Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-11
DC. Guard Units
Complaining Of
Short Rations
Men in Comp Soy They
Are Forced to Fill Up
At Eating Places
By WiIliom J. WheotIey
Stor Sioff Correspondent

FORT MILES, Del, July H.
Washington's citizen soldiers ir
field training in this area have
been complaining of short ration'
for the last three days. it wa!
learned here today.
The situation has been partic.
ularly trying in the largest units
including the 340th Anti-aircraft
Artillery Battalion, operating or
the burning sands at Camp Dun.
can, Bethany Beach, Del, 20 mile!
south of this base camp.
Commissioned officers of thu
batteries stationed there com.
planned today that. since they have
been in camp they have beer
issued rations at the rate of onl,
100 for 200 personnel. Officer.
and men have been forced to fl
the voids by trips to private eat.
ing places out of camp or visits tt
the canteenS, they said. 1t ha:
been particularly difficult to push
the men through the heavy fiele
tasks they have assumed while
fresh from offices and other les.
strenuous civilian occupations
they said.
Standard Products Lacking.
The Army theoretically recog.
nizes this expected increase ir
appetities by allowing a 10 pei
cent issue above the service stand.
ard allowance for troops. Tit
troops are supposed to be fed or
standardized menus SET up fol
the entire military service. Blu
even with the short rations, thu
local commissary Offices have beer
unable to get some of the standard
products. One of these. for in.
stance is tea, called for at leas
once a day as a cold drink.
The supplies for the troops her,
are supposed to come from For
Meade. Md. but that post has mo-
been able even to supply some Of
the standard articles. What ra.
tons have come in have beer
hours late, making it necessary fol
the men to stay up long past tap:
to make a rush distribution to the
units.
The first reports of food short
ages in the 340th battalion tricklec
up to this camp shortly after the
first meal on Sunday night. Their
it was said, officers went out OF
camp for their meals. so there
would be more food for the en-
listed men.
Officers Asked to Explain.
Asked for an explanation, 1t
Col. Robert F. Cocklin, chief OF
staff, said it had been indicated te
him that the situation was moi
serious. He commended that re-
ports to him indicated ration is
sues on the basis of 225 rations fol-
218 personnel.
On the other hand, Maj. R. T
Bard, executive officer of the 340th
Battalion, said seventh-ninths OF
the full ration were available tc
the troops. This might appear te
be a half ration cut to some, he
said. Both men denied the con-
tentions of battery officers directly
concerned with feeding their mer
that they had been a half ration
short for each man.
Maj. Bard pointed out that some
men eat more than others. AS for
himself, he said, a bowl of cereal
and milk is enough for him for
breakfast.
Both officers added they ex-
pected to have the ration problem
solved before the camping period
is half over. To have the ra-
tons here on time. they dispatched
supply truck to Fort Meade yes
terday to load and return tomor-
row morning, so that the troops
would not have to stay up late for
distribution.
Guns. Tractors Arrive Late.
The train bearing the long over
due guns and caterpillar tractor.
arrived last night. They were un.
loaded Immediately and sent ovel
the highways to Bethany Beach
where they will be set up today
preparatory to beginning target
practice tomorrow.
The District Guards 209th Ra.
dio-controlled Airplane large
Detachment, the smallest unit il
the Washington militia, began op.
CREATIONS at Bethany Beach. Brig
Gen. William H. Abendroth, Guare
commander. witnessed the launch.
ing Of the first plane, which wen
through series of maneuvers al
$50 miles an hour, while con.
trolled from the ground. 1t doe.
not carry personnel but is nor.
mally used for target practice fol
anti-aircraft outfits. When the
run was finished, a flick of the
control lever released parachute
in the plane, dropping it lightly
to the ground.
First 1t. Raymond A. Payn, Sic
Morgan road, Morningside. Md, is
in command of the unit. His as
sistants are Corpl. Herbert Stein
4205 Russell avenue, Mt. Rainier
Md: Sergt. James NJ. Crowley
2509 Queens Chapel road NE;
Sergt. Marvin Wayhelstein, 1904
Fourth street NV, and Pvt.
Morris Amos, 1444 Chaplin street
NV.
All of them have just returned
from an eight weeks course at
Fort Bliss, Tex, in the operation
and maintenance of the drone
planes. The intensiveness of the
current training program has been
brought forcefully to the troops.
From now on, they will have no