The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-22
Hidden Battery Could Easily
Shell Red Forces
First Battle Resumed Soon
After Daylight Today.
WATER AT 5 CENTS A GLASS
patriotic" Farmer Sought to
Fatten His Purse.
Reds Build Bridge, Outguessing
Blue Forces.

Bonner Springs, Kan, Aug. ga
Shortly after daybreak today the first
battle of the Kansas war maneuvers.
declared drawn by the umpires yes
terday was resumed
The portion of the Red army now
in Bonner Springs outnumbers the
Blue forces and should reinforcements
fail to arrive promptly the Blue forces
will meet defeat unless-and this is
what the Reds are guessing-the
Blues have some artillery concealed
in the hills south of here. A small
shell the enemy out OF town in a few
minutes.
Brigadier General r. d. Potts.
commander of the Central division
forces today and will direct the man
euvers of that side. The Blue com
mand, however, is under Colonel
Daniel Cornman, U. S. A.
Four troops of cavalry of the Blue army
and six troops ofRed cavalry clashedhers
in the first battle of the Kansas war
maneuvers. The engagement lasted but
15 minutes and was indecisive, the UNI
pires declaring a truce.
The battle followed a day of expect
ancy in which the 5000 regulars and
national guardsmen from Kansas, Mis-
souri, and Oklahoma clamored for
chance to meet the enemy
The Reds exercised the first piece OF
strategy of the day, when, upon break
ing camp at Lawrence they erected
bridge across the Kansas river and the
entire Red army crossed the stream
The Blue army outposts had already
captured the bridge there which is the
only one between Lawrence and Fort
Leavenworth, and which. it was be-
lieved, both armies would have to cross
before reaching Fort Leavenworth. The
Blue army was surprised when, after
crossing the river at Bonner Springs
the Reds came UP ahead of them.
During the battle no fatalities re-
suited. It is expected when the en-
counter is resumed both sides will be
reinforced by their entire commands.
Water at Cents Glass.
Zarah, Kan, Aug. 22.-There came
near being war with a new enemy near
here when the Blue army marched by
Ia farm house and saw this sign hang
ing on the well: Water, cents
glassi
Hot. tired and Juggling fifteen miles
through gumbo mud of the most ad-
hesive kind put the soldiers little out
OF humor anyway. 1t made the hght-
ing force of the Blue army mad
through and through, that any Kansan
would be so unpatriotic as to deny a
thirsty soldier a drink of water when
water is so plentiful and practically
inexhaustible here, and their frenzy
was increased when this little place
was reached and empty ice cream
IreeZerS ana empty sOua water cases
were piled high in front of the country
store.
Soldiers Feel the Heat.
The merchant explained a picnic
crowd took all his supplies of cold
drinks last night, and the ice wagon
hadn't arrived, and added to the gum
bo mud was the hot weather, which
filled the hospital wagons with new
recruits unaccustomed to real war
maneuVers.
With General Potts are his aides,
Lieutenant Arthur H. Carter and
Lieutenant William L. Patterson.
Major A. L. Dade and Major HeImiclS
Of the inspector generals department
have arrived at Blue army headqUar-
ters.
1t isn't to be an immediate rush to
arms affair. but a long drawn out ma
neuver.