Evening star., 1939-08-10
BY ROBERT A. ERWIN.


GROVETON, Va, Aug. l0.-The
12lst Engineers, District National
Guard, plunged into battle" to-
day spurred by the warm praise of
Col. John Oehmann.
Rain last night made the weather
bit more endurable for the guards
men. The soldiers had worked in
the glare of the sun with the tenn
perature in the high 9Os since they
came to camp last week end for the
Sd Corps maneuvers.
The Engineers yesterday held an
informal field observance of their
reglmental day, pausing in the mid
die of bridge-building exercises to
assemble in dungarees on the barhs
Of Broad Branch while the reei-
mental band played the regimental
hymn and their commander ad-
dressed them.
The regiment could have COM
memorated its 18th anniversary in
no better way than it has done dur
ing the preliminary phases of the
encampment Col. Oehmann said
He congratulated his officers and
men on the excellent camp dis
clpline, pointing out that the guard
house was empty and it has not
been necessary for him to admin
lister punishment to a single men,
Der of his command. The health
record of the command also has
been perfect, he said
You have been called upon for
an exceptional amount of hard work
and have always responded with en-
thusiasm,' the colonel said.
"Chiggers" were the principal en-
emles of the Guardsmen today. But
just as in war time every attack
brings a new defense. the soldiers
have learned that gasoline applied
TO the affected spots brings the pests
to the surface and kills them.
Officers reported the general
health of the men as excellent.
Every Safeguard has been provided.
At the request of the inspector gen.
eral the Southern Railroad doubled
the number of watchmen at grade
crossings in the area and ordered
24-hour shifts.
Hazen and McCoach Expected.
The annual dinner of officers of
the regiment will be held in camp
just north of Lee highway, near
Groveton, at $50 pm. tomorrow
and Col. Oehmann expects to have
as guests of honor Melvin C. Ha-
zen, president of the Board of Dis
trlct Commissioners. and 1t. Col.
David McCoach, District Engineer
Commissioner.
One Of the greatest spectacles OF
the current encampment will be
held Saturday morning when the
entire 29th Division, 1000 men
strong passes in review at 1890
O'Clock before its commander, Mai
Gen. Milton A. Reckord, on a spe-
cially lmprovised field between Ma
nassas and the old stone house on
State highway No. 234. Carpenters
were working today on the review
ing stand which is in the center of
a broad, green field.
Not only will Gen. Reckord see the
troops. but the guests will include
Maj. Gen. James K. Parsons, COM
nlander of the Sd Corps Area; Maj.
Gen. Edward Martin, commander
of the 28th Division, Pennsylvania
National Guard; Gov. James H
Price of Virginia, Gov. Herbert r.
O'Conor of Maryland and Gov.
Arthur James of Pennsylvania.
Regiments Clash.
With Marine officers and other OBJ
servers on the side lines, the 1st and
5th Maryland Infantry regiments
waged battle yesterday in the
'stone house area. The lst Infan-
try took up defensive position on
high ground east of the stone house
with the 1st and I'd Battalions on
the hill. In command were Mai.
Winfield B. Harvard, Bel Air, Md,
1st Battalion, and Capt. Guy An
ders, Frederick, acting chief of the
I'd. The 1st Battalion. 10th Field
Artillery, Maryland National Guard,
was attached to them during the
battle.
Brig. Gen. D. John Markey, COM
mander of the 1st Infantry, antici-
pated the main effort of the emmy, in
this case the 5th Maryland, on his
left flank. He concentrated his
main group on that side, with their
mission to protect the division con-
centration at Groveton.
The Maryland regiments brought
into play many Of the weapons OF
modern warfare, such as smoke
candles, wireless radiophone, wire
less radio, automatic rifles, field
artillery and even aerial observa-
ton.
The 5th Infantry advanced on the
right flank instead of the left, but
was thrown back. The next attempt
was piercing movement into the
center of the line. However, the
Regular Army umpire nullified this
movement on the ground it was
conducted In exposed territory, leav-
ing the regiment open to enemy fire.
The expected attack of the Sd Bat
talon. 5th Infantry, did not mate
rialize. Gen. Markey, at the con-
clusion Of the battle test, said his
men had accomplished their mission.
Prisoners Captured.
Tbora u,ara oyo,, rricooorc II, t],a
all-Maryland war. A patrol Of the
Sd Battalion, lst Infantry, was cap
tured by the 5th. Likewise, two guns
and one battery of the 10th Field
Artillery were captured.
One of the Maryland companies
in camp is the Service Company, 1st
Infantry, from Silver Spring, COM
manded by Capt. Ward w. Cadding-
ton, composed Of six officers and IS
enlisted men. The company, serv-