Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-10

Special TO the Gazette
ALICE. TEX, Feb 9.-The state forces, in
con, unction with the Federal troops, are
sill in the field, their ranks augmented by
the presence o.. 4 few intrepid deputies,
who have taken the trail with Sheriff
Shelley of Starr county
When last seen by your correspondent
they were positive that some crisis would
be reached before long, though Sheriff
Shelley was confident nothing of impor-
taace would be accomplished for several
days. The history of the last few days
tells the story of an effort to effect whole
sale capture of the revolutiOnists, which
was so nearly successful that the expert
euce il Afforded ought TO render the next at
tempt more effective.
Il low appears that the leaders of the
campaign were well informed as TO the hid
iug place of Cara, and were aware that a
general gathering of his forces was planned
10 take place at point some distance north
Of Pena. The country south of the rail-
road, through which Capt. Mcneil and his
little command made their recent successful
march, is practically desert.
There is no grass whatever, wa
Ter is scarce and very ba0
in quality, and it would be impossible for
anybody TO live there without abundant
supplies of fodder and provisions It was
obvious from the first that Cara would
hardly endeavor to secrete himself in that
locality, but there were many of his follow
ers there. The feint made in that direction
served to distract attention from the real
object of the campaign, and much valuable
information was gained, 10 say nothing of
the several prisoners secured.
At the time when the juncture with the
main body was effected it was thought that
the revolutionlstS would be surprised IN
their retreat among the wild ranges north
Of the railroad, whittier they had been
drawn by the abundance Of grass and the
comparatively deserted character of the
country The proverb of the miscar-
rage OF the best laid plans was eXem-
pited in that instance, how
ever, and that miscarriage brought
about a skirmish instead of a battle, and
the revOluuonists, notified of the approach
Of danger, scattered again. The problem
Of their capture was once more thrown
uHsolyed before their pUrsuers and
the forces of the state were
pushed up into the midst Of the
revolutionary stronghold, determined to
seize the first opportunity to make an as
saIlL
MORE TROOPS NEEDED.
7 have been in the field, have been with
both the Federal and state troops and 1t
certainly looks to me Us if no effective work
vau be done with the present inadequate
'0rCes and the present disposition made OF
them. To an observer posted on the situa-
ton, it looks as if they We're TO
some extent checkmating each other.
The United States soldiers, brave
and skillful, willing and well Off
cered though they are, viii always
find themselves totally unfit for service IN
such country against such an enemy. 10
d man familiar with the circumstances
there is something almost ludicrous IN the
idea Of a soldier with his head fun of mill
tary drill and tactics. mounted on 4 big,
ga
among the brush and cactus tangles OF this
country, chasing a wiry little Mexican
ur n sinewy mustang, both born and reared
here, both familiar with every popularity
@. the country and OF climate and both ca
pa5lc of almost miraculous endurance.
Il Is different with the rangers. Ihey
are more on an equality with the men they
chase. in respect 10 physical charac-
teristics and training, and their boasts
o. ability to cope with forces
much larger than their own are by no
means idle talk, yet IL is painfully evident
they also are too few. With the ranger
force recruited to more formidable proper
tons. aided as they are by the uns dag'
determined efforts of valiant local officers,
and with the Federal soldiers form
ing a Gordon around their place of retreat
Cara and his followers would soon ma
themselves forced TO give up the light In
the open field the soldiers can carry every
tLlng before them, DuJ IN Lne OiuSu NuSN
are at. n fatal disadvantage. Let
tie rangers do the fighting in
the brush with their plans undis-
tIred by others, let the soldiers keep
IN the open, their plans cooper
lting with those of the rangers, and both
will find plenty 10 do; both will have ample
opportunity to show what they are worth;
both will find themselves covered with
Nvell-earned honors, and between the upper
aud the neither mlllstones of those two
wall-regulated forces. this troublesome
intruder will find himself ground to powder.
As it is there is no question as to his
presence, and the presence also of CON
Siderable following. and the longer such an
element is permitted to exist in defiance OF
the efforts of the government and state
forces to dislodge it, the more formidable,
the more menacing it becomes.
RoBT. J. BROWN.