The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-06-09
MILITIA
TO JOIN
REGULARS
In Encampment in
Washington in
September
Government will lIPnrchase
Large Tract of Otherwise
Worthless Land and
Pay Big Price

b"iVSS the war department uiSap-
proves of the plans OF General Fred.
orick Funston, the encampment OF the
National Guard organizations of Ore.
gon, Washington and Idaho. together
with several companies OF United
States regulars will be held at Ameri-
can Lake, near Tacoma. Wash. be-
ginning September 18th. An earlier
date had originally been planned by
General Funston. but he found that
his proposed Alaska trip will require
more time than he expected. The
change is unimportant.
There is little or no doubt that the
war department will approve the
plans submitted by General Funston.
II is understood that he has already
recommended that the encampment
be held at the site suggested. and that
nothing save formal announcement
Of the departments approval is await.
ed before final arrangements are
completed.
The encampment will bring togeth.
or about 5000 members of the Nation.
al Guard. II will serve as an alluring
bait and all the National Guard com.
panies In the three states will be re.
cruited to their full strength beforc
September rs.
Ten Companies Of Regulars.
Between four and six companies OF
infantry aud four troops OF cavalry
from the United States army will
probably be sent TO the camp. The
strength OF the regular army is a mat.
ter OF speculation. entirely. for
number of changes In the assignment
of troops is 10 be made during the
summer and some OF the new com.
panies win not roach the Department
OF the Columbia until October
The Federal government Is 10 de.
fray all costs OF the encampment.
This Is the announcement OF army
officials. and. while il is true In the
main. II Is slightly misleading. The
Federal government under the Dick
bill defrays the cost Of transportation
and subsistence. In addition the rate
OF pay allowed in the regular army Is
provided for the members of the ma
tional guard SO far as the officers
are concerned, this Is satisfactory
but the enlisted men will probably OBJ
ject They are allowed $3.50 a day In
Oregon when ordered out on duty or
for parade, and the same pay is given
In Washington. The different states
will probably be called upon TO make
up this deficiency. a matter OF sl.02
per day for the enlisted men
Uuele Sam a Land orabber
While army men are not entirely
satisfied that this will be so. the sue.
cess OF the encampment this year will
probably go long way toward estab'
fishing the gathering as an annual
event The government is eager 10
gain possession OF a large tract OF
land near the coast where troops can
be mobolized and the American lake
site will be given a thorough test in
the maneuyers this fail. Should the
government take over the property,
more frequent eneampments Of the
national guard and regular army arc
expected.
The coming encampment will be
the second OF It's kind A year ago a
success was mode OF an encampment.
at Fort Riley. In the East during the
present year there will be a number
OF similar encampments at which
state and Federal troops will be
brought together.
There Is apparently no limit 10 the
land the government Is seeking for
the encampment An area Of four or
hve square miles is easily available.
but regular army men ars speaking Of
the chances to secure four times that
amount OF ground. Upon the area OBJ
tained depends. IN part. the success
OF the maneuvers.
site Said 10 be Good.
The land near American lake is OF
rolling character with occasional
woods. Il 10 not productive. the soil
being very gravelly. but this feature
is an advantage There will be Meth
er dust nor mud and the site Of the
camps win be easily drained Good
water can be had Ia abundance and
railroad facilities are Al hand
General Funston has declared that
no sham battles will be attempted
He refers % sham battles a. country
fair ATTRACTIONS and not suited 10 the
drilling Of troops. There will be
plenty OF maneuvering long marches
and hasty dashes across country 70
cut o imaginary supDlies The oeeA'