Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-08-23
PRESIDENT A
VISITOR AT The
MILITIA CAMP
POcOmOke Has One Pair Of
Brothers Among The Seventy
One Sets In LIST Infantry
THESE ARE THE TWO
BALLANTINES, T AND r

The VISITS OF TWO nOCaDleS laSC Weet
were the climax of busy week fol
the boys from Maryland. A scheduled
visit of President Roosevelt, nomina
commander of all armed forces of the
United States, was the occasion for g
review of all of the troops of the First
Army. Herbert R. O'Conor, Govern,
or of the State of Maryland, and NOM
inal commander of the Maryland
National Guard also visited the camp
sites of his two regiments. Dawn on
Saturday last found the area wet, but
the official visitors were able to see
the encampment under the best condi-
tons.
There are no "rookies" left in the
First Maryland. Every man, in under
going the training, the hardships;
and the experiences of the past week,
has hardened considerably, and is ap-
preaching that perfection demanded
of today's soldier. Tuesday noon, the
troops left on Brigade manuevers, and
in mock battle engaged the troops
from Virginia. After brief respite
during the evening, when few hours
of well-earned sleep were enjoyed, the
battle was continued on Wednesday
morning. The Old Dominion troops,
however, slept but little and capital
izing on the lack of vigilance of the
Marylanders, were able to rout our
boys in the early hours of the morning
and capture the rolling kitchens. It
was indeed a good thing that it was
all just a game, because under actual
wartime conditions, the Maryland
troops would have indeed suffered.
Returning to camp before Wednes-
day noon, the boys, tired from their
Thursday battle. On Thursday morn
ing, the entire goth Division, of which
the Maryland Regiments are part,
moved forward to engage the 18th
Division. There was no lack of vigil
lance Thursday evening, as the boys
had learned their lesson we'll from the
Brigade maneuver fiasco of a few
days before. Outposts and patrols
were kept out all night during the
bivouac, and troops of the Third
Battalion, a reserve during the day,
staged night attack. The fortunes
of war produced one interesting hap
pening during the night. Lieutenant
E. F. Quinn, Silver Spring Reserve
Officer, leading a squad of Maryland
ers on a moonlight prowl was able to
surprise and confuse a Battalion of
Pennsyvanians. Thinking they were
attacked by much larger force, the
Pennsylvanians changed positions so
that they were captured in large num-
bers in the early morning. The Di-
vision maneuver was entirely satisfac-
tory for the Marylanders-with the
exception of few with very tired
feet.
Of special interest to the people of
the state of Maryland is the news re-
Gently received by Brig. Gen. D. John
Marley, to the effect that authorize
ton would soon be Forthcoming to in
crease the strength of this regiment
to it's approximate war strength. The
regiment numbers approximately 1900
at this time, and the increase is de-
signed to bring the strength of the
regiment up to approximately 1900.
There will, then, be the necessity for
many new enlistments in the many
towns now having units. The present
strength of the regiment will be some
what decreased by the relief of some
married men with dependents or civ
ilian commitments.
Throughout the state of Maryland
are men who have served in the regi-
ment in times past, who will welcome
this opportunity to return to duty with
their old outfit" rather than engage
in other military duty which may be
their obligation as citizens. A cor
dial welcome has been extended by
General Markey to such men to return
to duty with the First Maryland, if
such is at all possible.
Of the II sets of brothers which
swell the ranks of the First Infantry
Regiment, Md. National Guard, now
encamped for annual maneuvers in
upper New York State, the Hdq. De-
tachment of III Battalion, of POGO
moke City can boast only one set.
The brothers are Pvt. LIST Class Thorn
as A. Ballantine and Pvt. Robt. J.
Ballantine.