The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-07

FORT RILEY, Kan, Oct. 6.-While
fully as practical as any Of the preced-
ing -maneuvers, today's exercises con-
tanned a larger element of the spectac-
ular than any that have preceded them
and it is not likely that any of those
still to come will equal the work OF
today.
Maj Leach, of the engineers, COM
handing the blues, defended position
with what all the military critics con-
cede was very great skill. Gen. Kobbe,
eading the browns, made dispositions
4or attack that were praised fully as
highly as Maj. Leach's defensive posi-
ton. Moreover, Gen. Kobbe pushed
home his attack with a fierceness and
energy which, had the combat occurred
in actual warfare, must have caused
heavy losses to both sides.
At the close Of the fighting, Gen.
Kobbe had been badly crippled, but he
was coming on to make a final rush for
the trenches. His men were 1ashing
down a slope fully exposed to the rifle
fire of an intrenched line, and after
descending this and passing through a
rayine, his men had still 800 yards of
open ground to cross before reaching
the entertainments. The critics say
that this was hardly possible. Still,
Gen. Kobbe had two full imaginary
regiments in reserve, and even though
repuised the first time, his game was
far from being played to the finish.
Plan of the Maneuvers.
The plan Of the maneuvers was given
In the orders of the day, as follows:
"a Western force of the blues is OPP
Grating against a brown force in the
east, located in the north Of st. Marys,
Kan. The blues depend upon the Union
Pacific railroad for supplies. The main
force of the blues beyond st. Marys
has met with serious reverse and has
been temporarily thrust off its line Of
direct communication with Fort Riley.
Owing to the reverse of the main army
of blues, the blue force at Fort Riley
cannot expect outside aid from any
direction. A strong force Of the browns
is advancing to seize the important
depot of supplies at Fort Riley, de-
stroy the stores and cripple the Union
Pacific railroad for several days"
The attacking force of the browns
was made up Of the Eighteenth infant
ry, Twenty second infantry, Colorado
battalion, eight troops of the Fourth
cavalry and three troops Of the Eighth
cavalry. There were also two .inagi-
nary regiments. The Seventeen, Nine
teenth and Tenth batteries, made up
the artillery.
The blues, under Maj. Leach consist
ed Of the Sixth infantry, the First bat
talon of engineers, acting as infantry,
the Sixth and Twenty ninth batteries,
the latter being another mountain bat
terry, of much lighter weight and short
er range than the other batteries in the
field and Troop A of the Eighth caval-
ry under Capt. Donaldson.
t Model Entertainments.
= The entertainments for the defense
were made under the direction Of
Capt. ]. B. Cavanaugh, of the en-
gineers, and were most skillfully con-
structed. The loose earth thrown up
in creating the trench was covered
with grass placed at a right angle to
the line Of the trench.
This gave to the eye at a distance
of 100 yards very little indication of
the location of the trenches. When
the brown army moved out from camp
to take the position from which 1T
later advanced to the attack, it passed,
greatly to the disgust Of the umpires,
WlIQll I,0UU ydIuS VI LIE DluSS, VIII
were at the time throwing up dirt for
dear life. The location Of the entrench-
ment was in plain view, and the Off
GERS of the browns could not avoid
seeing the blues at work. Later in the
morning they were unable to see these
very same trenches, and their men
- suffered heavily in front Of them. AS
an object lesson Of well concealed de-
lenses, the work of Maj. Leach and
his men today would be difficult to
surpass.
Donaldson's cavalry, pushed out in
front of the main line of defense, was
coon in contact with the scouts of the
browns, and was forced backward to
the line of infantry. When the battle
opened a strong hill on the right Of
the line was held by the command Of
Maj r. II. R. Loughborough, Of the
Sixth infantry. 1t comprised Com
pany D, of the engineers, commanded
by Capt J. B. Cavanaugh; four COM
panies of the Sixth infantry, under
Capt. B. w. Atkinson; two guns of
the Sixth field artillery, and two of
Menohers Howitzers. The center was