Evening star., 1939-08-14
BY ROBERT A. ERWIN.
Star stan Correspondept

under the railway bridge, while thev
were siven support by the 9Th Field
Artillery following them several
miles to the south around Brents-
Vile.
Company r Of the engineers
claimed the flrst casualty and the
nrst prisoner of the engagement
Pvt. John A. O'Connell fell in 4 field
as the company retreated and broke
the second finger on his right hand
The prisoner taken by Company
r was Pvt. Francis r. McManus.
motorcycle man OF the 72d Signal
Troop. Pvt. McManus spent the
f1rst part of his roadside imprison-
ment reading funny papers.
The Regular Armys big guns
thundered several miles behind the
main line. The fire came from the
9Th Field Artillery.
The Bull Run warfare. which ia
the Sd Corps Area phase OF this
years 1st Army maneuvers. began
shortly after 8 O'Clock this morning
Ihe 18th Division. including the
Virginia, District and MARYLAND Ma
tional Guards and the 2sth Division
pennsylvania National Guard. 4
force totaling 1900 men. assigned
TO the defense of Washington. found
the fast-moving, hard hitting enemv
almost in their midst. Reinforce
ments OF 10Th Division Infantry. in
cluding parts Of the lst Virginia and
the Sth Maryland, were rushed west :
ward from Groveton to Gainesville
and thence southwark on Highway
sl9 to head of the enemy.
War in Air.
The Regular Army's position was
south and west Of the 2oth Diyision
and west Of the 2Sth. which is oper-
ating from headquarters south Of
Manassas.
The war was fought not only on
the ground, but from the air. Mary
land and Pennsylvania National
Guard planes simula ted lombard
ment OF the 9Th Field Artillery, while
back near Gainesville the 26Oth
Coast Artillery, the District Guard
anti-aircraft. thundered at Regular
Army aircraft from emplacements
located in open fields and in heavil
wooded sections around Gainesville
18th Division supply base.
The invading tanks and infantry
after showing the District Engineers
back. soon found their path blocked
Instead Of actually throwing heavy
barriers across the road. Capt. Johns
company spread cigar boxes over the
gravel highway to represent bar
ricades. The District company CAP
tured one machine gun from an
Army motor cycle.
Only the tents on Division Hill, ~
10th Headquarters. and = small num-
Der OF tents in other area remained
when camp was broken for the SOL
diers to 90 to battle. Troopers
flung their knapsacks over their
backs and marched or rode away,
leaving behind them Army cots, big
wall tents and shower baths. Ahead
OF them were nights in shelter tents
sleeping on the ground except for
their bedding rolls, with food served
from supply trucks sent into the
fleld area before the meals.
The 10th Divisions maneuver area,
pAralleling that of the 2Sth to the
south. Is bounded roughly by q point
2 miles west of Gainesville, division
on Lee highway, running to
New Market to wellington and to
Bull Run at historic Balls Ford.
Each Of the District National
Guard regiments was ready to play
its part. There were the 12lst Engi-
neers. assigned to bridge building,
anti-tank and anti-cavalry opera
tions. road building. demolition and
other OF the many duties that en-
gineer regiments are called upon to
perform; the 29th Division special
troops. including the 2oth Tank
Company for few modernised units
and the 29th Signal Company for
communications and "servicing" of
division headquarters and the 200th
Coast Artillery, defender OF Gaines
vile.
Friends Visit Troopers.
The District troops were all primed
for the struggle after = Sunday Of
rest, recreation and worship that
brought thousands Of relatives and
friends from Washington into the
area. Visitors to the 10th Division
sector were 50 great in number that
Lee highway was an almost endless
line of cars all day long.
The 28th Division. commanded by
Maj. Gen. Edward Martin, was
forming Its lines south of its outpost
which had been placed along the
south bank of Occoquan Greek.
Commanding the 2sth troops was
Maj. Gen. Milton A. Reckord, Bal
timore.
Planned down to the finest detail,
one of the administrative features
Of the maneuver will be control and
use of motor trucks for handling of
supplies and foods and for moving
troops Of first one regiment and
then another during the course of
. day. The 104th Quartermaster
Regiment will play prominent part
in this picture. One battalion, the
lst. comes from Washington and
is commanded by Maj. Fletcher F.
Bernsdorff.
More than $50 National Guard.
Regular Army and Reserve officers
of the 29th Division assembled yes
terday afternoon on Division Hill''
in front Of Gen. Reckord's tent to
receive their orders for the big
push
1t was something of . skull Sos
sion in which the week Of training
just completed and the four-day
battle" ahead were discussed by the
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