The San Francisco call., 1910-09-15
CAMP ATASCADERO
PITCHED in DRIzzLE
Tented City Springs Up and
Houses $500 Troops De-
spite the Rain
"War Came Is Planned to Be
Carried on in Hostile
Fashion

the arrival late this afternoon of Briga-
dier General Tasker H. Bliss, command
ing the department of California. and
who will command both the regular and
state troops, who will participate in
the war game that will extend through
out the next following week, the in
fantry and cavalry of the regular army
in California, Arizona and New Mexico
are now under canvas at Camp Atlas
cadero with the exception of several
companies at the Preside Of San Frlan-
cisco.
The troops pitched their tents In a.
drizzling rain, which greeted them as.
they marched into camp this morning
and continued all day. The Eighth in
fantry from Monterey. the Thirtieth
infantry from San. Francisco, two troops
of the First cavalry and several COM
panies of the Eighteenth infantry, all
reached Atascadero about the same
time this morning, and soon the mono
tonous tap tap of sledges on tent pegs
sounded throughout the camp.
Under the direction of Lieutenant
Baker the headquarters tent has been
erected and were ready for the COM
mander in chief. while Colonel F. Won
Schrader, chief quartermaster, and
| .. ,.
ants. directed the transportation of
equipment and supplies from the sta
tion to the camp by. wagon trains in
fast time. BY noon scores of tents
had sprung up and tonight $500 troops
are comfortably housed under canvas
despite the rain.
CAMP IN CRESCENT FORM
The encampment is laid out in the
form of a crescent facing the west:
The artillery camp and two troops of
cavalry form the north horn, next to
them is the Eighth infantry and on
the south are the Thirtieth infantry
and the First cavalry, with the field
hospital signal corps and headquarters
in the center.
General Bliss was accompanied by
his aids. First Lieutenant Arthur Boil
lon of the Fourteenth cavalry, several
other members of his staff, and a dozen
officers from various posts, who have
been detailed at Atascadero to umpire
the game of war.
Major S. W. Dunning, adjutant gem
eral: Major w. w. Wright. chief of
staff. and several of the umpires are
| busily engaged in planning the prob
lens and field movements in which the
| regulars and national guard will be
| engaged. During the maneuvers the
| troops will move over about 10000
acres of little valleys, hills and noun
tains, comprising the land leased by
the war department for the purpose,
| and the purchase of which was recently
recommended by Major General Barry
| in his annual report.
General Barry recommended that
Atascadero be made the principal
training camp in the west for the train
| ing and drilling of both regular and
national guard. and, because of its to-
geography, having hills. mountains,
plains, dales and valleys, it was well
adapted for tactical problems and field
movements for the troops in all
branches of the service.
MORE TROOPS COMING
The regulars are now awaiting the
coming of the national guard of Ari-
| zona and New Mexico. the latter being
due to arrive on the 18th. AS the war
department has allowed only IA days
pay for the New Mexico forces, includ-
| ing the time in transit, the militia
| of that territory will be in comp with
the regulars only six days.
| Some of the army officers freely ex-
press the doubt where the territorial
! forces can get enough practical knowl-
| edge of tactics and operations in field
movements in only six days to Justify
| the expense of the long trip from and
| to New Mexico.
| With the coming of the California
guard on October 1, probably accom-
panied by Governor Gillett: and his
staff, the camp will become more lively
The California guardsmen will have
| two full weeks of field maneuvers
With their coming there also will be
social functions to relieve the monotony
of camp life.
A military ball has been planned al
/ Paso Robles hot springs, competitive
band concerts will be held by the sew
| eral regimental bands for a silver cur
| as prize, and arrangements are be.
| ing made for tennis tournament ir
which the Misses Sutton are expected
| to participate.