New-York tribune., 1912-02-13
BATTLE IN WESTCHESTER
Sharp Engagement Leaves This
City at Mercy of Enemy.
WATER SUPPLY CUT OFF
National Guard Troops Under
Real Fire in Maneuvres of
I'd Battalion.

Hypothetically deprived OF its water sup
ply and theoretically cut off from all COM
munication with the surrounding country
New York lies this morning at the mercy
Of an imaginary invading army The deci-
sive battle which left il in this pitiful state
was fought yesterday morning on the hills
above Purdy's Reservoir. between the
towns OF North Salem and Purdy Station.
Westchester County In spite Of the un-
real features Of the engagement, however
several hundred members OF the New YORK
National Guard were for the first time in
the history Of that organization, while the
country was at peace. under fire much
too real 10 be altogether comfortable.
1T was In the I'd Battalion OF Field Ar
tilery that the idea originated OF taking
advantage OF the triple holiday between
Saturday and Lncoln's Birthday to play
little war game. The battalion invited two
companies OF the 18th Infantry and troop
of the 1st Cavalry 10 Join with It in its
maneuvres
It was assumed that an imaginary force.
consisting of two regiments OF infantry ana
a battery OF field artillery, was defending
New York's water supply and the line OF
the Harlem Division OF the New YORK
Central Railroad. Part Of this force was
supposed TO have fortified the old Carroll
mansion. about a mile east OF Purdys,
while the remainder was thrown along on
either side OF the fort in carefully con-
structed earthworks The soldiers In the
earthworks were represented by canvas
figures OF men, kneeling as If about TO
shoot, such as are regularly used in target
practice In the United States army.
Danbury Conn. just across the state
line, was designated as the base OF the in
vadlng army. The force under Major
Organ was 10 capture the water supply
and intercept the railroad Three squads
of cavalry, actually ignorant Of the sup
rosed position OF the enemy, were sent out
10 discover the whereabouts OF their can
vas opponents Finally one Of the patrols
picked up The opposing entrenchments
with the glasses and returned TO submit
report
The night was spent by the star officers
in discussing the various methods Of at
tack open to them on the morrow. owing
10 the scarcity Of quarters I'm the town
some of the infantry mad TO spend the night
IN tents.
Early IN the morNE Major Organs
advance began, and within an hour the
artillery had taken up its position about
three-quarters of a mile from the fortified
house II was what is known In military
parlance as An indirect position" the
target being out OF sight OF the gunners,
whose FIRE IS controlled by the battery COM
manders through a field telephone from
commanding position.
Real shells roared through the air anc
tore through the ancient house, scattering
it's stone and plaster far and wide. Under
airy advanced. themselves keeping up
steady hail 81 lead IN tho direction OF the
canvas soldiers IN the trenches.
When nothing more was left OF tho fort
than a IN. So OF smouldering ruins the
cannon turned a fire OF percussion schrap-
mel on the trenches. spreading death and
Generalization through the canvas ranks.
This continued until the advancing infan-
Try was within three hundred yards Of the
cntrenchments. II was the second time
that troops have been under actual fire
H. this country in times Of peace. the other
occasion having been last spring at the
school Of musketry Of the regular army In
Monterey. Cal.
1t was l2IO o'clock when the defence
Captulated. The percentage OF hits in the
rife fire was figured by the officers as ls
w.. the nearest shot fred at .2l0 yards
this record was highly praised by the Off
GERS Of the regular army who witnessed
the mannuvres