The Washington herald., 1909-08-19

Bryantsville. Mass. headquarters OF
the Red Army. Aug. 1.-The Red army
Of invasion, successful yesterday over
the Blue army Of defense in what win
probably be the only decisive battle in
the march on Boston. is camped in solid
formation about this village tonight,
only twenty-six miles from the sacred
city OF the Commonwealth.
Gen. Bliss made his advance Of thir-
teen miles to-day straight north through
the country Of the enemy without hind
rance and the only serious action was
rear-guard fight between all Of the cav
airy arm OF the Red army and troops
Of the Massachusetts Second Brigade.
II was learned tonight through mem-
bers of Leonard Woods stan that to-
morrow's maneuvers will probably bring
to a premature end the weeks mimic
war in Massachusetts.
Suffer HardSkips in Rain.
Two circumstances are said to have
worked TO bring Gen. Wood to his pres
ent determination. The chief Of these is
the weather
For two days and a night IL has been
raining here without surcease, all the
roads have been converted INTO qucg-
mires, and the camping places Of the
troops have become morasses, unfit even
for the pasturing of horses. Those who
have had the management OF the war
game IN charge have begun TO fear that
exposure to the conditions induced by
d, the incessant rain and the low tempera-
lures may bring about a wholesale on
slaught Of disease. more TO be feared
than any hypothetical enemy.
The second circumstance favorinC the
closing Of the war maueuvers tomorrow
instead Of allowing them 20 continue 10
Saturday. as originally planned, is that as
tactical facts stand now Con. Tasker II.
Bliss, in chief command OF the Red army.
has practically solved the problem which
Initiated these wholesale exercises by the
militia OF five States. His Red army was
supposed 10 land on Massachusetts soil
after a defending fleet had been scattered
b. aeet OF the attacking forces and
within a week to encompass the capture
of Boston.
Reds Near Boston.
Tonight Gen. Bliss army is belived
70 be actually nearer Boston than that
Of Gen. Pew. commander OF the Blue
army of defense. During the whole day
Bliss pushed ahead through territory
across which the Blue army had once
been drawn up in opposition, and the
Blues. their left flank shattered by the
onslaught at Cemetery Hill yesterday.
had not been able to rally ahead of the
advancing Red line In numbers sufficient
10 put up any kind OF a fight. Were Gen
Bliss army a real Invading enemy Bos-
ton would be in his hands tonight.
To-day Gen Bliss army completed the
modification OF the Blues which was
begun at the fight on Cemetery Hill. out
side Of Eddyville, yesterday. At O'Clock
Bliss had all Of his division on the move
along two parallel roads leading due
north from the rendezvous made between
Waterville and Plympton after yester-
days victory. Fhe mass Of his army had
plugged hole clean through the hard hit
Eighth Massachusetts. and dealt q blow
from which Gen. Pew could not recover
All that the Reds had to do was 10 keep
on pushing toward Boston through the
gap in the line of defense.
Engagement Comes Late.
All along the roads converging upon
the line OF march Of the Reds the enemy
made leeting appearances. but It was
not until near the hour for the official
cessation Of the days hostilites that
there was anything like an engagement.
Then the heavy cavalry screen that had
been protecting the rear Of the columns
encountered a strong force OF Blues at
Growers Corners, on the road between
Halifax and Plympton
The Eighth Massachusetts. which had
been terribly decimated by the fight at
Cemetery Hill yesterday. seemed TO have
been restored to its full strength by the
alchemy of the umpires decisions. and
six companies Of this regiment. strongly
located on hill and supported by the
two automobile batteries that figured I'm
the Eddyville engagement. disputed the
advance Of the Red cavalry.
Maj Bridgeman. in command over all
the cavalry brigade decided to drive tho
Blue line back. he ordered his troopers
TO dismount. and then he sent an ad-
vance line Of the Essex troop ana SQUAD
ron A over the open ground In direct
assault upon the position
The dismounted cavalrymen let out n
long ven. and went through q fence and
up the hin against the Blues. who lay be-
hind stone wall on the summit
Loss Is Heavy.
A volley ripped out along the whole line
Of the stone breastworks. and the umpires
with the attacking party waved them
back-they had been repulsed with heavy
loss. Then Mai Bridgeman sent a strong
detachment Of the long. 1.-THE colored
troopers from the Philippines around TO
execute flank movement They moved
up the road under cover and lust as
Continued on Page 3, Column G.
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