Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-11
DC. Guard Guns
Impress Throng
.AtFie|d Drill
Muneuvers Feature
Apple Festival
At Mortinsburg
BY THOMAS c. HARDMAN,
Star Staff Correspondent.

MARTINSBURG. w. Va, Nov
LAUNDERING trucks pulling s.
inch guns of the 260th Coast Ar
tillery of the District of Columbia
National Guard rolled up and down
| 6-foot embankments and through
heavy underbrush on the outskirts
of Martinsburg today. highlighting
series of successful regimental
maneuvers.
Top-ranking officers admittedly
were surprised at the performance
of the l9-ton overall prime movers
and guns, which moved over rough
terrain in relentless fashion. Watch
ing the final stage of the maneu-
ver-the rolling of the last big piece
of equipment up and over rugged
embankment onto the highway
Col Walter W. Burns, regimental
commander, exclaimed, Il didn't
think it would do it."
Onlookers Cheer Troops.
Other trucks standing nearby
with emergency cables were not
needed. Capt. Carl Santilli, in
charge of the truck maneuver, de-
livered his final command amid
cheers of the spectators
Other 3-inch pieces and machine
guns were set up for practice and
instruction in a field at the rear of
the high school. The field plan was
complete, even to the new Army
anti-aircraft heigh t-finder and
range director The maneuvers were
designed as final preparation for the
regimental call to active duty at
Fort Bliss, Tex, in January.
Guardsmen re-assembled their
equipment shortly after noon to
participate in the Apple Festival
parade, witnessed by more than
10000 spectators. The regiment
was scheduled to begin the trip back
to Washington late this afternoon.
Giant Lights Draw ThrOngs.
Similar maneuvers were scheduled
today on a smaller scale at Keyser,
w. Va.
Searchlights of the regiment cut
paths through the haze over the
Martinsburg and Keyser hill coun-
try last night. Hundreds of spec
tators were attracted to the light
bases as the 100000 ,O00-c andlepower
beams played across clour-dotted
skies at imaginary air foes. Here
festival crowds milled around in
shadows at the base of the giant
lights.
1t. c. M. PentecoSt, commanding
Battery A. the searchlight detail. set
up two lights several hundred yards
apart near the high school here,
while third light was moved up to
Keyser to open the maneuvers at
that point.
Fetes for the Queen.
The four-mile parade this after
noon was to be led by the State
float of King" Henry Miller, jr., of
Paw Paw and Queen" Mary Lou
Billiard of Wheeling.
Miss Billiard will be feted tonight
at three dances and tomorrow will
return to studies at West Virginia
University, where she is junior.
Seton Darr, past president OF the
Bar Association of the District OF
Columbia, was principal speaker
this morning at the Martinsburg
American Legion Posts annual
Armistice Day observance, another
feature of the festivals final day.
No Mishaps on Trip.
Aside from minor tire and motor
repairs. the 75-vehicle CONVOY nego-
tiated the trek up from Washington
Yesterday without mishap. Officers
were we'll pleased with the prompt
departure and steady road time by
the convoy in this prep junket before
the 2,200-mile Texas journey. The
caravan of heavy trucks was broken
at noon yesterday for an Armistice
eve parade in Brunswick, Md.
Streets of the Potomac town were
lined with spectators, intent on
getting glimpse of the heavy guns
and marching guardsmen.
Uniformed American Legionnaires
from the District of Columbia de-
partment also participated in the
parade.
Mess details of the regiment took
advantage of the stopover to prepare
lunch for the men at the town park,
located within sight of the Potomac
River, and in the area where many
guardsmen have been called out in
past years for emergency service
during spring floods.