The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-16

East Freetown. Mass. Aug l6 Head-
quarters OF the Red Army. Aug. b.
First blood in the great struggle for the
possession Of Boston was drawn by
Squadron A Of New York's contingent in
the Red army. when at noon to-day
motorcycle scouts Of the defending Blues
were run down and captured by a scout
ms party Of the horsemen IN the woody
country near Lakevile.
The New York troopers marched their
prisoners back 70 Gen. Bliss headquar-
ters in triumph. and the latter were put
under guard until the umpires shall deter
mine their ultimate fate.
The first contact between the invaders.
who at sunrise had begun pushing their
lines farther to the north, and the Blue
forces. believed TO be lined In a semi
circle Of defense up IN Plymouth County,
popped out OF the monotony OF long
marching as an event OF moment It
occurred while a lieutenant and his troop
were hiking along the Taunton turnpike.
several miles in advance OF the main body
OF invaders. under orders TO size up the
land lying beyond the place selected as
brigade camping ground for the night.
HOrsemen Sight MotorcycIfsts.
Just as the party OF horsemen rounded
a turn in a wooded road the campaign
hats Of six motorcyclists. away ahead.
showed Up against the background Of the
gTeenery. Instantly the Squadron 4
troopers jammed their spurs into their
mounts and made for the six putting ma
chimes
The Blue scouts caught sight Of the
charging horsemen. made quick bout
face" and streaked il back up the road
for all the speed that was in their chug-
chugs. A long stern chase followed. All
OF the glory that was reaped by New
Yorks pet troopers might have been
snatched from them al the instant OF
achievement had it not been that with
quick perception they took advantage Of
fp-tuitous lag of the land The motor
cyclists were drawing away from the
horses when the pursuing troopers saw
that the road ahead took a long turn
about an open field. They jumped their
mounts over the fence and cut at
tangent through the field TO cut of
the enemy. This maneuver was success
ful
Five Of the fleeing six shut of their
power and waited the coming of the
troopers with sneepish grins on their
faces. The sixth. who was in the lead.
switched 10 a narrow wood road through
the trees, and only a strong smell Of
gasoline was reminiscent Of his presence
when the squadron a men galoped up.
One Scout Escapes.
Because this man had escaped and was
therefore theoretically able to convey
back to the headquarters Of the Blue
army whatever information ne and his
companions had gathered. the umpires
have decided that the capture was not
so valuable strateglcalIy as it might be
from the viewpoint Of Squadron A.
The capture Of the Blues scouts pune
tuaJed emphaucally the perversive atmos-
phere Of real war that cIouded an the
countryside from Lunds Corners TO Asa
WOmpsett Pond to-day. To be sure. there
was no roaring Of guns and crackle OF
voley firing, but when that comes the
farmers and villagers all about IN the
theater Of war viii probably catch only
the faintcst echoes Of combat any way.
The country IS too broken and the spaces
between roads too choked with forests
and spattered with ponds and marshes al
permit Of any spectacle being seen from
rocking chair on the porch SO the
/ glimpse Of war that delighted the Sun
/ day crowds that came out on the cars
/ from New Bedford was something TO be
relished 10 the utmost
Soldiers Line Road.
TWO long. dusty roads leading out into
/ the North country. about the rendezvous
Of yesterday were choked with infantry.
! artillery. and commissary wagons for
seven hours.
! The aspect Of these sIowly-crawllng ser
pents of khaki was Of sufficiently sug-
( gesuve Of the throes OF war to be ap-
/ preciated. It was almost at the minute
OF Of sun-up that orders for the break
Ing Of camp went forth from Gen. Bliss
! headquarters, near the Quaker graveyard
and there was stress Of commotion In
each of the dozen odd camps stretched
along the line OF yesterdays advance.
Before another hour the Seventh New
York, first 20 get itself licked into march
( ing shape. took the road with Lieut.
/ Col. FislCe and his staff IN the lead Then
Capt. O'Ryan had his first battery OF
First Battalion. n. G. y. Y. out in har-
ness. and trundllng up the road after the
Seventh's men.
The Fourteenth New York feu into
4 line. the Twenty-second Engineers. thor
/ Squadron a and the colored troopers O,
/ the Tenth, serving as escort for Gen
/ Bliss and his staff. The two roads lead
ing I'D from last nights rendezvous par
alleled their way through the farm coun
try and woodland, each choked wiki
masses OF moving men and beasts.
Harries Takes BrOclxtOn Road.
All of the invading army save Gen
Harries' First Brigade Of District o
Columbia men and the first battery O.
the District troops, took the Taunton
turnpike The First Brigade followe,
the Brockton road, and kept in touci
with the advance Of the other divisions
through swift 'plunges across countr,
made by mounted aids.
It had been chilly with a real autumna
J viEor when camp was broken in tn,