Evening star., 1939-08-14
Muneuvers
Continued From First Page }

ing a wide flank attack out to the
westward through Bristow and
around to the front of the 10th
Division, which was waiting quietly
in battle formation south of the Lee
highway from Bull Run to receive
the attack. Elements of the motor
lied Saith Regiment of Black" in
fantry had been identified by Blue"
patrols to the west of Brentsville
along Broad Run, but had not been
actively engaged up to early after
noon.
Occoquan Is Renamed.
The troops, having had some diff
flculty with the pronunciation of the
Indian name of Occoquan Greek,
have re-christened the stream Co
ca Cola Crick" and no longer have
any trouble over its identification.
An invading Black force early
today opened the battle for the cap
ture of the National Capital by
carrying Broad Run, south of Ma
nassas, against reinforced outposts
of the 28th National Guard Divi-
sion.
The defending Blue" National
Guard Division at once began an
enveloping attack from its left
flank southeast of Manassas with
elements of the 109th Infantry and
lO9th Field Artillery, both from
Pennsylvania. seeking to flank and
roll up BLACK" horse cavalry and
motorized infantry detachments
along Broad Run and drive a wedge
between them and the main Black"
force, which is supported by 70 fast
tanks and motorized artillery.
Neither side had any knowledge of
enemy plans except such informa-
tlon as could be obtained through
battle reconnaissance and air OBJ
servation and the problem was de-
veloping today into what participat-
ing officers described as "the best
tactical exercises in which American
troops have engaged in peace time"
A daring attempt by Black Bird
Cavalry patrols from Fort Myer to
steal a march on the Blue defenders
was nipped by umpires. VINO ruled
a troop Of the cavalry out of action
until 2 pm. today after it had forded
Broad Run and slipped through the
Blue outpost line during the night.
ahead of the official jump-off. The
cavalry penetrated to within q mile
and a half of the Blue 3rd Corps
headquarters just south of Manassas
before being detected.
When zero hour set the troops on
both sides in motion, BLACK" Cav
airy outposts, reinforced by motor
lied elements of the 18th Regular
Infantry, from Fort George G. Meade,
Md, struck the center of the Blue
18th Division outpost line at Broad
Run near the Brentsville- Manassas
road, and by am were consolidat-
ing strong position in the face of
machine-gun and rife fire, on the
north bank.
The Blue flank attack, also start
ing promptly at am. resulted in
a crossing of Broad Run several
miles to the east of Brentsville. and
by 6:25 am. the Pennsylvania
Guardsmen had worked eight ma
chine guns across the stream and
were beginning an enveloping move
ment through the woods and fields
along the run to the west in an
effort to flank the Blacks on the
north bank.
BY 8 am. the 55th Infantry Brig
ade of the Blue 18th Division, under
combat packs, was formed in the
roads southeast of Manassas, pre-
pared to move to the support Of the
l09th Regiment outposts in the
thanking movement.
The 109th Infantry and 1O9th
Field Artillery, from field headquar-
ters skillfully hidden from air OBJ
servation in the dense woods north
Of Broad Run, hastily rushed ma
chine gun troops forward and posted
artillery batteries to pin the Blacks"
to their position along the stream
and prevent an advance which
would jeopardize both headquarters
of the 2sth Division and the Sd
Corps
Actual troop movements on both
sides began at 4 O'Clock yesterday
afternoon whe7 the ousrdsnsn