Evening star., 1909-06-23
Local Brigade Will Help in At
tack Near Boston.
SUBSTANCE OF THE PLANS
Mai. Gen. Leonard Wood Keeping
Strategic Points Secret.
CONFERENCE WITH OFFICERS
Exercises Likely to Conclude With
Thousand Men Engaged.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BOSTON, Mass, June 23.-The entire
force that Gen. George Washington mus
bridge. near the famous Washington elm.
would not In any way compare with the
great host of sixteen thousand men and
more who will assemble perhaps within
the shadow Of the historic tree here dur
ing the third week in August mimic
warfare will take place somewhere with
in hearing distance of Boston and. ac-
cording to the meager plans given the
newspapers by Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood,
L. s. A., at Governors Island, n. Y, 1t
is believed among military folk of New
England that all past maneuvers of the
sort will be surpassed.
Among the invading host will be the
brigade of National Guard Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia. The states of New
York New Jersey and Connecticut will
be represented Never before in the his
tory of Massachusetts have state militias
other than those of the home state taken
part in trial warfare The fact alone
that the National Guard and other mill
states makes 1t seem plausible that the
maneuverS, the nature of which is sun
clouded in much mystery. will be carried
on near Boston on a scale never before
attempted.
Conference at Governors Island.
The maneuvers will take place from the
14th to the 21st of August. inclusive.
Adit. Cen Brigham. Gen. William A
Pew tr. commanding the I'd Brigade,
NJ. v. NJ. and Capt. Robert e. Davis,
| nth Infantry. U. S. A.. military IN
spector. assigned to the Massachusetts
Volunteer Militia, proceeded TO neaa.
quarters of the Department OF the East
to confer with Maj. Gen. Wood a few
days ago. They have returned from the
conference after spending an entlre oay
with the general. which included side
| trip to West Point.
All details about subsistence and ammu.
milton were finally arranged. The troops
will live on the United States Army neio
ration, supplied by the government. pu'
purchased by the states Ihe ammunl-
partment.
A system has been arranged for mill
tary board such as was created lot tne
army maneuvers at Manassas. Va, to
protect the rights Of property holders.
This board will consist of I certain num-
Der Of United States Army officers and
officers assigned by Adjt. Gen. Brigham
from the Massachusetts, militia.
Defense Against Invasion.
The maneuver involves an attack on
Massachusetts and a defense against in
vasion In the forces engaged artillery
and cavalry will be as nearly equal on
both sides as possible. but Massachusetts
will have the smaller number OF men
engaged. This state has three batteries
Of field artillery and there will be three
batteries on the side of the invaders.
The thrsa troops of cavalry of this state
will be augmented by three troops Of reg
ular cavalry, making six in all, while the
invaders will have five troops. New York
| will send eight regiments Of infantry. four
troops of cavalry and two field batteries.
New Jersey will send one troop of cav
airy. Connecticut will furnish one battery
of field artillery and the District of CO.
| lumbia its brigade.
Since the naval brigade of 500 men will
| have no part in the engagements. Massa-
chusetts will put practically $500 men of
all arms from its own establishment in
the field and defenses against approx
| mately 5000. but with the three United
States cavalry troops the number may be
| increased to nearly $500.
Cavalry the Only Regulars.
Other than the cavalry there will be no
regular troops in these maneuvers. The
nearest cavalry post is Fort Ethan Allen.
Vermont. where the four troops of the
11th are just about being relieved by the
| 10th. There is another cavalry post at
Fort Myer. Virginia. 1t Is not definitely
decided whence the three troops for Mas
sachusetts will come.
Maj. Gen. Wood is to be the chief UNI
pire. On the board Of umpires will be
Brig. Gen. Embury P. Clark. commanding
| the 1st Brigade, NJ. v. NJ, representing
trict of Columbia will have it's representa-
tive on. the board Brig. Gen. Pew will
command all the mobile forces of this
state In the field. but not the Coast Ar
tillery In the defenses. which will be
under the direct command of the COM
mandant Of the defenses of Boston. 1t is
anticipated that orders will be received
| to get ready August IL and 13 All of the
IA, and the troops Of .enEmy' are ex-
pected to arrive-tfe same day. There
| will be practically twenty-four hours'
notice for the actual maneuvers to begin.
They will consist of military problems
similar to those fought out IN Virginia
There will be actual strategic warfare on
the sacred soil of the old Bay state. into
whose territory the invaders will advance
coming by water or otherwise.
Strategic Points Kept Secret.
AS to strategic points. it will be pure
guess work until they are developed by
the movement of the troops. Gen. Wood
is especially desirous that this attack
shall be In the nature of a surprise as
nearly as possible, and therefore is insis-
tent that his plans shall not be threshed
out before the maneuvers begin. He
does not care how much the newspapers
guess, but he keeps the secret locked In
his own breast Necessarily the widest
and most worthless terrain will be sought
for in the handling of so many men, and
where cross-country fighting may take
place.
1t is pretty certain that the north shore
strategic points which have been sug-
gested. and especially Salem. are pretty
wide of the mark. It is probable that
the windup may be a grand review, simt-
lar to that at Wellington. Va.
Gen. Wood Going to Boston.
Adj. Gen. William H. Brigham informed
The Star correspondent today that Gen.
Wood is expected in Boston the last OF
this week. and that ne will spend some
time there. returning for the maneuvers
early in August.
Gen. Brigham said he could give out
no information other than had already
been made public. He could not suggest
at what point the maneuvers would take
place. whether in the vicinity of Cam
bridge under the Elm, or, as has been
suggested, at the more likely point along
the north shore.