Evening star., 1941-09-04
29th Division Camps
In Brush But Chiggers
Fail 10 Attack
One Group of Soldiers
Routed by Family of
Yellow jackets, However
BY THOMAS c. HARDMAN,
Star Staff Correspondent.

BELTSVILLE, Nd, Sept. A.
Maryland chiggers are virtually ig-
noring about four solid miles of the
best eating material this section has
offered them in years.
For more than two days $4,000
choice ankles and legs. owned and
operated by $4,000 soldiers Of the
29th Division, have been paraded
through thousands Of yards Of un-
derbrush and forests on the Agricul-
tural Experimental Farm east of
here, and reports of biting and
scratching have been extremely rare.
Il guess maybe we're too tough
for the little devils" a young private
attached to a military police COM
pany commented as he brushed
away some tangled brushes to dis
play a pair of slightly soiled but
physically unblemished legs.
Medicine Stands Unused.
First-aid stations set up-under
Observation-Disclosures the area in
use for the divisions field problem
have come prepared with all sorts OF
soothing ointments for bad bites,
but the caps are still on the bottles.
A nest of yellow jackets gave
station near division headquarters
some work to do yesterday. Five
soldiers, unwittingly broke up house
keeping for the yellow jackets while
placing a vehicle in an exceedingly
well-concealed area. The soldiers
position was not long a secret. They
came out yelling with their new
found enemy" successfully out
f1anking them at every turn. One
lad got the worst of the battle, but
the five escaped with little more
than uncomfortable burning whelpS
on less concealed areas.
Lack of appetite among the CHG
gers, however, is no indication OF
the eating going on among the par
ticipants in this first field training
for the 29th Division. One mess ser
geant in charge of mobile field
kitchen set up in thick wooded
area about three-quarterS OF mile
from the experimental farms dog
kennels allowed his charges were
"the eatingest hombres who ever
carried a mess kit
Mobile Kitchens Used.
But actually the men eat no more
in the field than they do when they
can sit down in the mess hall at the
post in Fort Meade. Food is brought
by trucks regularly to the various
mobile kitchens assigned to the field
units. 1t is prepared on gas stoves,
perched on trucks, and parceled out
among the men who line up with
their mess kits.
The only break I have is they
know they can't eat no more than
I give EN-" said the sergeant. But
that amt saying they don't want
more"
Still, the boys aren't suffering. The
noon meal for one of the units-a
headquarters company - yesterday
consisted of a generous slice of ham,
large baked potato, bread and but
ter. ripe plums, iced tea-and beans,
plenty of them.
Camouf1age is essential in the field
problem. Every few yards, just off
the maze of roadways in the training
area, bulky trucks are parked. But
they can't be seen unless you are
looking for them closely. Tree
boughs cover them from front to
rear, and they blend with the forest.
Even pup tents set up as sleeping
quarters for the men are nestled
under covers of green leaves.
Blackout Paint for Tents.
Tents of the commanding officers,
housing their maps and field prob
lem papers, are painted specially
for blackouts Lights turned on
during expected raids cannot be
seen through the canvas.
Many of the soldiers have for
their night quarters only the bushes
and the stars. They simply roll up
in their blankets and snooze.
The division was to move up last
night to meet an advancing enemy"
and protect Washington from theo-
retical attack. Final phases of the
problem were to be engaged in today,
with review scheduled tomorrow
for Undersecretary o. War Patterson.
Next week the division will take
the offensive in the field training
program.
All this is in preparation for the
fall maneuvers to begin in the Car
olinas within the next few weeks.
The division will move down to the
A. P. Hill Reservation in Virginia
within about 10 days before depart
ing for North Carolina.