The San Francisco call., 1904-08-18

ATASCADERO. Aug. 1.-THE bat
tie exercises that took place to-day
were by far the most interesting and
the most spectacular of any of the
evolutions that have yet taken place
in the camp. In these maneuvers more
than 1000 officers. enlisted men and
umpires took part. and in addition
there were about 1900 horses and
mules employed. A territory about
ten miles in length and five miles in
width was covered during the exer-
cises. The heavily wooded hills re-
sounded with echoes of thousands of
shots from the infantry. intermingled
with lively cannonading from the field
artillery
Again the militiamen showed that
they were made of good stuff. From
o'clock until p. m. they were prac-
tically upon the march. The heat of
the day caused several to drop from
the ranks and wait for the ambulance
TO come along and give them a lift
In each instance where a man was
overcome his canteen was found to be
empty. whereas those who remained
in line came home with partially filed
canteens. Some of the umpires seemed
TO think this would indicate that the
excessive drinking of water when
marching had much 10 do with the
men falling out.
The problem of to-day was the at
tack and defense OF a convoy. The
suppOsition was that a train consist
ing of about 100 wagons, which had
been loaded at Asuncion station with
supplies for a main body operating
of
is moving to the coast via Eagle
ranch gate, escorted by a Blue force
composed OF the three arms. In or
der to reach its destina ton the train
IS compelled TO pass through a raid
ing brown force, which is to make an
attempt to cut off. capture or destroy
the train. All this took place over a
rough, mountainous. country. inter-
spersed with broad valleys and deep
ravines.
The train. with its blue convoy of
cavalry, artillery and infantry under
command Of Colonel A g. MarkIey.
began its march early When IL got
under way it was fully a mile long.
1t slowly worked it's way up through
wild mountain passes and quiet defles
until IL came near the enemy's coun-
try. Here the train was left in a Sc
questered spot. drawn close together
and entirely surrounded by its convoy
Of infantry. From this point the field
artillery. in command of Captain Ira
Haines, made a brilliant dash forward
to gain a commanding point near
Shale Rock, which high position of
vantage he succeeded in gaining.
The mountain side was steep, but
the battery gained the top and swung
their heavy guns about on a steep
ridge, where they could command the
country for miles around. This was
. Fsr1 Il 30 he
or the exercises. 1t was executed with
great dash and vim. While all this
was going on Colonel Ward, in COM
mand of the browns, was preparing
10 attack the blues. He exposed his
troops TO the enemy and brought out
the first fire.
Colonel Pitcher, with his provisional
infantry of the blues, made a dashing
oeployment and at a critical stage of
the game he caught two battalions of
the browns in the left flank, but his
support did not come in time to follow
up the advantage, so he lost them.
In the meantime Colonel Markley was
slowly advancing with the train. He
came 100 slowly. in fact, for at this
Juncture the umDires sounded the re-
call, which left the position Of affairs
in status quo so far as the casual oh
server was able to note. The battle will
be fought out and decided by the nm
pires in the assembly tent tonight.
During the maneuvers to-day prom
inent ranchers in the vicinity sent for
the use Of the troops a four-horse load
of watermelons and substantial refresh
ments for the officers.
Tomorrow another big battle exer-
else will begin at o'clock Count de
Montague Of the Cuirasiers of the
French army followed the umpires
throughout the maneuvers to-day He