The Washington herald., 1912-07-21

An odv1ncc on Boston was et once
begun, and on August the Blue fieid
army $4,000 men hastily concentrated.
comprising practically all the available
regulars and instructed militia). was de-
feated near Boston. and retired via
Worcester. toward Albany. its new base.
vigorously pursued by the Red force.
''On July "a. when the first Red army
occupied Providence, r. l., in its ad-
vance on Boston, the first Red division
was detached, apparently to move west
ward and cover the exposed hank OF
the Red line Of communication. protect
the line Of the New York. New Haven
and Hartford Railroad. and threaten the
water system of New York City. This
division moved west unopposed. Its de-
tachments occupying the important juno
ton points west of Providence to the
Connecticut River, and as far north as
Hartford. Small garrisons were left at
New London. willimantic. Hartford and
MiddIetown to protect the railroad Ia
cilities.
Defeat Blue Regiment.
"On August second RED expedi-
tion of 100000 men began landing near
New Bedford. and the first Red army
pa sed through Worcester in pursuit or
the main Blue force retiring on Spring
field The Blue troops near New YORK
City, Just organized into the PROVISIONAL
Blue Division. were rushed toward Dan
bury and Bridgeport. The leading
troops of the first Red division reached
New Haven and drove back a Blue
regiment that had just arrived at
pied Waterbury.
The Blue government had succeeded IN
withdrawing to New York City and
Albany the bulk Of the railroad trans
portation of the New England railroads.
However. enough was collected by the
Red forces to provide for supplying their
troops but there Is practically no avail
able transportation for moving troops.
A large portion of the rolling stock with
drawn to New York City was used in
concentrating the first Blue army at
Boston. This shortage. together with the
demands on the railroads In transporting
other troops and supplies from the Mid
die West, has seriously interfered with
the movement of the Provisional Blue
Division from New York City toward
Bridgeport.
Interfere with Reds.
Secondary Blue naval craft occupy
Long Island Sound. and are able TO In
terfere seriously with the Red transpor-
tation over the Shore Line Of the New
York. New Haven and Hartford Rail-
road. and to give support to the Blue de-
tachment near Milford"
The miiitiamen of New York and New
Jersey will make up the main body OF
the Blue forces defending New York
from the Red advance upon Bridgeport.
while the New England militia will make
up the Red division moving westward
through Connecticut.
The opposing forces will be commanded
by Brig. Gems. Smith and McClernand.
Brig Gen. Bliss will be in chage of the
maneuvers. and will act as chief umpire
Each commander will be obliged to make
his movements conform exactly to the
limitations prescribed by the events
which are supposed to have taken place.
For the ten days OF the maneuver period
the opposing forces will move precisely
as the imaginary forces might be expect
ed to move were the war actually In
progress as supposed.
This war game, besides involving the
largest number Of men OF any similar
maneuvers ever held in the United
States. is also expected to provide the
best training of officers and men ever
afforded in maneuvers- It Is the result
OF several years of study by the General
Stan of the Army.
Events Not Farfetched.
lnclQentdliy. IL Is stated Dy army JILL
GERS that the events supposed to have
occurred for the purposes Of the war
game are not so very different than
what might be expected were the
United States to become involved In
war with such a power as Germany.
Should the major portion OF the Atlantic
feet be defeated in battle, 1t Is conced
ed that Germany could land within less
than a month forces of 10000 men or
greater on the Atlantic coast in Just the
way described in the account of the
imaginary war. The opposition which
the United States could make to this
invasion would, in the first few months.
correspond almost exactly to what is
being imagined preliminary to the war
game. 1t is exactly this situation which
Gen Wood and other officers of the
General STAFF lave in mind in urging
upon Congress and the nation the es-
Enlistment of a trained reserve. which |
would make available for the first line |
of defense a much larger force than Is |
represented IN the regular army and the |
militia.
1t will be noted that in the account |
OF the imaginary war the invaders are |
having their own way while the Ameri- |
can volunteers are being enlisted and |
trained. Army officers have repeatedly |
predicted that this Is what will occur