Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-10
BOY CAMPERS ENGAGE
 IN SHAM BATTLE MaHeuVers Keep Boys susy and Vary Usual Camp Hsutlns-eeIna Home on Thursday,

on Thursday,
 While the wheels of trade and in-
 dustry were beginning to revo1ve on
 Tuesday morning in New York city
 the heaviest coast defenses which
 guard the mouth of the Sound were
 being threatened by a hostile force of
 750 boys Of Camp Washington, the
 United States military training camp
 for boys located at Fort Terry, on
 Plum Island. Outposts at the west
 end of the island reported to the force
 of 450 defenders, the Reds" that a
 force of the "Blues" had landed men
 upon the beach, about a mile west of
 the Red camp. The call to arms was
 sounded and the defenders of the
 mouth of the Sound were at once
 m1yed. n1Syy into positions in the rolling
 hills on the west end of the island. Lieut.. Col. Andrew Hero, Jr., c. A.
 C., who is ranking oficery command
 ing the camp for the government, was
 in charge of the maneuvers. Capt,
 Robert c. Eddy c. A. C., commanded
 the landing party. while Capt. Albert
 H. Barkley, c. A. C., commanded the
 defenders of the batteries. The boys
 had been anxiously looking forward to
 ths big battle which should end their
 eager for the fray It was an ideal
 day for playing war. Refreshing
 breezes blew over the island from the
 hay blue waters of the Sound.
 When the landing party had driven
 back the outposts of the Reds they proceeded to send a 7anking column
 along the west shore of the island,
 while the main body advanced east
 ward along the road which runs
 through the centre of the island Sud denly, as the invaders fanking col umn advanced over the first rolling
 hills they found themselves under fire ] of a, heavier force than they had ex- peCted to meet, They deplOyed and rushed the position, but as they took the first position they again found themselves exposed to a much heav- fer fire than they had expected. Re Inducements were rushed by the in Vaders from the main body to aid the flanking column which, when it found that it Outnumbered the defenders, forced a slow advance.
 Captain BarllIey, however antici- pated the next move of the attacking party. While his men on the north coast fought to retard the advance of the fanking column, he gradually l withdrew to the large hill in the cen tre of the island, which directly over looks his camp. Then he lined up his men between the hill and the south shore to meet an attack from the side opposite the quarter in which the first 1 important engagement had been fought
 Captain Eddy, seeing resistance on the north side of the island give way, very slIilfuIly shifted the main body of his troops to the south shore. where they took up excellent positions at taCl1ing the main defenses. But his men, veterans Of only one season. be-
 tween the ages of 15 and IS, and not being in danger of actually being shot down, exposed themselves unneces- SaTily to the fire of Captain BarkIey'S Cl[jTT17IS h. who h9 95 hpnT1 in anticipation of an attack from the quarter from whence it came. Two and One-half companies of defenders poured their VOlleys into the attack CTS as they debOUChed in squads from
 the hills in an attack upon the main positions, and, although the judges merely criticised the tactics of both sides, it was presumed by the de-
 lenders that they had driven off the enemy
 The enemy, however, felt quite con ffdent that they had succeeded in cap 1 turing the most important batteries which defend the mouth of the Sound Anyway, both sides enjoyed the bat tie.
 It is very difficult to see how the training which the boys are receiving from Uncle Sam can have any but a beneficial effect upon them. The sham fighting is carried out in the same spirit of play which the boys always display, but in addition to the bene- fits of the healthy Out-of-door life. 1 they are learning to act and think with precision and rapidity, and to acquire the self control which nothing can tmpart quite as well as military discipline
 It is expected that many more boys will attend the camp next year, and the means of taking care of them are already being discussed. Instead of having two widely separated camps. it is not unlikely that there will be one large camp at the western end of the island. This would neCessitate moving the mess halls and other light buildings which have been built for the camp. Thursday all the boys will return to their homes in 24 states of the union.