The San Francisco call., 1910-09-18
MIMIC WAR LACKS
The SPECTACULAR
Thin Lines of Khaki Clad Sol-
diers Skirmish in Atas-
caderO Dales

CAMP ATAsCADERo, Sept. IT,
Wars alarm again re-echoed through
out the beautiful wooded hills and dales
of Atascadero today in the second field
operations of the army maneuvers now
going on under Brigadier General
Tasker H. Bliss. Heliographs flashed
from height to height, "wigwags," flags
denoted the activity of detachments of
the signal corps, batteries of field guns
thundered across the flats, columns of
cavalry galloped along under the pro-
lection of hills with patrols on the
ridge to the right and left to guard
against surprises, and behind all were
the ambulances, drawn by plodding
mules.
Today's field operations were partici-
pated in only by the regulars, the
Arizona militia having arrived too late
last night to take part in the ma
neuVers
AS matter of fact there was little
excitement and less of the spectacular
IN the battles Thin lines OF khaki
clad infantry, inconspicuous against the
brown landscape, moved forward in
skirnish order, now slowly, taking adj
vantage of every tree and defensive
position, now on the run. A single
shot and then a scattering volley The
force may be opposed by regiment or
by no more than score of mon COM
posing an outpost. That is for the
commander to find out or deduce from
the lay of the ground and as the situa-
tion develops
QUICKNESS AND ACCURACY
Upon the quickness and accuracy of
his judgment, his resourcefulness and
the tactical disposition of his troops
will depend the report of the umpires
and the criticism or praise bestowed
upon him.
The umpires renderNno decisions that
one side or the other has won" Some
of the problems given a commander and
his troops are impossible of winning
the principal, if not the sole object. be-
ing to test resourcefulness the ability
TO meet sudden emergencies and to
note what tactical disposition is made
of troops under certain conditions that
are supposed to exist
With each day the problems, drawn
up largely by Captain A. A. Bjorn-
stad of Fort Leavenworth detailed as
assistant chief of staff, become harder
and more complex. The $4,000 acre
ranch leased by the government has
varied topography. steep hills. wooded
heights, open flats. valleys and little
dales, affording many opportunities for
The operations today were by regi-
ments. The Eighth United States In
fantry, commanded by Colonel Mason.
had a spirited encounter with several
troops of cavalry under Captain
Sweezy near Devils Gate pass. a mar
row gorge in the mountains three miles
west of camp.
SIGNAL CORPS IN ACTION
At the same time the signal corps
under Captain Stamford and Lieuten-
ants Beck and Prosser were exchang-
ing and forwarding Information from
the different mountain tops. while the
Thirtieth infantry and several COM
panies of the Eighteenth. under Colonel
Chubb. with Major Kirby as adjutant,
worked out another problem near the
railroad toward Templeton, and bat
teries of artillery were operating by
themselves in another direction. but in
plain view from one of the heights.
The national guard of New Mexico.
a regiment of infantry, two troops Of
cavalry and battery of light artillery
commanded by General A. S. Brooks, a
former officer of the regular army, now
adjutant general of New Mexico, will
arrive tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow being Sunday, there will
be no drills or field movements, and
the day will be given over in camp to
rest and recreation. Many of the Off
GERS and men went to Paso Robles hot
springs tonight.