Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-05
THE WAR GAME.
Soldiers Receive Call to
Arms Wednesday, Night.
On Account Of Suspicious Craft
In Portland Harbor.
Militia Forces Getting Lots Of Ex-
perienee at the Forts.

KAN Island shortly after 8 p NJ
Wednesday resulted in the soldiers TAX
ing part in the Joint military exercises
receiving their first call to arms and
their first real experience in handling
the searchlights and the big guns dur
ing the mimic war. Not the slightest
warning had been given of the APP
proach OF the assumed hostile fleet I'M
til the calls To arms was sounded, but
within four minutes every man was at
his post in the pit, in the finding sta
items or in the plotting rooms.
Suddenly the searchlights at Fort
Williams, Fort Lyons, Fort Levett and
Peaks, Island ioomed forth and a vigil
ant search of the horizon was kept for
it was thought that the fleet had made
their first attack. When it was found.
that the enemy was not making an eff
fort TO gain entrance TO the harbor the
phase was concluded with searchlight,
drill and the militiamen were given,
their first instruction in quickly turn
ing the light from object to another.
The men in the plotting rooms and
range finding stations were given in
struction in shifting from one target to
another rapidly. Recall was sounded
about $50 when all the men, with the
exception of the lookouts and sentinels,
retired for the night. There was very
little sleep during the night for many
of the men at Fort Williams for the
continual blasts from the fog whistle
at Portland Head Light resulted in
many tumbling about on sleepless beds.
A constant watch is being kept es-
pecially during the foggy weather from
attacks by the small beats of the hos
tile fleet on the mine fields and to re
pell such an attack the rapid fire bat
teries and imaginary scout boats armed
with rapid fire and machine guns,
which constitute the defence used in
meeting such attacks, will be brought
into play
1t is known that Lieut.. Malcolm
AndruS, the officer in command of the
fleet, is husiiy engaged in figuring out
the strategy of different forms of naval
attack against Portland harbCr 1t
will be his en1eavor to show by actual
maneuverng CT his feet the weakest
points in the defence of the army
forces. Although he will not do any
actual firing ne should reach Il point
1900 yards from any important bat
terry undiscovered either day or night
he will fire a rocket. which signifies
that the point or battery is rendered
hors de combat.
The exercises today were devoted to
instruction in fire control and in the va
rious Instruments. Targets visible for
actual drill were simulated by having
tabulated set of observations previously
taken. These observations are simply
read by observers and are repeated by
various telephone operators and finally
sent to the various guns. This gives
drill almost as good as when actual tar
gets are used.
Owing to the thick fog and rain part
of the exercises planned for today had
to be postponed and aside from the SEN
tinels and outlooks on duty all the men
remained under cover during the greater
part of the afternoon. During the fore
noon there were inspections and at some
of the posts the militiamen had infantry
as we'll as ARTILLERY drill.
Fog as thick as mud and rain that came
down I'M torrents at times made the life
in camp at Fort Williams anything but
pleasant, and while there were not many
leisure moments at the post the men were
not called upon to be out in the downpour
for any great length of time. When the
men retired last night they were rather
weary from the days work and were
ready to enjoy a good sleep under their
canvas roofs, but shortly after midnight
the fog shut in and then the fog whistle
\ 7
AS result of the continual blasts sent
out as a warning to mariners the militia
soldier boys caught very little sleep. The
regulars are accustomed to the fog whis-
tie, so they did not mind it in the least,
but the volunteers found it very trouble
some and to say the least. annoying. De-
spite the footing of the whistle the men
enjoyed themselves and say that they
are having the time of their lives.
Major Palmer reports that the men are
getting along splendidly and that they
are doing all that could be expected in
their work. He is very enthusiastic in
his work and has the faculty of keeping
his men interested. Captain Daniel w.
Wentworth of Sanford has been detailed
as communication officer at the fire COM
manders station and he has taken up his
duties.
Captain H. e. Cloke, fire commander at
the post. said today that the men In
camp had been very quiet and that the
discipline had been excellent. THAT
means that there is material to work
with" said Captain Cloke. All the men
are showing interest in their work. and.
as Napoleon said. Interest is the most
essential requisite for an army"
When the men stationed at Williams
went into the gun pits yesterday they
stood by while the regular army men
handled the guns. but this forenoon the
militiamen assisted the regulars in
the work and from now on they will
handle the guns themselves with the
regulars standing by. The same plan
was carried out in the finding stations
and in the plotting rooms for the
miltamen are now conducting the
mimic war under the observance and
guiding hand of the regular army men.
This forenoon there were infantry
drills by the militiamen and Captain
Richard X. Cravcns inspected the diff
ferent companies. The men are now
anxiouslv awaiting an attack from
the hostile fleet as the searchlight
drill resulting from the first call to
arms, which was sent out last eve