Evening star., 1941-08-21
Tanks From Meade
Mop Up Paratroops
In Virginia Games
n Marines Make jump
In First Demonstration
At Hill Reservation
picture on Page 2-X.)
~ the Associated Press

~ the Associated Press.
A. P. HILL MILITARY RESER-
VATION, Va, Aug. 2l.-Cavalry
scout car defense against parachute
troop attack was demonstrated in
final phases of the two-day anti
mechanical maneuvers which came
to a close here yesterday.
Tank troops from Fort Meade
moved across the reservation in a
southwark thrust in mimic attack
on the anti-tank corps headquarters
near the town of Bowling Green,
and as the campaign reached its
peak the newly organized Marine
Parachute Battalion from Quantico
dropped from three planes to join
IN the threat.
The defenders air and ground
detection systems, however, gave
the defenders time to rush scout
cars from the 104th Cavalry to the
scene in time to mop up" the at
tacking paratroops before they
could establish their position, or
even before some of them landed.
1t was the first demonstration of
parachute troops at the reservation,
which is near Fredericksburg, Va.
Twenty-Five men made the jump.
The days mimic warfare was
launched with a tank attack of
front lines supported by infantry
anti-tank units and protected by
engineer-b built tank defenses. Sue
cessively, the attack used support
ing 37-mm. and 75-mm. guns, and
when the going got tough, the tank
battalions radioed for dive bombers
to come in and soften up" the re-
sistance.
Then the battle was resumed,
reaching its climax in the parachute
attack and battle royal between
the surviving tanks and a company
OF tank destroyers," anti-tank guns
mounted on trucks, in which the
tank attack was theoretically wiped
out.
The maneuvers, participated in by
Anti-tank units of the I'd Army
Corps, were preceded by staged dem
onstratlons Tuesday of the functions
and skllls OF the various arms in
combating blitzkreig tactics.
"Fox Hole" Technique.
In q natural amphitheater. DEM
onstrations were staged by the en-
g1neer units of their anti-tank de-
lenses, including tank traps, tor
pedoeS, "Molotoff cocktails" screens
and mines; by the Chemical War
fare Service of flame throwers and
explosives; by the infantry fox
mole technique of anti-tank work
by 1nfantrymen armed with machine
guns and explosives hidden below
tne surface of the ground, and the
coordination of air and ground
forces In scouting and supply
services.
Inc maneuvers assumed a situa-
tlon IN which the 44th Infantry
DIVISION was holding the center of
the corps line, with the 2Sth on it's
right and the 29th on the left
=. The tank attack was launched
through the 44th's defending line
TO attack corps and Army headouar-
ters IN the rear and pinch off the
18th Division against the Rappa-
hammock River.
Tanks Caught in TRAPS.
The attackers suffered early cas-
aalties In the first frontal thrust
wnen one tank was left suspended
ana helples on an asparagus bed"
OF logs driven upright, constructed
by the engineers to defend the ad-
vance line, and another crashed into
q tank trap ditch and was unable
to extricate itself.
After the crash through, the de-
lenders warning service sent calls
10 the rear for supporting light
elements of the division anti-tank
battalion, which rushed into action
and unlimbered just in time to Law
down a curtain of fire which drove
the tanks to cover.
1t was here that the attackers
found it necessary to send back
calls for help from the air in
-softening up" resistance. and
planes came into dive bomb the
anti-tank batteries.
Parachutists Sweep In.
In third attempt to halt the at
tackers, heavier 77-mm. guns from
the division anti-tank battalion
were brought up and these laid
down an effective flank fire against
the tanks weaving into position for
a flank attack.
1t was here that surprise tactics
were brought into play, for while
the defenders were concentrating
on the frontal attack, word was
suddenly received of another tank
force making its way from the south
and approaching the rear of the
defensive area
AS corps defense forces quickly
answered this thrust with a COM
pany OF anti-tank "destroyers," of
mobile anti-tank guns, the para
chutists swept in from the sky to
present threat from three sides
at once.
A cavalry troop in scout cars
answered the parachute threat and
the battle royal of tanks and tank
destroyers ended in theoretical an
inhalation of the mechanical units