The San Francisco call., 1908-10-07
TWO DAYS BATTLE
TO BEGIN FRIDAY
Guardsmen and Regulars at
Camp AtascaderO Anxious
to Smell Gunpowder
Former Naval Surgeon DiscOv-
cred as Private in Signal
Corps of National Guard
By Harry DaYids
'IAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL
CAMP ATASCADERO, Oct 6.-Though
in the ranks Of the militia are to be
found all kinds and conditions of men,
the surprise Of the encampment came
this afternoon when Major George T.
Pickett paymaster recognized in Wal
ter P. Keane. private in the signal
corps. a former commissioned officer in
the United States navy Major Pickett
Was writing in his tent when he OBJ
served a man in the uniform OF
private standing at the tent door.
'Well2" drawled the major.
Just came 10 say howdy, Major
Pickett"
What the devil, why, Walter,
what the blazes-'
Then the humor of the situation
struck Major Pickett
stand to the position OF q soldier,
he thundered. and Keane's heels clicked
together and his right hand flew to the
salute.
Private Keane, known in Los Angeles
as DR.. Keane. was a few years ago a
navy surgeon. He resigned from the
service for a private practice, but he
could not back away from the old life
and finally enlisted IN the signal corps
Of the national guard.
Major Pickett on learning OF the
geon General Winslow Anderson's at
tention to il. The result was that
Private Keane was slated for COM
mission in the medical. reserve corps.
PERSONNEL OF MILITIA
This was an individual instance, but
IL went TO show the caliber of the men
OF which the national guard is formed.
In one company of one Of the Arizona
regiments lawyers and physicians pre-
dominate. Nothing but a great love
OF soldering" has drawn them from
their comfortable homes, and it is be-
cause OF such material and enthusiasm
that experienced officers like Colonel
Maus have taken such an unusual in
terest in the organization.
The national guardsmen were today
drilled morning and afternoon, the
purpose being TO harden them for the
difficult marches and fighting during
the latter part OF this week.
The regulars were thrown against an
imaginary enemy south of the camp,
and after about seven miles of march
ing halted and took up a defensive po-
sition. In the afternoon some of the
efficers of the militia regiments went
out for tactical ride.
The day was one OF routine pure and
simple Every man in camp is anxious
TO smell gunpowder, and the presump-
ton is that big two day battle will
begin Friday.
STRENUOUS CAMP MAKING
After a day Of strenuous labor in
making camp. interspersed with admo-
nitions regarding camp sanitation, from
Lieutenants S. c. Megill and p J. Hen
messy of the regular army. who have
been detailed as "wetnurses" for the
California national guard signal corps.
the Los Angeles and San Francisco
signal companies entered upon their
first whole day of strenuous camp duty
this morning.
Captain Sullivan and his lightning
jerkers," as the regulars dub their sig
nal men, began wireless work at Z
o'clock. They erected two stations and
shot ineligible messages back and
forth until noon. Meantime Captain
Slaughterbeck and his Los Angeles or
ganizatiOn of signal men sweltered un-
der the waving weight OF heavy Tags
and adjusted heliographs TO catch the
most promising rays of the sun. Every
wigwag and every fash meant some
thing 10 the man in khaki at the other
end.
In the afternoon the schedule was
reversed At II o'clock General Wan
kowski and about 75 other officers of
the national guard assembled at the
signal corps camp TO hear an instructive
lecture on the modern use of the signal
corps in the field. This was delivered
by First Lieutenant Paul w. Beck. chief
signal officer of the camp. He fol-
lowed his talk with a practical demon
stration OF what can be done
BY actual timing the signal CORPS
section, under Sergeant Reyes. laid
half mile OF wire, established two
stations and transmitted and received
10 word message in six minutes. The
sergeant casually remarked, after this
exhibition.
i didn know they were timing
US or would have made some speed"