Evening star., 1943-09-15
Bazooka Gun 10 Make
First Public Bow at
Army Show Today

The ''bazooka," used by our armed
forces on various foreign fronts for
several months, will make it's first
! public appearance this afternoon at
the Ordnance Department Exhibit
at the Back the Attack" Army War
| Bond show. on the grounds of the
Washington Monument.
1t is an antitank rocket gun which
the Army has proved as effective
| an instrument of destruction against
thick brick walls, rock masonry,
structural steel and railroad rails
| as 1t has against enemy tanks"
Product OF long experiment by the
Ordnance Department, the weapons
mechanism was a military secret
until today, although it has been
known by name since the North
African campaign began.
Quartermaster Corps Day.
Today has been designated Quar-
termaster Corps day at the show
grounds. Work of the corps when
under fire will be demonstrated at
special program to follow the after
noon performance Dogs of the K-9
Corps and horses procured and
trained by the Quartermaster
Corps will be on exhibition. A con-
voy of Is trucks armed with ma
chine guns will simulate the re-
pulse of an aerial attack while on
mission
Maj. Gen. E. B. Gregory, Quarter
m CT naroro1 will Lo
at the regular afternoon perform
ance in the arena.
One exhibition which has been
drawing crowds regularly is the
Special Service Division section To-
Gated along Fourteenth street near
Constitution avenue NV. This is
| sponsored by the 34th Infantry Di-
vision OF the Special Service Division
| of the Army Service Forces, and
illustrates the recreational and en-
| tertainment work this branch per-
| forms. Divided into an outdoor sec
| ton and two large tents, the di-
| vision displays the equipment and
answers the question of how a SOL
dier, sailor or marine spends his
spare time at camp, at the front, or
| on ship.
Types of Recreation.
Officers divide soldier entertain
ment and recreation into self-pro-
duced, spectator, and a combination
of the two. The last is very popular.
Theatricals, newspaper publication
and athletics come under this head
| ing
Corpl. George Miller, the Dick of
the Tom, Dick and Harry" team
which played the Capitol Theater
here in past years, was on hand to
explain things. The job of the
theatrical unit" he said, lis not so
much to act ourselves as to get the
boys up on the stage. They like to
do their own stuff. and it's more fun
for every one concerned"
| Everybody pitches in to build the
stage. A l0x5 l2-foot platform fits
into the bottom of 21a-ton truck,
but that is the only ready made
equipment the unit has. The dress
ing room and backdrop is usually
made with the latrine screen while
| the footlights. spotlight and flood
lights are fashioned from old tomato
cans, the headlight of an old truck,
and opened tin cans stuck into
wooden boxes. Bulbs are screwed in,
| the wires are attached to the cleo
| trio generator, and the show is ready
to go. An ''E" kit, containing the
makeup. costumes, tools and sheet
music, completes the job.
a,o Unit Furnishes Music.
Music, represented by a piano and,
small instruments carried on truck,
Is furnished for the show by the
unit. However, it considers its major
job is to teach soldiers how to play
instruments or to form bands from
those who GAN play.
Corpl. Robert E. Nugent explained
athletic leaders were also more con-
cerned with teaching and setting up
facilities for play than in giving ex-
hibitions themselves. The equip
ment they carry, he added supple
ments the company material An
important and popular part of the
equipment is complete sports
library
A particular unit puts out news
paper at every camp. 1t brings It's
own press, and the items are sup
piled by the men on the ground as
well as by the expert staff.
Radio and phonograph entertain
ment is provided by steel cabinet
l8X36 inches. The cabinet includes
both, plus public address sys-
tenn. Using its own power gener-
stor, these functions can be ad-
Justed for audiences ranging from