The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-07-12
PLEASANT VISIT TO
THE EENCAMPMENT
FORT STEVENS, THE ENcAMPMENT
GROUNDS, AS APPEAR TO A
VISITOR TO TIE MANEUvERS--

The site selected for the annual Joint
cnpmpmeut Of the troops Mt the fort
and tho Third Regiment Of the Oregon
National Guard Il an IDEAL one. Where
the militiamen can have The advantage
of Instructions from those Jn the reRn-
lar service aud the close eompanionship
OF those who have made o study ol tine
intracacies OF coast defense and have
mastered their reading The amount Of
Igood that will be accomplished by this
bringing Of the regular and citizen sol
diery together IL nestimabIe. The re-
suits already obtained show that our
citizens are apt pupils and can be de-
pende upon to give good account Of
themselves when called upon This was
shown In the answer 10 the call for vol.
untccrs in The Spanish war and with
the experience obtained In that cam.
paign We are still ut a greater adyant-
age as regards our National Guard
| A visit 10 the grounds during this
week is surely an interesting one and
ono that will never be forgotten and
should not bc missed.
As one leaves the train and enters
the grounds OF the fort the Headquarter
Building Is seen on the lett before which
the American nag flies every day from
sunrise 70 sunset. Grouped around in
favorable positions are the eominanders
quarters, captains quarter and lienten-
ants quarters, The hospital and COM
pany barracks and all the buildings us-
ually seen at such a place are found. A
new company quarters for a submarine
company win soon be erected. Good
board walks aud drives are through the
neatly kept grounds. To the rear Of
the regular buildings and to the right
Il located Clark Battery at which
place We find the first camp, This has
been styled "Camp Steele by the men
III honor of the commander of the bat
terry. As we entered the camp the frat
tent We find IL the post exchange which
was formerly known as the "Canteen."
Az this exchange malt sodawatcr, alta.
tionery and different delicacies are
placed on sale for the men In the camp.
On our left we see the tent quarters
and mess while facing one are the OIL
GERS quarters. Tho camp is a city Of
tents the regulars having abandoned
temporarily their regular quarters. On
our left we find the first signs Of per-
manent occupancy the battery of NOR
tNrs and the magazine This il Battery
Clark. equipped with four mortars. We
watch the regulars teach the militia
men the handling Of the mortaIs, then
come again TO see the militiamen hand
ling them without instructors and he
come very interested in our occupation.
II Is here We meet Lieutenant Cooper
emplacemcnt officer in whom We find
an old acquaintance and Immediately
show our ignorance OF military affairs
by asking him all Kinds Of foolish ques.
tions, Not foolish TO us, but to man
d ihis knowledge CT affairs Of this kind
they certainly must have appeared
foolish, With the general feeling Of
the officers towards visitors he soon
ilaced us right by answering the ques-
tions and giving us much information.
After a l5-minute pleasant interview
with the lieutenant we then visited the
primary station where we found Capt
Steele, commander of the battery, busy
explaining to the beginners the intm-
cacics Of range finding Capt, Steele
was q very busy man but when We in
formed him OF our mission, the visit.
ing of the camp, we were greeted with a
merry make yourself at home" We
did 50 and came away from the station
much wiser and elated. One of the
observers pointed out Battery Mishler
and wc Immediately started for that
point, Back through Camp Steele we
hiked and turning to the left dol-
lowed tho plank roadway until a new
tented city appeared.
On our left we saw the staff head
quarters and passing down the line APP
preached the headquarters, Oh, joyl
Col. Poorman's commandery, the o. N.
g., at Fort Stevens. greeted us. We had
not seen the Colonel since the day after
his return from the Philippine, 1t was
not surprise to us to meet him as we
were looking for him but 1t was none
the less pleasant. The same old cry
make yourself at home" fell on our
ears and we did So Lieutenant Rease
Leabo, adiutant of the camp, came up
to headquarters and again an old friend
was met. Could anything be more
pleasantly We were introduced to Capt