The San Francisco call., 1910-09-23
ATASCADERO Scene
OF fierce BATTLE.
Thunder of Artillery Shakes
Hills Around Army Nam
euvering Camp
"Blues" Vanquish ''Reds" After
an All Day Struggle in
Mock Warfare

CAMP ATASCADERO,l Sept. 22.-The
Atascadero today in the most extensive
field maneuver or battle" yet enga ged
in at camp instruction between the
Blue" and Red" armies. 1t will be
eclipsed during the entire maneuvers
only by tomorrows operations, in which
the Arizona and New Mexico national
guard will for the first time participate
with the regulars in a battle.
The Blue" army, composed of a war
strength" battalion of infantry, two
troops of cavalry and the machine guns,
was commanded by Major Joseph p.
O'Neil of the Thirtieth infantry, and the
REDS" also composed of war
strength battalion of infantry and IL
field guns, were under Captain Traber
Norman.
BATTLE MODERN STRUGGLE
The battle" was conducted along
modern military lines, the commanders
of the respective forces remaining a
mile or two in the rear and directing
their commands by means of the field
telegraph and telephone lines which
had been reeled out behind the moving &
troops by detachments of the signal
corps under Lieutenants Beck and Pros
ser.
AS a spectacular battle" it was a
success, but from a military standpoint
there was considerable criticism as to
the manner in which the troops were
handled and a division of opinion as
to whether any part of the artillery
was silenced by the attack of the
Blue" troops, some of the observers
declaring that at least six of the guns
were put out of commission by Major
O'NeiFs forces and all the horses and
caissons destroyed by his cavalry. 1t
was claimed on the other hand that
the machine guns did not get into ac-
tion at all.
General Tasker Fl. Bliss, commander
in chief, accompanied by Major w. M.
White, echief of staff, and Assistant
Chief of Staff Captain A. w. Bjornstad,
watched the operations from hill.
BLUES TRIUMPH
When the bugles sounded the. recall
the Blue" force had swept the Reds"
back and, supposedly, at least a part of
the three batteries had been silenced.
Today's operations, among other
things demonstrated that the signal
corps with its field telegraph and tele-
phone lines and wireless outfits will
be very important branch OF the army
in future wars. The signal corps men,
with reels of light wire strapped to
their breasts and telephone receivers
to their ears reeled off the wire as they
moved along directly behind the firing
line, transmitting information to head
quarters and receiving orders from the
commander in chief and keeping the
latter constantly Informed from all sec
tions of the front of the constantly
changing situation.
SIGNAL CORPS PRAISED
The signal corps was highly compli-
mented for its work today. To make
up two war strength" battalions. 1t
was necessary to take all the men in
the Eighth and Thirtieth infantry
regiments and several companies
from the Eighteenth. AS three
such battalions are necessary to
make a war strength regiment, army
officers pointed out how few regiments
of infantry at war strength the United
States would have in time of war
Under the critical eyes of Lieutenant
Colonel N P. Phister and Major F. R.
Day of the Thirtieth infantry regulars,
a chain of outposts were established.
Several times tonight cavalry was sent
out to .'stfng up" the militia outposts.
The guardsmen were on the alert, how
ever, and several sharp little brushes
took place in the woods.
General A S. Brooks, adjutant gem
eral of New Mexico, has arrived in
camp, and win watch tomorrow's man
euvers.