Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-17

Uneu 10 lHe ape SOd uiSltiCl was
localized at Walden.
In the history of the tactical invasion
of this week the greatest of New Eng
land ponds-the Assowompsett-is certain
to figure largely. But 1t Will not be De
cause of the battle of the ponds that
was fought on its shore-rather because
the great pond was where the invading
general telescoped his army upon itself.
hustled it, like an accordion closing up.
back upon its own track and finally sent
his rear guard shooting out in the lead
in a direction that brought his entire
concentrated army I'm position to strike
an annihilating blow at the country's
defenders.
This morning the Red army is massed
on the Blues right flank, according to
its scouts. prepared to wipe out the
Blue army piecemeal Gen. Bliss has
three brigades and his large force OF
division artillery and cavalry In place TO
attack in force any single one of Pew's
brigades The center of their flank. the
Red army believes. is equally at its
mercy. and. in addition. Cen Bliss is in
a position TO continue on to Boston, GER
tain that he can march faster than Pew
OF his left flank by light moving troops
and sharpshooters.
Bliss Remarkable Feat.
Cen Bliss Carried with him-and this
has never before been accomplished in
game of actual or simulated warfare
his own base of supplies When he first
took the field it. was said his base Of
supplies was Buzzard's Bay. Now it is
certain that no movement in his rear
could harm his line of communication,
for he has picked it up and is carrying
it along His wagon train will take him
into Boston. 1t was loaded to do ex-
actly this. and the reason 1t is able to
accomplish It is due entirely to the au-
tom, officers
campaign service in the islands were
astounded at the service of the flying
trucks that kept well up to the firing
line today. and even went forward to
the cavalry outposts almost as soon as
they could be established in the battle
lines van.
Capt F. A. Grant. in charge of the gov
eminent transports. was much pleased
this morning when he made visit of in
spection to the Red army's lines.
when Gen. Bliss suddenly turned his
army eastward he said. few, if any, of
his officers knew what he was about. Ger
tainly his quartermaster did not But we
sent the trucks along. If they missed
the road, they were able to find them
selves, and. travelling faster than cavalry
they could always overhaul an advance
guard. You know a soldier marches on
his belly. and never before has stomach
for lighting been carried to him at such
high speed
SlCNcI nuSc VI AsS0Ss
The situation which this morning prom
ised to make today the pivot in the great
war game was the result of a cleyer tacti-
cal ruse. BY heading his advance north
west to Taunton, Gen. Bliss was able
to tease the opposing line out into long
and slender maneuver, intended to pro-
tect it from an assault on its right flank.
Then Bliss held his army in position for
hours to still further keep up the ruse OF
the Taunton furry, and finally. by the
hardest kind Of forced march, passed
ii completely across the extended front
of Gen. Pew and brought it up solid. well
along on his left flank. Had Gen. Bliss
taken his men over in a leisurely march
he would have made known his movement
in time for the opposing force to assemble
against him and match strength with
strength
But as it was, the Blue army was con-
WINGED that the Red outposts that brush
ed with theirs and cavalry scouting par
ties that ran down their troops were only
making feints TO cover real movement
far to the westward. While the Essex
troop was losing its ten men in sup
ported charge on the Blue outposts at
Middleboro, Gen. Bliss, unsuspected, was
sending the entire center of his army anu
it's long wagon train directly through the
pond district on narrow road which is
built up out OF the water at the Junction
OF Long and Assowompsett ponds.
In that hard movement through sand
and swamp the veteran officers of the
general staff, raw-boned militiamen from
upstate and the seasoned fighters or the
colored 10th Cavalry all barked their
shins together in war maneuver in
which everything was real but the bullets
in their rifles.
Actual Hardships, Too.
One who passed along the road between
the ponds and up the hills toward South
Middleboro saw men staggering along,
having passed their rifles to companions.
and others who marched in their stocking
feet, their shoes having become unbear-
able. One gaunt soldier, more game than
the others. bore up with bleeding feet
when it looked as IL each step would be
his last and he would go Keeling into the
sand of the roadside.
Wagons drawn by horses stopped on
the hills while the animals were inert
under the flashing of their drivers.
"Honk Honk.' came the automobile
behind. and on one long hill forty wag-
ons, drawn by exhausted horses, were
pulled To one side of the road while ten
automobile trucks, each bearing a load
of 5000 pounds. went by faster than even