved over the meth
DDS of 10 years ago." Troops were in
Quoted into the national service years
ago with the same lack Of prepared
ness as in the supply department.
Yesterday, Col. Oehmann and Capt
Walter agreed, the modern methods of
efficiency we're tried and proved salts
factory.
Officers also went through the Camp
Simms Medical Clinic yesterday and
were questioned as to the financial and
employment status of their dependents
in case they were called to war This,
also, will be included in the War De-
partment records
The physical tests included eye ear,
nose and throat, heart and lungs;
height, weight and chest measure
ments, general surgical conditions,
teeth, blood pressure, feet and other
physical features, followed by finger
printing conducted by men of the med
ical detachment. The property check
yesterday revealed only a few minor
losses of individual rather than Ma
tional Guard property on the part Of
the enlisted men.
Church Services Held.
Members of the Roman Catholic
Church attended mass at Camp Simms
at am. yesterday, while Protestant
troopers went to services at pm. con-
Quoted by the new chaplain, Capt.
Simpson B. Daugherty, D. D., pastor
of the United Brethren Church at
North Capitol and r streets NV.
Medical officers proceeded this
morning with examination of the en-
listed men of Companies C and D, fol-
lowed by the men OF the Headquarters
and Service Company and the band
section this afternoon. Tomorrow,
Companies E and F will be examined,
after which the entire Engineer Regi-
ment will prepare for departure We'd
nesday morning for Camp Albert C.
Ritchie, Md, where 10 days will be
spent in field maneuvers and military
training
The 121st Engineers Band, under
Warrant Officer Meyer N. Goldman,
played for band concert at Camp
Simms at 4;3o o'clock yesterday after
noon. The camp was thrown open to
visitors at 4, but this evening, visitors
will not be admitted until 6 o'clock,
Col. Oehmann said.