The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-08-17
WAR GAME OFF TODAY Battle Spirit Efectually Quenched by Driving Rain
 and Clinging Mud SOLDIERS REPORTED
 SOUTH OF BOSTON Both Armies Lined Up Only Three Miles Apart
 Through Middleboro Blues Win in Skirmish This Morning, Repulsing Force
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 Special from aUnited Press)
 Boston, Aug 17-Their battle spirit effectually quenched by a driving rain and their feet heavy with clfngine mud, 15.oo0 very peevish soldiers are this afternoon wandering over the roads 25 miles south of Bos- ton or lying close under their shel- ter tents, and not one of them just now cares rap whether Boston falls before the enemy or rises into the sky.
 There was every indication today that a pitched battle would be fought between General Pew's Blue army of defense and Generas Tasker H. Bliss army df attack-until it rained. Then all thoughts Nof battle fled and what both troops and officers wanted was keep dry. Lined up only three miles apart along a line running through Middleboro both armies this afternoon are hugging any shelter that presents itself and practically refuses longer to pursue the path of glory until the puddles on its surface dry up.
 A clash in Middleboro in which the Blues won, the repulse of 250 troops from Fort Hancock, N. J., who tried to capture United States Signal Corps Station at Nahant near Boston and the escape of captive observa- ton balloon from its anchorage at Brockton were the features of the day. With the armies both of. the defense and invasion, lined up near Middle boro-and if the rain stops-real do- ings are expected when the war game hours begin tomorrow.
 
 panies. totalling 250 soldiers from Fort Hubbard, N J., of the Red army that is attempting the invasion of Boston, were repulsed early to-day by 8. force of 100 Blues stationed at the United States Signal Corps Station on the lost about IS men and the Reds a smaller number. Colonel Robert Pat terson. the umpire at this point, de- cided that the invaders did not sue ceed in capturing the battery After the repulse the Reds pressed a couple of, cars into service on the Nahant and Lynn Electric Railway. disem- parked at the Boulevard, marched to Swampscott and there took Boston and Northern cars back to Lynn. Of with the country and were handicap ped owing to this fact.
 Middleboro. Mass, Aug. 17.-The cap tain of a. company in the End Connecti- cut Regiment unwisely exposed him self to capture by body of the Blue defenders this morning and he was be- ing led away with great glee by his captors when superior force of about 20 Reds attacked the little force of ten Blues who had the captain in charge. 1t was but a moments work to rescue the Connecticut captain and with him were also captured four of the ten Blues. the others making their escape
 It began to rain here at about 2:30 this morning and the drizzle kept up steadily, making it cold and unpleas- ant for the soldiery.
 !, The 9th regiment at Titicut has re- ceived word that the Reds are likely to make their way through Middle been ordered to hold the position they occupy until the last man dies at his post.
 Brockton. Mass, Aug. 17.-The war balloon which was to be used to-day broke loose from it's moorings this at about 10:40 and sailed over in the direction of Stoughton. The gas bag was loaded when suddenly a gust of wind lifted the bag from its fasten- ings on the ground and the balloon was off in an instant There was no one in the balloon at the time.
 A successful ascension was made to the height of 500 feet this morning at 6 o'clock by Captain H. e. Chase. but the weather was so thick that no observations could be made. It was intended to make observations to-day if the weather cleared, but the ac- cfdent to the balloon has now made this impossible.
 The camp where the balloon was to- cated was named Camp Douglas last evening in honor of Ex-Governor Will liam L. Douglas of this city. Two Red scouts who got into Brock in Centerville, on Harvey street by a. half a dozen Blues. The Reds ran onto the defenders unawares and af- ter a short pursuit were taken pri- soners. This is the first capture of Reds here and this fact coupled with shows that the enemy is looking for weak spot in the Brock ton line. Mayor John s. Kent from his factory office was an interested spectator of the pursuit and capture
 Middleboro, Mass, Aug. 17.-When the army of the Red broke camp at Rock this morning it was a sorry grumbling among the rank and file at the order issued by General Bliss to prepare for the march northward, de- spite the drenching rain and the hor- rible condition of the roads.
 A driving rain which began late last night and continued throughout the rest of the night and morning, easily penetrated the tents of the soldiers and every man was soaked to the skin when, at o'clock this morning orders were given to break camp.
 At o'clock everything had been packed and the march was taken up along the Wareham, due north, in soft mud which was ankle deep. The roads were bad yesterday with the deep GOV ering of fine, powdery dust, but the heavy rain had converted this dust into soft clinging mud. which made walking extremely difficult.
 The army first moved due north along the Wareham road as far as Fall Brook. and then turned east on Tispaquain road. passing the marshy shores of TispaQuain and Woods Ponds and marched on to Waterville, about 5 miles north of Middleboro Center