The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-09-28
ocALA FLORIDA, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2s, 1917
OCALA MEN AMONG THOSE WHO
PARTICIPATE IN SPECTACLE
LAR WAR GAME AT FORT
OGLETHORPE.


24-In the trenches, Snodgrass hill,
Fort Oglethorpe, Ga, shortly after
O'clock this morning, the First bat
talon of infantry, in command of
Maj. B. P. Nicklin, moved ~ from
the student officers tra aIng camp at
Warden Mclean and occupied the
trenches skirting along Snodgrass
hill An attempt by the whites to
hold the trenches az 2nst the sdvanc-
ing Browns was without avail and the
three lines were captured with only
a few casualties The whites were
driven into the wooo7 On the far side
from the camp, where they remain
under cCver
Maj. Nicklin has ordered the men
to encamp in three lines and pre-
pare to desperately resist counter
charges Of the enemy, which it is
understood will be made under cover
OF darkness tonight.
Accordingly the first company has
taken possession of the frsr line
trenches and given them the name
of that illustrious hero, Lafayette.
The second line, in which the second
company is acting as support, Isl
called the Joffre trench, and the two
lines of reserve trenches are called
Pershing and Rochambeau. The con-
meeting trenches running from thel
front line to the reserve through in
travening lines, have been named, on
the left, Paris; right, Aris, and in the
center Petain.
After the successful occupation of
the trenches, guards were posted andl
several men were sent out into thel
listening pockets to give notice of
any advance of the enemy. Owing toi
the good defenses established, it isl
not believed that any attempt will be
made to oust the men until nightfall
or possibly late in the afternoon.
Spies who have gained access to the
enemy's plan of action report that al
great, simultaneous drive is threaten
ed against the entire line tonight
with the aid of hand and rifle gren-
AIDES, machine guns, and under thej
protection of artillery fire. A close
watch is being kept upon the enemy
from hidden points all along the line
and any attempt to make an advance
will Immediately be reported back !
to the field headquarters in the west
end of the reserve trenches.
The boys now on the firing line are
taking a deep interest in everything
that takes place. Numerous reports |
have been received that an attack
may be expected any moment, and at
the time of writing pieces are loaded
and locked, and while the men arel
taking advantage of well-earned
rest, members of each squad are in |
close connection with their platoon
and company commanders ready to !
rise and meet the charge at any mol
ment.
A glance from the summit of Snod-
grass hill presents a scene of deser-
ton. Not a head bios up from the |.
trenches, and when men required by |
duty to walk through the lines reach
a shallow part of the trench, they
have to crawl along. 1t was not un-
til The News reporter had actually
gotten into the line of reserve that
he knew it was a busy hive of men,
underneath the surface of the earth,
and there is a continual line of men
to be found in reclining positions
through literally miles of bitches cut
into the earth.
No civilians without written passes
are allowed to enter the threatened
area, and those fortunate enough tol
possess these are frequently stopped
and required to show them.
The boys are very enthusiastic
over the project, and look forward
with pleasure to the hope of battle.
Chattanooga News.