The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-10
Tho Aldershot Maneuvrea.

The annual British Army manoeuvres, tho
first stage OF which was conducted by tho
Duke of Connaught, began with sending
out from Aldcrshot two field columns, ono
under Gen. BESGoCGH and tho other under
Gen. BARNARD. In addition there was left
at Aldershot a strong reserve available In
the course Of the operations.
The leading idea Of the campaign. simply
stated, was that a Northern army, BEN.
COUGHS, advancing against a Southern
army, BARNARD's, reaches the Thames at
Staines on the same day when it's opponent
reaches and occupies the line from Peters.
field to Petworth. The first move Of Gen.
BENGoCGH was to try to force to the west
What was considered an advance brigade of
the Southern army, so as to cut It Off from
the supposed main body. This proved to be
no easy task, as the enemy was strongly post
ed, with artillery, while the need of not
trespassing on private grounds impeded
the attack. However, in view of the dis
parity of the forces, the umpires adjudeed
that Gen. BESGouGH had carried the posi-.
tion OF the Southern brigade, which there
upon retreated westward.
30 ended the first engagement of the war.
SSH. Ilhuc U luS
Weavers Downs, a strong artillery position
for an inferior force contestinS It's oppo-
nent's advance. Gen. BEHGoUGH, still seek
Ing to cut Off this brigade from the sup
posed main body, advanced the following
day against the new position, and, although
It was strong, and tho loss in attack was
assume to be heavy, once more the umpires
~adjudged him the victory, and again Gen.
BARNARD's brigade moved off.
The new defensive spot chosen BY the
latter was at Longdown, and there. the
next morning, ii sustained still another
attack from Gen. BENGouGH's advance.
which, however, had only three battalions
In Its fighting line, and hat was repulscd,
each force, therefore, holding it's own terri.
tory In Woolmer Forest at the end of the day.
But at night Gen. BENeoUoH suddenly at
tackled the Southern position. The overcast
sky, cutting Off the light OF the moon, and
tho dense forest, illumined rarely with
ftful flashes Of lightning. aided him, and
he gained a clear tactical advantage by his
brilliant work.
But in reality Gen. B~ENGoUGn's attack
had covered a retrograde move ment, ordered
by superior authorities in this telegram:
Fall back tomorrow to the high ground
south of Lilford. If you are followed up by
the force opposeito you. dispute Its ad
on Ludshot Common" This course, there-
fore. was followed the next'morning. Mean.
while Gen. BARNARD had received from
his own superior officer at Petersheld direc-
lions to press the enemy land, II possible,
to occupy Frensham Common tomorrow
evening, and perform the protective duties
for tho Left Wing" The result was that
the expected fight oil Ludshot Common did
not occur; but Gen. BENGoUoH, after
going into position there, and finding the
enemy was slipping by him, broke away,
and marched on Frensham, occupying It
before BARNARD could come up. The latter
attacked vigorously, as his instructions
seemed to require, but could not carry the
intrenchmcnts of Gen. BENGoUGH, with
whom, accordingly. the victory was adj
judged to remain.
So ended the first part of the maneuvres,
that Of flying columns, which had been
contending with each other for four days
and nights. In the next stage they were
brought together on the same side and
were called the Southern army, which.
under Gen. BENGoUGH, was advancing
from Sussex, still on the original theory
Of opposing a Northern army from Staines.
this Northern army being now reinforced
by reserves left In Aldershot, under Gen.
TALBOT. The latter lost no time in taking
the initiative. Marching from Guildford
at midnight, his pickets before dawn OK
changed shots with BENGoUGH's at Frens-
ham, and the camp was quickly aroused.
breakfast was taken, and then Gen. BEN
COUGH, leaving Gen. BARNARD to hold
the right, moved out from Kettlebury.
Gen. ABBOT was first encountered in
a binding rain at a formidable gap.
known az Lions Mouth, and there and
~st'Tadmors Hill which Last proved the.
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