New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-22
Constant Reader Tells Him
What He Missed in Last
Weeks Papers.

What topic has occupied space IN New
YoTk's papers this week." asked Busy Man when
he met Constant Reader last night.
7 think the palm must be given the mimic
in Massachusetts" replied his friend. An
army OF some nine thousand men. made up Of a
few regulars and a large ajority OF national
glardsmen fro~0 New York. New Jersey and Con-
necticut set out 10 capture Boston under the COM
mard Of Brigadier General Tasker II. bliss L. 5 A.
The Hub was defended by army Of seven thou
sand men, composed Of Massachusetts miltiamen
and a few companies Of artillerymen and cavalry
from the regular army. Brigadi=r General William
A. Pew. NJ. Y. NJ. commanded this force. The in
vaders sailed from New York and landed at New
Bedford Hostites began Monday and lasted
until Thursday. After much interesting manpu-
wiring and the endurance Of considerable hardship
from incement weather. the Red army. the in
ya6ers called. turned the flank Of Pew's forces.
and Major General Leonard Wood L ). A. com
manding general Of the Department OF the East.
who chief umpire, called the war off. His
decision was thar nobody won"
= wonder which Of our future historians will re-
member 10 include the expense Of these sham
fights in the cost OF our next real war said Busy
Man
ITS more than likely" replied Constant Reader.
that such mimic campaigns Will greatly min
inize the cost Of our next real var. Those OF US
who can recall the difficulties experienced at
the North In getting together an army To preserve
how sadly unprepared for land fighting we were
when the recent Spanish War broke out. ought 10
realize oy now that the only place where citizen
sodiery can learn field tactics is in the field and
n cooperation with regular army troops"
If the men took Il seriously. tIey probably could
learn lot" retorted Busy Man. but my expert
ence Of such sham campaigns is that the militia
regard it largely a lark and the regulars as
bore"
II you had taken part in this one" replied Con-
slant Reader, you would not have found much
time Cor larking. After hiking over hot sand.
totlng about forty-Seven pounds Of equipment in
the early part OF the week. you would have been
soaked TO the skin with rain Cor days In the middle
Il the week, you waded through mud am! water
ankle deep. Sleeping AZ night in full fatigue uni
FORM IN little shelter tents under rain soa ked
blankets Is no child's play and after a breakfast
OF hardtack and sugarless coffee resuming the
weary march with alacrity the word Of COM
h'and lacks most Of the clemens II FUN"
80 much wetness." chuckled BUSY sian, makes
me surmise that the Ancient and Honorable Ar
uIlery q Boston must have taken a hand in the
affair" " ''e
They did not answered Busy Ma, .s,5 ?
wish you would Try 10 keep ia view the sero,s
Side OF these mSnPuvres. one valuable lesson
learned from them vas the great Use lulness 81 The
automobile truck IN keeping IAN invading array.s
base Of supplies always close AT hand n, r,,.i,e-
MS supplies with him in trucks General
Bliss succeeded in keeping his Lase l,ptra,,,a i
by the usual long lines Of communication mat
have 10 be carefully guarded because the cpt,in,
Of them means defeat. Every cornuap,.. A., 49,.
army received It's rations with few e1centto,, -,
most as soon as IL was ready 10 make cann ,rb,s
made a new record, and highly creditabIa one -,
'Oh. I'm willing admit that the game NO.,
well worth the candle" consented Busy Man. ana
! dare say the slaughter Of beans and-and-tea.