New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-17
TACTICAL OPERATIONS
ENCROSS BOTH ARMIES
Thanking March Causes OppoS'
ing Lines to Shift TO
the, North.
MANGUVRES END TO-DAY
General Engagement Which Will
Finish Campaign Will Deter
mine Whether New York
Has Fallen Before Enemy.
rBy Telegraph 10 The Tribune.

rBy Telegraph 10 The Tribune
Newtown, Conn, Aug. lS-Before sun
rise to-day, while morning was still MOTH
ing but a faint gray streak creeping up
over the SUBMITS of the eastern hills. the
Red and Blue regiments were called 10
sudden life by the notes Of bugles that
seemed to echo from ridge TO ridge. and
within an hour the footsorc opposing ar
mics were In motion toward each other
in forced marches. The khaki-yellow and
olive-drsb uniforms have long since be-
come merged into the dusty gray OF the
landscape from miles of tramplng over
the roads, so that the columned pageant
~ Of war as brilliant spectacle was alb
sent
And, moreover, as the regiments poured
themselves through the winding mgh-
ways, masked by the rolling hills OF 'he
wooded levels, they were for the mos'
part invisible to the eye of the ground
level observer. The only ones VINO couio
see the great movement as an impressive
whole were the air scouts, looking down
from above into the gullies ana raNihes
through which the great serpents Oh war
we're slowly winding their ways toward
each other.
BY nightfall, so closely had 'he
opposing armies drawn to each othef'
that they then presented one great ~hoie,
the attacking and the defending sues u
an impending pitched battle.
Although in actual fighting to-day was
less fraught with the inspiring clashes
of battle than on previous days. II was
nevertheless the most important period OF
the whole campaign from the point OF
view Of tactical operations. Both armies
executed a great flank march toward the
north, into the foothills Of the berk-
shires themselves. From its main posi-
lion at Upper White Hills the Red army
commanded by General Smith and led b!
the LIST New York Brigade, marched IN
line almost parallel with the Housatonlc
up through the village of Berkshire, ana
on TO Sandy Hook, near Newtown.
Blues Change Front.
From its main position established yes
terdav At Reddng the Blue army, under
General Mills. well knowing that the Reds
would 80 north in an effort TO threaten
Danb,iry, the Blue base of supplies, TOOK
up its march, on a line ten miles away
also toward the north. The result OF
this double movement was 10 bring the
armies hourly closer and closer together'
converging on Newtown. 1t is at thls
place that General Bliss, the chief UNI
pire, realizing that the strategy OF botn
commanders would bring them 10 New
town, established his headquarters last
night. I'm order TO Re present at the last
great closing encounter of the campaign
Tonight the armies are hiyouackeo
within two miles of each other. and the
Pickering camp fires of the outposts are
visible 70 each other across the inter
vening hills that run 'ow and unwooded
lust south of Newtown. Early In the
day General Mills, of tho Blues, made his
cavalry independent. and the morning
was not very old before they had struck
an important blow. They dashed 70
Newtown and took possession of IL. pick
citing their horses on the village common
and spreading themselves behind the
stone fences on the southern outskirts
Of the town, 10 defend it from the Red
infantry.
1t was not long before heavy advance
detachment of the enemy appeared. and
the fight for the possession OF that i'm.
portant stronghold was on. II was 4
sharp, fierce encounter. in which th'
Plucs were finally forced 20 retire. by
decision Of the umpires overwhelmed by
superior numbers They leaped int
their saddles and evacuated just as TN
cheering Reds dashed up the slopes ant
into the village streets. Again, as or
previous days. the fortunes Of war hat
favored the superior numbers NJ the in
raders. ard this strategic position o.
defenders IN this encounter the Blues
USED their machine gun with great, al,
though not enough, effect.
Infantry Routs Cavalry.
later. IN the day there was another
small action at Sandy Hook, where to.
night the extreme right flank Of the Red
army rests In this skirmish a Blue
cavalry detachment again fell before the
oncoming Red foot soldery. and the
town was left open TO the invaders. The
cavalry clashes. which became general all
along the lines OF the Blues withdrawal
through Easton Trumbull and Monroe
s6fing the forenoon. were in many In
vtapces taken part in by dismounted
troopers. The report reached beadquar-
tiers that Troop d, LIST New York Cav
airy, OF Syracuse. had been captured by
the Reds east Of Aspetuck
The movements throughout the day Of
both armies were left entirely 10 the dis
erection of their respective commanders
They both at nightfall had the salts
faction OF knowing that they had been
successful in drawing their entire ar
mics UP into coherent wholes. in placed
battle array. so that each will be able
10 throw into the fight tomorrow the full
force at his command. The opinions Of
military experts observing the days oper-
atlons, agreed tonight that both generals
had handled their forces In a mastery
fashion. with honors equal as TO dispo-
sition OF their command.