The San Francisco call., 1908-09-29
REGULARS IN CAMP
AFTER LONG MARCH
Troops Reach Atascadero for
Participation in the Army
Maneuvers
Field Artillery Finishes Target
Practice; New French Gun
Will Be Tried Out
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

CAMP ATASCADERO, Sept. 2s.-
With the completion today of the tar
get practice of light artillery under
Captain A. U. Faulkner, whose inch
field guns today re-echoed through the
beautiful oak studded hills to the west
ward of the camp, all ball ammunition
was boxed tonight preparatory to the
coming maneuvers. All afternoon Cap
tain Faulkners guns. the latest and
most modern field pieces, doomed sew
eral miles to the west as racing at
break neck speed they suddenly un-
! limbered and quickly fired at moving
targets shaped like gun carriages at
distance of over 1000 yards. Good
records were made and the new high
power explosive gave most satisfactory
results. The shells broke up in very
fine splinters and demonstrated the
terrible destructive power of the new
explosive.
The Twentieth infantry from Mon
terey, under command of Colonel H.
B. Moon, and Captain John II. Parker's
company of machine guns reached the
camp today at noon. With the arrival
| tomorrow of the Eighth infantry from
Fort Mcdowell, San Francisco. under
command of Colonel Frederick A.
Smith, which is camping tonight at
Paso Robles, and the four troops of
cavalry from Arizona and New Mexico,
who have marched from Los Angeles,
about 5000 regulars will be In camp.
The cavalry is commanded by Colonel
Schuyler and is resting at San Luis
Obispo tonight.
CAMP IDEALLY LOCATED
Camp Atascadero presents a most
animated and picturesque military en-
campment Long rows of tents are
stretched out for a mile with the ma
chine guns at the south end and the
artillery on the north. The location is
admirably adapted for the purpose.
/ Situated on the gentle slope on the
eastern edge of the 10 mile maneuver
field the camp faces the west and over
looks large open valley a mile and a
half long by a mile wide, on which the
various evolutions will take place and
where Governor Gillett and his per-
sonal staff will review the combined
forces of regulars and the national
guard of California and Arizona Col
onel Marion P. Maus, who is in COM
mand of the maneuvers, has invited the
governor to review the troops and he is
expected within week or 10 days. To
the west of the valley is long range
OF hills thickly studded with live oaks,
which will serve admirably as a screen
Tor the infantry movements during the
battle maneuvers. with here and there
bare hill tops and open places where
| cavalry and artillery can be utilized to
advantage.
The camp is splendfdly laid out and
we'll equipped for comfort and con-
Venience, even to shower baths for both
officers and men. 1t has long distance
telephone and telegraph connections, a
postoflce and an express office.
WILL TEST NEW GUN
A feature of the various tests. ex-
perfments and tactical demonstrations
in military problems will be a severe
test of the new French rapid fire ma
chine gun. which for the first time will
| be used by the army on the Pacific
coast. Two of the guns which have
been imported from France will be
used here with ball ammunition to
demonstrate their effectiveness as an
arm of defense and offense. Several
officers are coming specially to be
present at the firing of these guns and
thorough report on the results will
be made to the war department. The
new machine gun is just half the size
and weight of the machine gun at
present in use in the army. requires
less men. but it is claimed has the same
range and effectiveness.
With the arrival today of Major
George E. Pickett, chief paymaster. all
| of Colonel Maus' staff Is now in eamp
except Lieutenant Colonel J. w. Renet
chief ordnance officer, who will arrive
here the latter part of the week