New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-12
P|'A|IS''T'|.EBOARD SOLDIERS
SHOT TO PIECES IN TEST
Movable Targets Used for First
Time in Sham Battle at
PeekSkiIl.
CANAL RYMEN MAKE ATTACK
Lack of Ammunition Causes The
oretical Death of Many Sharp
shooters While They Sit
Smoking Cigarettes.

The first official test OF the new movable
targets for combat shooting, the invention
If CAPTAIN Lincoln c. Andrews. OF the 18th
limited States Cavalry. and Major John F.
oRyan. Of the I'd Battalion. New York Ar
buery, was held yesterday afternoon on
the state reservation at Peekskill. One
hundred Of the best shots from squadrons
a and c, New York Cavalry. took the field
IN lighting trim and attempted the dis
Judgement Of New England force, which
was entrenched in a valley north of the
reservation
whether or not the tattered pasteooard
officers in command of the bullet ridden
pasteboard soldiers celebrated victory
around their imaginary camp fires last
night IL a matter which the umpires OF
Yesterdays battle have yet TO decide. The
success of the new target system, the prin-
cipal object of the trials was practically
assured.
The forces which left the Grand Central
Station yesterday for Peekskill In defence
Of the state. were made up Of Squadrons
A and {, of the New York Cavalry. under
the command Of Captain James c. McLeer,
the senior cavalry captain of the state. AT
Peekskill they were met by Troop B. OF
Albany, in command of Captain Ernest l.
Miller The forces marched to the parade
ground. within striking distance of the
point Of attack. and there received their
orders. which up to that time had been
kept secret.
The invading forces from New England,
according TO the military plan. were in
trenched in small valley north OF the
parade ground. Black pasteboard targets,
IN the form OF men, with arms crooked as
n in position TO shoot, had been installed
IN trenches, out of which they arose. dis
charged unseen rifles at the cavalrymen,
and dropped back. These targets were
worked by men concealed after the fashion
Of trap-pullers. and were moved up and
down by means Of ropes.
Cows Delay the Attack.
The battle began promptly at o'clock.
The sharpshooters We're deployed I'm five
sections under the command Of the various
officers and advanced on the trenches. AS
In actual warfare, the men were cautioned
10 keep under cover as much as possible.
A field telegraph corps of fourteen men
from the 1st Signal Corps, armed with
seven miles Of wire. set up their lines and
made their connections with headquarters,
from which the orders were given. Just
as the first orders for the advance were
given three cows. switching few late au-
tumn flies and calmly regarding the land
scape, sauntered out across the entrance to
the valley, and moved slowly across the
parade ground The sharpshooters pointed
their rifles skyward and waited until two
men on horseback had chased them out OF
range OF the firing.
In the advance upon the invading force
the left wing of the sharpshooters did ex-
cellent work and kept TO cover. The centre
and right sections, however moved In the
open at all times, and their action made
the work Of the umpires q difficult matter
Just how many OF these sections were shot
down by the ina ginary New Englanders Is
one Of the fine points OF decision. Accord
ing 10 a ruling Of the umpires early IN the
.kirmish, one man was killed during the
first minute of the attack. owing TO some
hesitation Of the attacking force
The next knotty problem for the umpires
came at the moment the troops reached the
first trenches There the ammunition gave
out, and the men sat around on the ground
the greater part of them in full range of the
guns of the pasteboard men in the trenches.
while horsemen were sent back mile for
ammunition. The umpres had to decide
low many men were killed while they sat
around smoking and waiting for more
cartridges.
While these fatal military mistakes acted
against the cavalrymen their actual shoot
ing was excellent. One group of five targets
Was nut out OF commission, owing 10 a
random shot which cut the rope operating
the fgures The pasteboard men who were
in the thick of the combat however, were
badly peppered by the New York men. One
OF the figures had twenty-one bullet holes
in IT. another ten and another five. All of
these wounds were in vital spots.
The battle was stopped at 4:15 o'clock be-
cause of approaching darkness. Many ON
cial and civilian observers followed the
fortunes of the sharpshooters az safe DIS
tance,and gathered in interested groups on
the hinsides overlooking the valley over
which the smoke Of battle rolled Major
Henry s. Richmond, of Troop b. was one
of the onlookers. as were Captain Andrews
and Major organ, the inventors OF the
new target system. Others were captain
n. II Rogers of the I'd Battalion; Colonel
o. O. Storey. assistant adiutant general
and Captain Miller. Of the Albany troops
Adiutant General Verbeck intended 10 ne
present but remained away to attend the
wedding of Miss Catherine Douglas niece
of Governor Dix, at Albany
The commanding officers. as well as
guests. gave a comfortable touch TO the
horrors Of war during the afternoon min
Cling tobacco smoke from their cigars ana
cigarettes with the smoke OF battle.
Tho chief umpire yesterday was Lieuten-
ant Colonel Willard c. Ftske He was as
sisted by Major James y. Hutchins' OF 'he
list Regiment. and Major Organ.
While the test was chiefly to determine
the practica bility Of the new targets as a
means Of giving the men practice in actuai
field warfare the military aspect OF the
days work was none the less complicated.
The performance OF the men was deciueu
according TO craftsmanship, generai
method OF attack, ammunition SUPPLY
taking cover. method of firing, reinforcing
the fring line, rendition of messages ana
The return OF communication.