The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-31
ROAR OF CANNON.
1t Is Heard on the Campus
at Berkeley.
THE BOYS IN SHAM BATTLE.
The University Battalion Shows How
a Modern Battle Should
Be Fought.

Three thousand people saw the sham bat
tie al Berkeley. which the university batal-
ion. about 300 strong, carried out yesterday
afternoon as n feature of the military train
ing.
The great crowd Of spectators crowded
the walks in front of north and south halls
and filled the porches and balconies of these
buildings. They climbed to the roofs and
swarmed on the campus Among the spec
tators was large delegation from the Fifth
Infantry.
The weather could not be surpassed. 1t
was a glorious California spring day. The
thick green turf was as soft as Moquet,e
carpet and the air was charged with the
fragrance of the fast-growing foliage.
According TO the military authorities the
sham battle was solution Of atproblem in
military tactics" The theater of war was
most admirably situated for a conflict in
which the adyersarfes had equal oppOrtuni-
ties to exhibit both skill and valor. The
attacking body was enabled TO advance
under the cover OF tall tim Der ana the de-
Tending force was also favored with a
thickly planted grove, in which its left wing
was able for a while to offer 4 stubborn
resistance, and, after being expelled, to re-
ceive re-enforeements and initurn to drive
back the invaders before it finally yielded
its ground.
Lieutenant Randolph of the United States
army, the professor of military tactics at
the university. planned the maBeuver. He
looked Oh with great deal of satisfaction
at the mastery execution OF the problem
proposed by him, and which all the COM
missioned and noncommissioned officers
had evidently carefully studied.
AT 3:45 P. NJ. the assembly call was
sounded, and the battalion formed back Of
North Hall. They numbered $50 men and
cnS nll ff,a otSs Iii
party, consisting of four companies of in
fantry, under The command of Lieutenant
Colonel Van Wrinkle, moved off to its posi-
ton back of the chemistry and mining
buildings The side on the defensive, un-
der the command of Captain Foulks, con-
sisted of TWO companies of infantry and one
piece Of field artillery. They moved to a
position back of North Hall, and awaited
the attack. Their signal-men. who had
been stationed back on the hills, gave no.
tice of the advance of the euemy, and the
return OF the scouts confirmed the news.
Two companies Of the attacking side con-
stiiuted the fighting force and its business
was to develop the maximum of the enemy's
fire.
This being done the reserves, consisting
also Of two companies, were brought for
ward, when the combination proved so
strong that further resistance being useless
the defenders yielded their stronghold
spiked their artillery and retreated in an
orderly fashion across the bridge which
spanned the last ditch.
This in brief tells the story of the en-
gagement. What pleased the people who
looked On as well as the enmbants in blue
was the booming OF the single gun in
possession of the defenders and the quick
succe ssion of Volleys answering vOlleys at
long range, and the rattle and crash of mus
kerry at short range: Within the most
deadly part of the fire zone the comba .aGts
threw themselves on the ground until moth
ing could be seen In the green grass but
lines of pale blue smoke curling up like the
sputtering edges of prairie fire.
The bravest OF the brave were the ambu-
lance corps men, who ran about as though
they wore bullet-proof armor. They dis
played white bands with a red cross on
their cuffs, and carried stretchers upon
which they piled the wounded.
No one was hurt, as the utmost care WAS
exercised in ali firing. No blank cartridges
were fred by either of the opposing forces
at closer range than fifty yards. The
cannon did not cause any damage, as the
full charge OF il was placed in the hands of
Sergeant Matthews of the Fifth Artillery,
U. S. A. Sergeant Fyfe, who was injured
at the last drill, was on duty, although his
hand was bound up and carried in sling
Mr. Magee. the instructor of physical cult
ure. was requested by Lieutenant Ran
dolph to have his instruments ready to pick
powder out OF the faces of the boys, but his
services were not needed.
Before the battalion was dismissed Lieu
tenant Randolph congratulated the cadets
upon their success and upon the superior
character of the fine discipline which they
had exhibited in the extended order drill