The San Francisco call., 1908-10-01
JAP PANESF SPY.
ON MANFUVFRS
AT ATASCADERO
Subjects of Mikado Watch the
Movements of Troops and
Make Written Notes
Two Sons of Nippon Attempt in
Vain to Obtain Places as
Laundrymen
Jackass Battery Goes Through
Evolutions, Climbing Hills
Like Goats
By Harry Davids

CAMP ATASCADERO, Sept. 3d.
Though il has been a well known fact
in army circles that Japanese agents
have been taking an undue interest in
the workings of Uncle Sans troops,
the open manner in which they have
been conducting their observations at
the present maneuvers here has
aroused something more than mere
comment among the officers.
There has been no effort at con-
cealment. Sober, demure Japanese
have watched every movement made
by the troops. They are met at every
turn and corner. Some of them have
notebooks, but the majority content
themselves with taking what note they
may mentally.
While the Eighth infantry was on
the march from San Francisco it was
accompanied by four Japanese. At
every halt, at every station. the four
were present, watching. observing and
openly taking notes.
There was one man in particular
whom 1 noticed" said one of the
senior majors of the camp organization
today. Il saw him shortly after we
left San Francisco, and at every halt
he was to the fore. One Of his COM
panions was taking notes"
JAPANESE EXAMINE LINES
About Is minutes after reveille this
morning, while walking through the
camp. 1 personally noticed a couple OF
Japanese. making an examination of
the lines of the First field artillery.
Whas theI were doing there at that
Ecls OF the morning would be hard to
imagine. They were not farm labor
ers. They appeared to be exceptionally
intelligent men.
Whether this spying is but idle cu-
riosity or whether it has a deeper sig
nificance none can say and, what is
more to the point, none can prevent
1t. The Japanese under existing condi-
tions are given every opportunity of
observing what they care to, with the
exception that they are not allowed
within the confines of the encampment.
Today saw 1000 regulars encamped.
What few days ago was a stretch of
grain field and pasture is today an
armed camp. Horse foot and guns
came trailing through the dust, and as
they came there sprang UP tents. The
morning woke with bugle answering
C.
wood and knoll the trumpets gave
tongue. field batteries galloped through
the morning mist and, the county road
rumbled to the throb and >jir,gle of a
jackass battery working its own pc
culiar course.
JACKASS BATTERY WORKS
This body under the command of
Major John ii. Parker, Is one of the
most interesting in the encampment.
1t is neither horse, foot nor guns-just
mules and men, very much men. The
machine guns. tiny venomous little af-
fairs, are packed On the backs of the
mules. The battery swung through the
artillery lines as ii came into camp,
very much to the glee of the men who
work the big guns.
You've got your grips and you've
got your handkerchfefs,' said one artil-
leryman, but where in blazes do you
pack the guns?"
Some day." drawled one of the jack
ass battery-"some day when you have
quit toting two tons of junk behind
you like a dog with tin can to it's tail,
you may talk-but now you don't
savvy''
The jackass battery went through it's
evolutions this morning, climbing hills.
scaling cliffs and generally proving that
1t can go where wild goat may climb.
Two Japanese attempted to obtain posi-
tions as laundrymen with this battery,
but were cast out in derision. Lieuten-
ant Paul II. Beck, chief signal officer,
today installed wireless apparatus.