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NEW ENGLAND MAGAZINE

VOL. XLI.

SEPTEMBER, 1909

NUMBER I

THE RED AND BLUE WAR OF 1909

N

By LIEUT. WALTER M. PRATT

setts.

For weeks before the manoeuvres commenced the papers contained columns of contradictory information, the only official information given to the press was the date. Even the officers

of the various outfits did not know where they were to be sent until some forty-eight hours before their departure.

EVER in the history of New ing from states other than MassachuEngland, if in this country, have military manoeuvres been held of the magnitude of those which took place from August 14th to 21st, 1909, in Southern Massachusetts. Never before has so much time and money been expended by the government of the various states whose troops participated. Never have the citizens of any district shown more interest in military affairs, and never in history have plans been kept so secret from citizens and soldiers alike.

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THE NEW ENGLAND MAGAZINE CORRESPONDENT AT THE FRONT

It is the first time in the history of military manoeuvres in this country that transports were used and no permanent camps were made. The manoeuvres were considered of sufficient importance for foreign nations to send military attaches, and the interest the entire country manifested was shown by the fact that over 250 newspaper representatives accompanied the troops, the majority com

They were told that they were to defend Boston War supposed to

was

have broken out between the United States and a foreign power. The Navy was supposed to have been either defeated or destroyed, or else lured away from the neighborhood of Massachusetts.

The War Department, at Washington had received information that a fleet of transports, escorted by a naval force, was approaching New England, bringing 10,000 troops with the idea of seizing the forts of Boston from the land and that the objective point for

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the transports was somewhere from Buzzards Bay to Salisbury Beach.

The object of the manoeuvres was to show just how hard or easy it would be for invaders to land from transports and push forward inland for the capture of Boston as a basis of supplies, and to determine, if possible, whether it was imperative that more coast batteries and men be added to the Massachusetts coast.

The defence of Boston was given over to the Massachusetts Militia, with the General officers of the National Guard in command, while the invaders were commanded by regular army officers.

The manoeuvres were in charge of General Leonard Wood and General Witherspoon of the U. S. Army, with Brig.-Gen. Wm. A. Pew, Jr., M.V.M., in command of the defence; Brig.Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, head of the Army War College in Washington, in command of the invading force.

Under General Pew there were the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 8th and 9th regiments of Infantry, the corps of Coast Artillery, the 2nd Battalion representing the 1st and 2nd corps of Cadets, a squadron of Cavalry consisting of

Troops A, B and D, M.V.M., a battalion of Field Artillery composed of Batteries A, B and C, and the Signal and Ambulance Corps consisting of one Company each.

The invading forces consisted of the District of Columbia, 1st Field Battery, Ist and 2nd Regiments Infantry, Ist separate Battalion of Infantry (Colored), Ambulance and Signal Corps, Connecticut Ist and 2nd Regiment Infantry, Troop A. Battery A and a Signal Corps. The New York 7th and 14th Regiments Infantry, 22nd Regiment of Engineers, Squadron A, 1st and 2nd Company Signal Corps, Ist, 2nd and 3rd Battery of Field Artillery, the New Jersey Squadron of Cavalry and the 10th U. S. Cavalry (Colored). The latter famous for their work at San Juan and in the Philippines.

Before the manoeuvres much criticism was expressed by the general public at the war department for ordering the militia on so strenuous a tour. "Why," said they, "it is absurd to expect citizen soldiers to go from the offices and workshops into the field and rough it with the regulars." But no complaints were heard from the

citizen soldier; he was pleased and keen about going, and as the time drew near became impatient to start. So enthusiastic were most that they gave up Saturdays and Sundays for weeks before the appointed date, and companies of infantry could be seen on practice marches all over the state. The men themselves trained and did what they could to get in the best physical condition, for they knew the manoeuvres were to be "no boys' play," but would involve miles of marching over fields, through meadows, swamps and forests with sandy soil to make it harder. The manoeuvres held this summer would have been impossible a few years ago. But the second line of defence, as the regulars now term the National Guard, is a very different proposition from the militia of old. In the olden days muster, as it was then called, was nothing

but a week's vacation. To-day it is work, work, work and then more work. In the olden days enlisted men took along trunks filled with fancy uniforms, cot beds, a case or two of beer and, possibly, a man to do the dirty work. In those days there were tents to sleep in and the meals were served in a mess hall, dress parades were held and their lady friends attended. How different it is to-day and how much more interesting and instructive. An enlisted man takes one uniform, usually made of khaki, which he wears. He camps where he happens to be at night, sleeps in his clothes on the ground with nothing but a rubber blanket between himself and "Mother Earth." He may be covered by a Pup tent, but more often by the sky. Everything he takes is carried on his back. Instead of dress parades and drills, with galleries of admiring women, he has

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"GUS" WILLIAMS OF THE BOSTON JOURNAL ONE OF THE ARMY OF WAR CORRESPONDENTS

sham battles and out-post work. Instead of mess halls, with an elaborate bill of fare, he sits on the ground and eats regular army haversack rations, which consist of 12 oz. of bacon, 16 oz. hard bread, 1.12 oz. of coffee roasted and ground, 2.4 oz. of suga .16 oz.

salt, .02 oz. of black pepper, or, possibly, only gets an emergency ration.

The Dick Bill has revolutionized the militia of this country. Before it went into effect a large percentage of the enlisted men would have been unable to participate in so strenuous a campaign as the one held this summer if for no other reason than their physical condition.

The physical examinations to-day are strict, come at frequent intervals and are carried out to the letter. Under the new law the militia, or more correctly, the National Guard, is a part of the U. S. army. The uniforms are identical with the exception of the collar device. The equipment is the same. The government appropriates more money and expects more of the state. The President now has the power to order any military organization out and send it wherever it is needed.

The manoeuvres were not, as many wrongly supposed, for the sole purpose of hardening the militia man to campaign work. The principal object, as already stated, was to test the defence of the Massachusetts coast, but, secondly, they were to accustom the

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