The San Francisco call., 1904-07-13
CANNOT MOVE
STATE TROOPS
Railroad Will Be Unable
to Carry Guardsmen to
Camp ON the Date Set
GENERAL LAUCK UNEASY
Confers With the Southern
Pacific Officials With
out Satisfactory Result

Adjutant General j. B. Lauck Of the
State National Guard was in conference
yesterday with Passenger Traffic Man
ager Fee, General Passenger Agent
Goodman, Assistant General Passen-
ger Agent Judah and Master of Trans
portation Richardson of the Southern
Pacific Company regarding the hand
ling of the State troops on the occa-
sion of the coming maneuvers at Camp
Atascadero. It has suddenly devel-
oped that the railroad company will be
unable to move the State troops, about
2oOO in all, at the time wanted, and as
a result the adjutant general of the
State is confronted with the perplex-
ing question as to how he will get his
forces into camp on the date prescribed
in the order issued by General Mac
Arthur
The national guardsmen have been
planning to leave their respective dis
tricts Saturday for the camp and while
Ad1utant General Lauck had not made
any definite arrangements for their
transportation he had reason to believe
that the railroad company would be
fully prepared to accommodate the Of
ficers and men. When he called. at the
Southern Pacific offices yesterday, how
ever. he was surprised to learn that
the company would not be able to han
die the men from this city and ada
cent country on Saturday evening, as
had been planned.
1t was explained by the railroad Of
f1cials that the company had long ago
contracted with various local organiza-
tions for numerous excursions on Sun
day, August Z, and that these contracts
would demand the service of all the
available rolling stock of the corpora
tion early Sunday morning at this end
Of the line.
When General Lauck was made to re-
alize the predicament of the guard he
at once sought a conference with the
heads of the traffic department of the
company, but it resulted in no relief
for him.
1t was suggested by the railroad Of
f1cials that the guardsmen leave for
Camp Atascadero Friday evening or
early Saturday morning, which would
permit the company to have its cars
back here in time to take out the ex-
cursionists on Sunday morning. This
proposition met with a protest from
General Lauck, who stated that the
majority of the guardsmen will be un-
able to get away until the closing hour
Of business on Saturday. Strangely,
although merchants favor the MAIN
tenance Of a State guard. it was shown
yesterday that few of them will grant
their employees, who are members of
the guard any extra time for instruct
ing themselves in military duties and
would not consent to their men getting
away from their places of business
few. hours earlier. The orders for the
encampment and the movements of the
regulars and State forces have already
been issued by General Macarthur,
woh Is now in the north, and General
Lauck Is at a loss for a suggestion as
to how the difficulties can be over
come.
After two hours talk 1t was agreed
to hold another conference this morn
ing at army headquarters at which
representatives Of the regular army,
the National Guard and the railroad
company will be present General
Macarthur has been advised by wire Of
the troubles here and 1t is possible that
he may by changing his orders find
way out of the difficulty.