New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-14
GUARDSWEN WAR
2DAYS IN SNOW
Freezing and Lame Pursue
Imaginary Foe Through
WestcheSter Hills.

Worn out by two days OF mimic war
play in the most rugged and snow
covered hills that Westchester County
knows. lO3 priyates end ten non-coi r.
missioned officers in Company f
struggled into the 7lst Regiment ar
mory. at Fourth Aventc and Thirty
tnird street, last nigh,. hey had had
a taste of rigorous service such as
comes to few members OF the National
Guard.
From the time they left the armory
Friday afternoon bound for the tenn
porary barracks on the state rife range
at Peekskill until they returned, foot
sore and weary, it had showed contin-
uously. And the thermometer, linger-
inc around the 10 above mark, had
oiyen them sample Of the biting cold
of Valley Forge and Napoleon's retreat
from Moscow.
The ranks of Company + had been
thinned by the weather and by the
mannuvres ordered by Captain Albert
r. Rich. L. s. A. With twenty-five Of
ticers of the school of the line, headed
by Major General John +. Organ, in
the outdoor observation gal. Captain
Rich drove his men as though they
were units in the frs; line of derence
of the regular army.
For three hours Friday night they
foundered around IN the woods three
miles above Peekskill with only "Lat
liohf was reflected from the snow 10
guide them IN their attempt TO capture
am imaginary position held by the oO-
serving officers.
ono trooper slipped and wrenchesd
his side Another injured ms ankle
so scvorelv that he was out OF the war
game for good. Wet feet. hoWelei'
caused the most serious losses IN the
company. When the ring OF the army
axe against We-tchester pine awoAe
thc stiff cuardsmeu Saturday morning.
tventv-four men found that they could
NOT force their chilbIained feet into
their watcr-soaked boots. "Broken
shocs" was The Official excuse Tor two
dozen men who fought no more.
Additional casualties were reported
in Saturdays games. While climbing
"a forty-fve angle hin TO capture Gen
oral O'Rvan and the officer group who
y,ere stationed i'm q house. ono of the
advance guard fell and cut his jaw on
Jagged rock. lie was helped 10 the
rear br q lame companion VINO had
,inped omen the palm Of his hand on
barhed-Wire fence.
when the company broke camp yes
terGav afternoon enc OF the supply
trucks became stuck i'm a s1oWdritt
4 ouardsman froze an ear while work
inc 20 cxtricate the truck: another
frozo bis fingers. and there were q
score Who felt their noses bleaching
under the biting wind as tney waited
fortv-fve minutes i'm an open shed for
% train that would bring them back 20
the armory 70 thaw out under "a not
shower.
Within two hours after the company
lef' New York few of the men began
20 wilt. A double-quick march Of a
mile and a half from Peekskill station
10 the state camp served 10 eliminate
three militiamen who struggled val
iantlv against the combined odds Of the
weather and 60-pOu1d packs strapped
10 their backs Here wds no chance 10
rest after they reached the long, stable
ike stucturc. with half the floor GOV
cred with ice. which was 20 be their
living quarters.
Divided into platoous Of three squads.
they were driven from 500 20 $40 p. m.
Friday over the slippery Westchester
hills in pursuit Of an enemy known
only 20 Captain Rich. At least fifty
Continued on page 3. column