New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-05
THE ENCAMPMENT AT MONTACK POINT
ORDERS REGARDING ITS FORMATION EXPECTED
At OScr NV crNrpAy rpAN.Y

THE ENCAMPMENT AT MONTACK POINT.
ORDERS REGARDING ITS FORMATION EXPECTED
At ONCE BY GENERAL FRANK
No orders were received yesterday by General
R. r. Frank. commanding the Department OF the
East. 70 arrange for a military encampment on
Montauk Point. but decisive action is expected by
tomorrow. General Frank said that he WAS IA
vorably impressed by the site and It's conveniences
1T would be admirable place for large and
permanent encampment OF troops" said he yestcr-
day afternoon. but for few regiments TO remain
d brief period II would be better have site
nearer large city" General Frank declined
to tell the nature Of his report but II learned
that II fully set forth the facts In relation the
merits OF the plot OF ground offered by the Montauk
Land and Improvement Company. A large map
was sent TO General Franks Office Friday from
the Office OF the Long Island Railroad Company
and with II We're data IN relation TO all the essen
,ials FOR a camp site for army corps OF twenty
regiments
The ground offered site ia on tho north side
Of the south iuke' o: Long Island. between Fort
Pond Bay and Great Pond. body Of fresh water
covering several hundred acres The terminal IA
cilities OF the Montauk Division Of the Long ISL
and Railroad Fort Pond are sufficient 10 permit
A large number OF trains 10 be loaded or unoaded
az once. There IS wharf. with twen,y-six
feet OF water at low tide. but this is only sew
enty feet long. although I; would be possible
20 increase u by several hundred feet In few
DAYS The harbor is practically landlOcked. as
Fort Pond Bay opens only into Napeague Bay
and by channel TO the into Block Island
Sound. The situation IL isolated that the camp
would not be in communication with the outside
world save By the railroad and steamboat facili-
ties fully controlled BY the Federal authorities.
one OF the great merits the site possesses over
Hempst ead Plains. in the opinion Of the military
authorities is found in the full facilities for both
salt and fresh water bathing. 1t will be possible
for every man In an army OF hundred thousand
70 battle every day there while at Hampstead some
81 the men have been there for weeks with only
few regiments in the ground. without any OPP
portunity for taking bath. Rainwater ponds
have been used and sprinklng wagons and hose
mines but they have not the demand. The
bo,h facilities at the Garden CITY Hotel have been
reserved for officers. and II is sad that private.
who offered as much as s. for a bath were unable
10 secure II. This happened In the experience OF
members Of Troop A.
The project IL understood 10 be that the troops
,,on other states than New-York. within the I'm
go ~ the Department OF the East raised under the
second call for volunteers, are to be sent 10 the
xo,.auk Point Camp. and that they Will be Kept
| ,,era throughout the summer. Arrangements are
Sa,no made to ship large quantities or supplies as
onn as the troops are there The reglmentaI am
p"Ia,cee on Governors Island, which came from
- Gtndebaker Wagon Works al South bend ihS'
s u..t are TO go 20 Nontauk Point as soon az M
wes"' re mustered there. They were original,
nsn IN tnat destination from the factory, but
nn'Ppe ONO was there TO receive them they were
sasonorary detained In this city ana stored uhhei
s ,rees on Governors Island, where chiidreh were
| nlaying In them yesterday