by G. S. Ripley
War Scouting
Each army has a goal, back of which they are safe; the country between being the fighting zone.
One army has handkerchiefs tied about their arms to distinguish them. A prison is located within the lines of each and a ten-yard enclosure is marked out in the center of each line and ten yards inside the fighting zone, on each side. This is for the King, a non-combatant who may be captured by the enemy.
The object of the war game is to capture the King by touching him. The army which does this wins the game. Each general divides his men into guards and warriors, the latter sending out scouts to locate the enemy, and advancing to the attack.
Any man who is touched by three of the enemy, simultaneously, and held while three is counted, is killed and out of the game. If any man is similarly held by two men he is captured, and may be taken to prison. A man may not be killed on the way to prison.
He may escape while on the way to prison if he does not give his parole, but if he does escape he is considered wounded, and must finish the game with his right hand in his pocket, or if he has no pockets, he must grasp his belt at the right hip.
Prisoners may not escape from the prisons, but may be exchanged under a flag of truce. Under this flag men may retreat, but may not proceed toward the enemy.
If it is evident that the attack is going slowly, the Director may set a time limit, after which the army with the most men left is the winner.
It may be desired to use colored yarn on the arms of the boys and to use the same fighting methods as are described for Flag Raiding, but the method described above is similar to the military war game system, where the inferior force is lost when attacked by a patrol of superior numbers.
