The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-14
As IN DAYS OF '98
City of Boston Is Menaced by
Foreign Foe.
Not Scared This Time as 1t Is
Only in Play.
TROOPS ORDERED OUT
Governor Calls 1900 Men to
the Capitals Defense.
Greatest Game of Mimic War
New England Ever Saw.

Boston, Aug. 14.-When Gov.
Draper was Theoretically startled
at 10 a. M, today with the news that
a hostile force had landed on the
southern coast of Massachusetts, and
was threatening the military safety of
Boston, the most extensive game of
mimic war that has ever been played
in the eastern states was fairly under
way.
In accordance with the rules laid
down by the war department. Cover
nor Draper at once called upon
Adjutant General Brigham to defend
and 1000 troops were ordered to the
front under the command of
Brigadier General Pew.
1t was. of course. known to all
parties that the attacking force con-
sisted of several companies of the
United States coast artillery from the
forts in and about New York and a
number of regiments of militia from
Connecticut. New York. New Jersey
and the District of Columbia, under
the command of Major General
Tasker H. Bliss. U. S. A.
The sham battles which will be
fought in Bristol and Plymouth coun-
ties next week between the blue
army Of defense and the red army of
attack, whose forces were assembled
today will demonstrate whether
Massachusetts, especially Boston, is
sufficiently protected against a
1t has already been demonstrated
to the satisfaction of the military
authorities of the country that no
hostile fleet can successfully run past
the forts in Boston harbor ana the
object of the present maneuvers is to
ascertain whether such foe could sue
cessfully make an attack upon the
city.
The rules of the present game pro
vide that the attacking force shall be
landed from transports under the
supposition that no American battle
ship fleet was off shore to prevent Its
approach. 1t also was provided that
while the Massac husettS authorities
were notified of the immediate pres
ence of the enemy, the strength of
the force and it's disposition could not
be ascertained, as all telephone ana
telegraph wires were theoretically
cut at a. M. today. 1t was there
fore General Pew's duty today to as
semble his army and locate the
enemy by such means as would OBJ
tain in actual warfare
At the request of the military
authorities. the small army of war
correspondents in the field with both
forces abstained today from giving
the exact location of the different
regiments but while carrying out the
wishes of the military experts it is not
violating any confidence to say that
the troops from all over the state
were rushed to southeastern Massa-
chusetts and that the vanguard of the
attacking force under General Bliss
actually landed on the shore of Bristol
county and that the regiments from
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey
and the District of Columbia were ex-
pected to disembark before night
Major Leonard Wood commander of
the department of the east. is the
chief umpire of the contest and will
have the assistance of military ex-
perts from Washington.
Several months hence after all
these umpires have made their re-
ports. honors of war will be awarded