The Washington herald., 1921-09-30
Marines Open Sham War
Where Lee Made Stand
Against Hooker.
SMOKE BARRAGE
AIDS LANDING"
First Objectives Soon OBJ
tained-New Devices
Aid Air Defense.
By j. HAROLD KEEN.

WILDERNESS Run. Va. (by air
planet, Sept. se.-And the marine
offensive is on
Amid the roaring of artillery and
the crackle of machine guns, the
famous Fifth and Sixth Marine
regiments encamped here gave a
realistic representation of how
they went over the top at Belleau
Wood and the Meuse-Argonne. dur
Ing the progress of the Marine
Corps expeditionary forces sham
battle this afternoon
From knolls surrounding the field
of action. Mai. Cen John A. Le-
teune, who led the celebrated Sec
ond Division overseas; Gen. Smed-
ley Butler. commandant of the ex-
peditionary force: Maj. Gen. w. c.
Neville. Admiral MONT. head of the
naval aviation: several Senators
and Representatives, the governor
of Virginia and his staff. and a lit
tie band of veterans of the great
war which was fought on this same
ground more than fifty years ago
watched the progress of the battle.
The latter group numbered ten.
five who wore the blue and a sim
liar number of those who wore the
gray.
Fight on Lees Line.
The sham battle was on promptly
at in the afternoon. 1t was
fought on plans prepared by the
Marine Corps staff school. and rep
resented a landing on an island by
American Marines, under the cover
of guns of an American fleet. The
shore line of the island was rep
resented by Wilderness Run, the
tiny stream which was defended by
Lee against the attacks of Hooker
in the battle of Charlottesville in
the civil war. The attacking Ma
rines were drawn up on the south
side of the stream. occupying many
of the positions held by Lees army.
AT the zero hSur. guns on the
heights TO the south, representing
the guns of an American fleet. bonn
barded the positions held by the
enemy on the north side of the
run. and then threw smoke shells
IN a thick line about SOC yards from
the "shexe.' When the cloud Of
smoke from these had grown so
dense that the enemy" could dis
tinguish nothing beyond the wall
Of smoke, the Marines landed" by
the simple process of crossing to
the north bank Of the run, and
forming under the smoke screen,
charged to the north up the hills
occupied by the foe.
Take First Objectives.
Machine guns ratified and the in
creasing roll of rifle fire speedily
told that more and more Marines
had LANDED" and were rushing
Ave
after hostilities were under way.
the umpires announced that the
first detectives had been taken. The
attacking forces then dug in. and
positions were consolidated quickly.
so that reserves, which were kept
in hand for the purpose, could be
launched from carefully prepared
strategic positions against the
strong points of the "enemy's" line
10 complete the work of cleaning
up and consolidating the line.
In making their attacks, the
Fifth and Sixth Marine Regiments
showed plainly the presence in their
ranks of large numbers of the vet
Grams who earned for those organi-
xatfons their high reputation in the
world war.
In the evening a night attack by
bornbng arplanes on the silhou-
cite Of a battleship was scheduled.
In which a squadron of giant Mar
rim bombers of the Marine Avia-
tion Force. accompanied by flights
of scout planes, engaged in a duel
with the Marine Corps antisaircraft
batteries equipped with newly in
vented devices for locating and
h,dinz the range of airplsnes in
ths air. So perfectly have these
devices been worked out that an
average of so per cent OF hits has
been secured by the guns at night.
according TO the calculations of
those in charge of the work, and
opened new avenues as to the pos
sibilities of might defense against
the attack of airplanes.
shortly after noon. amid the
sounding of seventeen guns-the
major generals salute-Maj. Gen.
Leieune. accompanied by Maj. Gen.
= w. Fales. formerly of the Twen-
ty-ninth Infantry. U. S. army: Brig.
Gen. wendell P. Neville, assistant of
Gen. Lejeune: Brig. Gen. Charles
McCauley. of the Quartermaster
Corps. and Brig. Gen. z. A. Helmig !
of the adJutant generalS once, ar
rived on the battlefield.
Plans are being made for the |
erection of spacious canvass
White House in a field adjoining the |
headquarters where President Hard
ing. and his party will be quartered |
,pon his arrival Saturday The
Chief Executive will attend the re-
ligious exercises Sunday.
This morning Gen. Butler. slightly
footsore and feeling some effects
from his long march, carrying a
regulation pack. yesterday. met ana
said a few words of encouragement
and commendation to the twenty
two lads-casuals-who hiked with
him.
Il wish to thank you for the spirit
which you displayed yesterday.
boys" said the commandant. When
We started our hike you believed
hat you could not complete it, but
when We loked at the matter again
I did not look so impossible. II was
Tot impossible. for we completed the
Ike and came into the camp sing
ng. even though we were all pretty
ired This is the spirit which /
Wis hthe Marines to display at all
lines / am proud of you boys, ana
We shall gather each morning that
re are in this comp for the purpose
Z keeping the spirit aglow." l.