Evening star., 1940-08-06
Oth Division Troops
Erecting Tent City
For Maneuvers
Units From District,
Maryland and Virginia
Arrive at battle-ground
BY ROBERT A. ERWIN,
Star Staff Correspondent.

- BY ROBERT A. ERWIN,
eos Star Staff Correspondent.
RENSSELAER, FALLS, N. Y, Aug.
6.-Refreshed by their first nights
sleep in camp, 29th Division troops
set out shortly after dawn today to
finish the task they began yester-
day, that of making a three-week
home in the green farm lands of
the st. Lawrence country.
Behind them were long train or
motor truck rides from the District,
Maryland and Virginia, while ahead
was a training program that will
have its windup week after next
when more than 10000 Regular and
National Guards will swing into
action in maneuvers that involve
troops of all parts of the country.
More than 5000 farmers have sur
rendered most of their own prop
erty rights for 81 days to make this
maneuver possible.
First Virginia Regiment Arrives.
The last contingent of 29th Di-
vision infantry arrived by train
at the little Rensselaer, Falls
railroad station, bringing into camp
the famous first Virginia regiment,
led by Col John Fulmer Bright,
Mayor OF Richmond, and the 116th
Virginia, under Col. George M.
Alexander of Lynchburg. Together
they form the 9lSt Brigade, COM
manded by Brig. Samuel Gardner
Waller, adjutant general OF Vir-
ginia.
Two District outfits arrived yes
terday morning by train, the
121st Engineers and the 29th Di-
vision, special troops. They were
hot, tired, weary and stiff after
an 18-hour trip from Washington
that included two meals on the way,
intermittent stops and a rainStorm
at Syracuse. The troopers slept as
best they could in day coaches, and
they estimate they averaged about
two hours sleep during the night.
They then marched 2 miles
down the highway toward Heuvel-
ton, 3rd Corps Area headquarters,
and along dusty, dirt road to their
bouviac area, where they turned to
putting up tents for eating, sleep
Ing and for headquarters. The
thirst they suffered on the train
was soon relieved at the special
troops canteen set up on the edge
of the camping area, which Is in a
valley below 29th Division head
quarters.
Two d. c. Units Absent.
Only two District units are still
ION the road" They are the 260th
Coast Artillery, in a weeks firing
practice at Fort Ontario, Oswego,
N. Y, and the 111th Ordnance Co.,
special troops, practicing at the
Army Proving Ground at Aberdeen,
Md. They will be here this week
end.
The 29th Division special troops
include the 29th Tank Co., Danville,
Va, and the 29th Signal Co., Nor
folk, which will come in tomorrow.
The tanks, capable of so miles per
hour over concrete highways, are
coming direct from their home base.
Capt. Bill Bailey Is commander of
the tank company.
Maj. William T. Roy, assistant
parliamentarian of the House of
Representatives, is commanding off,
Ger Of the special troops, and Col.
John w. Oehmann, District build
ing inspector, commands the 121st
Egineers.
We have so many new recruits"
said Brig. Gen. Albert Cox, COM
mander of the District Guard, that
this maneuver will serve a fine pur-
pose, not in field training but also
In introducing them to military life"
He was accompanied by Gordon Hit
tenmark, N. B. G. radio announcer,
recently commissioned a captain in
the adjutant generals department in
the District Guard and the National
Guard of the United States.
Among the early arriving division
staH officers were 1t. Col. Hubert
Grimers, Baltimore, personnel off,
Ger; 1t. Col. Kenneth S. Purdie, in
structor at Virginia Military Insti-
tute, division quartermaster; Mai.
Sidney Morgan, Washington, assist
ant intelligence officer, and Mai.
Philip K. Moisan, Baltimore, assist
ant plans and training officer.
Other Officers Arrive.
Other officers Of the main division
came In yesterday or today, includ-
ing Col. John A. Cutchins, the vet
eran chief of staff, who is director Of
public safety Of Richmond and noted
military historian; 1t. Col. Edwin
p. Conquest, Richmond division in
telligence officer, and 1t. Col.
George Derson, Baltimore, plans and
training officer. A number OF WASH
tngton reserves are attached to Dis
trict units for training, among them
Capt. Martin Goerl, First 1t. George
s. Parsons, First 1t. Robert C.
Hecker and Second 1t. James M.
Towey, who were with the 121st
Engineers.
The 1st Maryland Infantry, COM
nnanded by Col. D. John Markey
Frederick, and the 5th Maryland,
commanded by Col. Harry c. Ruhl
Baltimore, arrived yesterday morn
ing and afternoon by special troop
train from their home bases.
(haII N:1 r. L. E:s@I