Evening star., 1938-08-05
GUARDSMEN WORK
ON CONSTRUCTION
Build Pontoon Bridgeout Into
Lake Oehmann and
Repair Roads.
By ROBERT A. ERWIN,
Sta6 Correspondent Of The Star.

CAMP ALBERT c. RITCHIE, Cas-
cade, Nd, Aug 5.-Pursuing their
work as part Of the building arm of
the Nations defense forces. the 121st
Engineers of the District National
Guard swung into action constructing
bridges and culverts and repairing
roads in their third day at Camp
Ritchie.
Waist-deep and sometimes neck
deep in the waters of Lake Oehmann,
paralleling the horseshoe bend of the
Ritchie parade ground, Company A of
the 1st Battalion working under Capt.
James r. Quade, laid on the surface
an improvised pontoon bridge.
Company B, commanded by Capt.
William I. Mushake, invaded nearby
underbrush and forest areas to prac-
tice the camouflaging Of machine gun
nests and other batteries. while Com
pany c, under Capt William F. Jor-
gensen. used pulverized cinders,
brought from nearby, to repair the
center dirt road that parallels the
Camp Ritchie parade ground.
Road Damaged by Rain.
The road was found in poor condi-
ton when the engineers arrived We'd
nesday noon. Recent rains had washed
out the road surface in numerous
places, making use of the road DIM
cult for automobiles, trucks and troop
ers alike.
Maj. Ralph S. Childs is command
er Of the 1st Battalion, composed OF
Companies A, B and c.
Meanwhile the I'd Battalion, Com
panies D, e and F. under Maj Clar-
ence s. Shields, showed into the waters
of the lake the assault boats built by
the engineers at last years encamp-
ment. Each boat is designed to carry
eight men across the lake to establish
new bridgehead. r
Cox In Review Parade.
Brig. Gen. Albert L. Cox. new COM
mander of the District Guard. will
review oficially the first parade Of the
engineer regiment on Sunday after
noon at S o'clock. He will be &C.
companied to Ritchie by Col. Charles
A. Dravo, the adjutant general. and
possibly by Maj Edward Bettelheim
just named by Gen Cox to the State
staff of the District Guard. e.
Engineer officers were still trying
today to hoist the American flag on
the main parade ground pole. In ad-
dition to having to detail men to
clean up the camp area in the wake
of the Maryland National Guard
which left last Saturday, they found
the end of the pole rope, with hool
and clasp attached, stuck at the top
Of the hole. Vs.. -
to pay a steeple jack $25 to scale the
fiagpole and bring down the end OF
the rope to hoist the nag. Several
troopers have volunteered to climb
the 80-foot pole, but officers have re-
fused to let any one take the chance
First Battalion Parades Today.
The 1st Battalion was to hold its
first parade at S O'Clock this afternoon,
with music by the Engineers Band
under Warrant Omcer Meyer N. Gold
man. The End Battalion held it,
parade and formal guard mount yes
terday evening. The mount was put on
by First 1t. James D. Tanner and
Staff Sergt. James j. Stretch.
Col. Dan I. Sultan, retiring Engi-
neer Commissioner, will arrive in
camp tomorrow accompanied by Mrs.
Sultan to spend the day as guest
Of Col. John w. Oehmann. COM
mander of the engineers. The sultans
will spend the week end at the sum-
mer home OF Capt. H. c. Whitehurst,
district director Of highways at Mon
terey, Pa.
Commissioner Melvin G. Hazen will
make his annual visit to Camp
Richie next Wednesday, when he will
review the regimental day ceremonies
and parade. New men will be in.
Quoted formally into the Guard at the
same time, instead q last Wednes.
Aav a. eNlNiAa1lv aAbnfqe,lAA