Evening star., 1941-03-08
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES,
Star Staff Correspondent

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md,
March 8.-Heavy snow had driven
in those infantry and artillery out
fits. They couldn't drill and ma
neuver in the heavy going, and their
officers took most of the men into
barracks for prescribed "inclement
weather" schooling-lectureS, gun
sight and trigger practice and other
instruction.
But the engineers smacked their
lips, militarily speaking, and set
forth.
"A perfect day" said Col. John W.
Oehmann, commanding officer of
the 121st Regiment, from Washing
ton, the 29th Divisions combat en-
gineerS. And he fairly beamed on
the gathering blizzard.
There were murmurs of approval
from other officers and non-coms.
"Oh, swell. You can't ask for better
| than this" Nor were they simply
yessing their commander. They were
| enthusiastic.
Queer birds, those engineers"
muttered an infantry sergeant,
| heading for his barracks. The
worse the weather the more they
seem to like it, he remarked, adding
| that he wouldn't go so far as to say
they were downright touched"
Depart in Trucks.
One engineer detachment dashed
off to the Severn River, 9 miles away,
in trucks. Another detail drove off
in the other direction to a rendez-
vouS along the Little Patuxent River.
The detachment that went to the
Severn carried assault boats
aluminium craft, each holding two
| oarsmen and II passengers. The
others went to lay a foot bridge.
Their officers explained that their
liking for the thick weather was not
due to personal preference, but to
the fact that such a day as this,
when you couldn't see far ahead,
was the very time they'd choose to
bridge stream so the infantry and
artillery could stage a surprise at
tack. Thus heavy snow or rain
or windstorm provides ideal combat
practice. If the enemy can't see
what you're doing, even from
plane, you've got better chance Of
succeeding.
The assault boat detachment
practiced slipping their vessels into
the stream and ferrying men across.
The 121st rates 20 of these assault
boats, and they fit neatly into
| trucks. If the division were ad-
vancing and had to cross a river,
the engineers would take a bat
talon of Infantry across in these
boats. The battalion would dig in
and hold off the enemy-or try
mightily-until the engineers could
throw across a pontoon bridge for
the main force.
Might Try Another Place.
But the chances were, captain
explained, that the engineers would
slip up the stream or down it quite
distance and lay the pontoon there,
the idea being to double-cross the
foe
But, after a time, the snow was
so heavy even the engineers were
driven indoors.
These engineers, who are equip
ped with a sort of mechanical
Noah's Ark, still are receiving be-
lated pieces of regulation issue. A
baby steam shovel, which rides
snugly on trailer, has just arrived,
and "H-2," sectional steel bridge
for spanning land gorges and high
ravines without having to lower
yourself into them, is ready for
training when the time comes.
1t was pay day for the division
this week, and a weekend exodus
homeward was scheduled. Their
first months pay in Federal service
was all the more welcome to the
National Guardsmen because it
came several days late. The regi-
ments were paid on various days,
but virtually every one in camp had
his stipend by today.
Company commanders were
sWamped with requests for leave,
and these were being granted
literally. Regulations, however, re-
Quire that 20 per cent of the troops
IeHdln III camp, WIFI OIle OluCeI 1Ol
each unit. Those who had not re-
ceived previous leave were given
preference. So many Virginia troops
want to go home that special train
from Fort Meade to Richmond was
scheduled to leave this afternoon,
returning tomorrow night.
The snow, which interrupted sew
eral days of fine, mild weather,
caused postponement of the athletic
carnival which was to have been held
in the division area today and to-
morrow. 1t probably will take place
next week end.
ReckOrd Holds Trucks In.
1t was the heaviest snow of the
winter, and it brought outdoor camp
activities to a Standstill today. Maj.
Gen. Milton A. Reckord, command
ing the division, refused in view
of almost impossible roads to allow
Army trucks to take soldiers to the