New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-15


the rest OF the volunteer army.
BRIDGES THEORETICALLY DESTROYED.
An interesting part Of the equipment of head
I quarters are the placards which have been pre-
pared TO indicate that bridges have been theo-
reticaly destroyed trees felled theoreucaly
across highways to impede the movement OF
wagons ana automobiles. Dynamite and fuses
are 10 be carried and are TO be actually placed
IN position under bridges in readiness for setting
off But when all is prepared for blowing up
bridge, instead Of setting match 10 the FUSES
as would be done in actual warfare. the placaros
are simply TO be tied the bridges 10 tell the
enemy" that theoretically the bridge is no more
and that he VIII either have TO build pontoon
bridges or ford the shallower streams.
risnatches received in the city during the day
brought the news that a large part OF the in
vading army had landed from transports some
where on the coast Of Buzzard's Bay. Accord
ing 10 the rules of the war game. all telegraph
and telephone lines were supposed TO have been
cut Immediately after the first news was flashed
from the south shore to Boston that the city
was threatened with attack. The news OF the
landing places Of the invaders was, by the
rules of the game. supposed to be learned by
the army OF defence only by means Of the field
telegraph. by scouts and possibly by the use OF
balloons.
The transports bearing the Red troops
sisted OF the steamers Puritan, Pilgrim, Boston
and City Of Taunton and the army vessels the
Mcclellan. the Sumner and the Meade The ar
rival OF these troopships. with the exception Of
the Meade, and the landing of their forces Of
regulars and national guardsmen from Connec-
ticut New Jersey, New York and the District OF
Columbia afforded much diversion 10 summer
colonies at various points in the neighborhood
of Buzzards Bay, and even at places further
olop No chi rae a.
watching for the smoke Of the enemy's feet
added zest TO the everyday monotony Of the
vacation idlers life.
General Leonard Wood, the chief umpire in
the war game. arrived at New Bedford the
steamer Maine this morning and established his
headquarters the White Farm. in Rochester.
zen miles from that city.
The Red army met keen disappointment at
Ruzzares Bay if il expected Boston's defend
ers 70 care as to whether it got ashore or stayed
snoat The theoretical blowing up of Fort Rod
MANS big guns was accompanied by one real
suggestion OF destroyed naval power. The Puri-
tan and the Pilgrim. chief troopers OF the trans
port feet, felt their way into the shallow shore
water past the nasts and smokestack of the
sunken United States converted cruiser Yankee.
The 9Th was welcomed at the New Bedford
clocks at 9:l5 o'clock by General Wood and
~tan. who arrived in an automobile from the
his escort OF negro troopers
Long before the 18th took up its march inland
cemuissary and quartermaster train had been
unwinding itself through the hills, composed Of
no wagons and automobile buses. They loaded
up at the tack factory the Fair Haven side
nf the Acushnet, and all morning in a long
rIe they passed over into New Bedford and on
cut toward the Red Army field headquarters at
Acushnet, four miles back in the hills from New
Bedford Al IL O'Clock the 7th. with its band
and field music in fun blsre took up the trail of
the wagon train
GENERAL WOOD SATISFIED.
General Wood who watched the movement
with great deal Of satisfaction, said:
We learn more in week OF work actually in
the field than in six months OF theoretical war
fare in Office headquarters. We are using auto
mobile trucks here for the first time in modern
snanceuvres, and they are working splendidly.
Rut it's hard task in times of peace 70 make
improvements in the way of doing things In
the face of war crisis more progress be
made at getting new things into the service in
six weeks than in six years of peace times. with
all the opposition that must be overcome. These
Fnanouvres will cost good Of money. but
II will be money well spent. After midnight to-
night the situation will be just what General
Bliss and General Pew can make IT, But I
don't expect the two forces 20 clash before
Monday. I don't see how they can unless
side handles itself very badly. It'u take at least
ell day Sunday 60 get the intervening
srcund ia decent form and really come to-
Eether"
TITS the biggest war game the country has yet
played and II has brought more distinguished
group Of veterersstogether 10 see how its large
scale maneuvres work out in the field.
Except at such times the generals OF the
army get really little TO do While the captains
Grill their companies and the colonies drill their
regiments the generals remain in quarters. And
every one Of them is pleased at being once more
sneld.
Definite results are sure 10 fellow the man
ruvres that viii seriously affect any real New
England invasion should one come while present
warfare methods prevail. Fer one thing, the
improvements made for the government on the
Fail River boats Puritan, Pilgrim and Boston
are 10 remain. SO that these boats can be con-
rerted into transports on a notice Of four hours.
The freight cars used in transporting horses are
20 be stored a sidetrack with their loading
equipment intact, SO that two thousand horses
can be put in motion at any time thirty minutes
altar arriving at the railroad tracks.
. The sham battles which will be fought in
Bristol and Plymouth counties next week be-
tween the Blue and the Red armies will demon
stxatA whether Massachusetts,. and especially
Boston. is sufficiently protected against a for
~ign foe
IL has already been demonstrated TO the salts 1
faction of the military authorities OF the country
that no hostile feet can successfully run past
ths forts In Boston Harbor. and the object Of
the present man9uvres is 20 ascertain whether
such a foe could successfully make rear attack
the city.
The rules for the present game provide that
the STACKING fierce shall he landed fro,, $500