Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-03-21
.BAPTISED in BULLETS
COMPANY ii, OF DALLAS, EN-
CAGES IN PRACTICE BATTLE.
Captaln Tooze Issues Challenge 70
Salem Company For Compel
tive Drill.

In the midst of war ana rutnofs u
war the residents of Dallas slept IN
undisturbed peacefulness, or Haue
their weekly preparations Tor churcii
last Sunday morning, totally uncoh-
scious that an armed military force
accoutered for actual service, was even
then engaged in fierce and desperate
struggle for supremacy Wlth1n the
sound of the sweetly peacetul sum
mons of the Sabbath bells Amid the
glorious morning sunshine, the ght-
tering bayonets flashed defiance from
foe to foe. and waited by the freshlyl
fra grant breezes the voice of bugies
gave stirring utterance of sinister
commands of martial import. Al
yancing, retreating, on skirmlsh me
or in almost hand-to-hand conillct'
the battle ragged and the sound OF rat
fling musketry broke harshly upon the
sylvan stiffness, while the neighhorlng
chipmunks Skinned up tree IN an
offort IN see and learn what in sam
hill was the matter.
Practice Warfare.
The cause of the unWonted smoke,
srneIl and noise was Company HIS
maiden battle in mimic. captain
Walter l.. Tooze, Jr., in order 10 give
his men taste1of powder, ordered
nractice march and engagement.
company II was divided into two
nIatoons of 25 men each, and to every
member 30 rounds of blank ammuni-
tion was issued. Equipped with guns,
belts. bayonets, intrenching tools, hav-
ersacks, and canteens, they were
ready for the fray. The first platoon,
under command of First Sergeant
Peter s. Greenwood, Jr., left the arm
ory at s a. M, taking the washington
and I,evens street route out along Ell
lendale avenue, and the Guy road to a
point about one mile north OF the IN
tersection of these two thoroughfares'
The second platoon, under command
of Sergeant i. G. Shaw, left the arm
orv at $50, following Main street ana
the Salt Creek road to the Dunlop MI
The first platoon took up defensive
nosition lust north of the Kimball or
chard on the creek bank. The seconc
platoon then proceeded to an attacF
upon the enemy.
Amid Paper Bullets.
After about two hours Of scoutins
the two bodies came into contact. fol
about half an hour the ''make-belieVe'
naner bullets flew thick and fast. Th'
first platoon had thrown up breast
works by the use of their intrenchlht
tools and had selected a good place
TO repel an attack. However, the!
failed in properly protecting thel
-, rear. The second platoon made thel
attack upon that quarter, but ha'
: failed TO get a correct understandln
: of the lay of the land before doing SO
: and the result was that when the
came upon the enemy, they found tina
there was a lot of brush between them
!, thus spelling effective fire upon thei
part.
10 Captain Tooze acted as umpire, an
his decision was that 1t was ara"
Lieutenant Stafrin acted with the hrs
platoon in an advisory capacity, an
Sergeant Greenwood with the secoh
platoon The boys enjoyed their NIX
> of about seven miles and the shaf
battle very much, and are eager 10
another one. 1t is this kind of tram
ing that fits men for actual warfare
Challenges Salem.
Captain Tooze has issued cha
l. lenge to Captain Abrams, Company
Third Infantry, o. N. G., of Salem, [
= meet him between here and Salem
n sham battle. The plan Will be lo
Company M to leave Salem on Sa'
l. urdav afternoon, with the object
capturing Dallas, the capital OF tf
al enemy's country. They VIII select
good place en- route to bivouac on Sa
id urday evening. on the same day
the afternoon, Company II will leaN
Dallas with the object of capturir
lf Salem. They will also biVouac
route. The field of operations Will
r. limited to within half mile on eac
side of the main road between Dalli
4 and Salem This promises to pe
interesting affair, and the local me
n are anxiously awaiting CAPITA
Abrams acceptance of the challehs
e. Captain Abrams is an efficient otlie'
and takes a great interest in milital
g. affairs. and it is safe to say that
will eagerly grasp this opportunity
o. give his men little valuable tralnih
If the arrangements are perfected
set forth. the battle will take pla
O. some Sunday morning between ne
and Salem. and the companies VIII
by turn to their stations Sunday atte
noon.