Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-16
ARMIES CLOSING IN:
SK|RM|SHERS CLASH
Sharp Encounter of Cavalry
at Wareham, Mass: Blues
Hold Their Ground.
BLISS FEINT A FAILURE
Main Body of Reds Advancing on
Taunton Road.
MAY STRIKE AT MIDDLEB0RO
district Troops, Forming the Right,
Push Toward Boston-Blues
Dynamite" Bridges.

BOSTON, August 16.-The first clash at
arms between the Red army of invasion
that is attempting to capture this city
and the Blue army of defense, the latter
composed wholly OF Massachusetts mill
tiamen, occurred early today near Ware
ham. near the base OF Cape Cod.
Ii was nothing more than a skirmish
between a detachment of the cavalry OF
the invading force and the I'd Brigade of
Massachusetts Infantrymen. which had
been pushed forward at the extreme left
of the line of defense.
Brig Cen William A. Pew, commander
of the Blue army at BridgeWater. sent
his I'd Brigade across the Colchester
brook along the east side of the great
Cedar swamp, through Halifax to East
Middleboro with the extreme left resting
at Wareham. The front of the I'd Bri-
gade left had hardly reached Wareham
when a detachment of Red army cavalry
appeared and sharp encounter began.
The object of the attack was undoubted-
Iy to draw the Blue troops away from the
vicinity of Middleboro and thus give Gen.
Bliss an opportunity to push the main
strength of his army through Lake
VILE and Middleboro and on TO Boston.
The second brigade Of the Blue army
resisted the attack of the cavalry, how
ever and ii was evident that Gen. Pew
was not going 10 throw his strength on
his extreme left, and allow breach at
IakeVillc.
Will Strike at Middleboro.
The lst and "a Connecticut and the I'D
and eth New York Infantry. encamped
near East Freetown, started early on the
march today. These regiments are the
main body of Brig. Gen. Tasker III. Bliss
Red army of invasion. and it was evident
that their commander wished to strike
the Blue army at Afiddleboro.
He had sent d small detachment of
cavalry to the Blue armys extreme left
at Wareham. hoping. it was supposed. to
draw away from the vicinity of Middlebo-
TO and Lakeviiie the main body of Gen.
Pew's forces. Finding that Gen. Pew did
not swallow the bait, Gen. Bliss moved
the strength of his infantry toward the
Blue armys right wing. His artillery
force was sent off in advance.
Sharp Fighting in Middleboro.
Special Dispatch To The Star.
MIDDLEBoRO. Mass. August 49,
IHe Biue army de1eIlulHS Boston III the
New England military maneuvers start
ed upon forward movement at 6 o'clock
this morning. The I'd Massachusetts
Regiment was sent forward from the
line of the left flank to take up an ad-
vanced position at Middleboro. eight
miles south of Bridgewater, and to at
tempt to occupy Taunton
The Blue troops were in possession of
the state farm. four miles to the north
of Middleboro. this morning. and their
outposts reached down as far as the
streets of Middleboro village, while the
Reds were In some force a mile to the
south.
The villagers of Midleboro were en-
tertained by several lively bouts right in
the streets of the village between Red
cavalry scouts of Squadron a New
York. and Troop c, Connecticut, and the
bicycle scouts of the Blues
a lively outpost skirmish. the first real
combat of the maneuvers, took place at
- O'Clock this morning five miles to the
east of here.
Gov. Draper was nearly captured this
morning by the Reds of Squadron A.
New York, while reconnoitering outside
the Blue posts al Middleboro He escaped
on horseback to the northward without
waiting for his automobile.