Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-08-11
new MEXICO BOYS
IN FIRST BATTLE
At Camp Mabry--.
Captured Enemy
in Hard Fight.
SANTA FE SOLDIER HURT
A. T. Read Fell From Austin
Street ar---Troops Are
Imposing Sight.
BY staff Correspondent r. E. eoothe

BY staff corresp r. E. 6oothe.
Camp Mabry, Tex, Aug. 10--"Gonl-
pany fix bayonets! To the charge!
ForWard-.double time-March!"
No sweeter sound ever fell upon the
cars of tired. dust covered khaki uni
formed 'Doughboys" than the above
from the lips of Captain E. c. Abbott,
after we had marched for fifteen miles
all over the State OF Texas, chasing
foe that existed only in the imagina-
tion of certain staff officers who sat
astride their steeds and grimly
watched the slaughter.
The Santa Fe boys, members of Com
pany "F," First Infantry, New Mexico
National Guard obeyed promptly.
They swept down the rock streWn
mountain side and out upon the road
way; then they saw the enemy, wag-
on load of the finest watermelons that
ever blushed a greenish hue as the
sun kissed them and nothing more
formidable than a big Texas farmer
commanding. After desperate fight
he was defeated and retreated in dis
order. The watermelons resisted to
the last. One by one however they
were taken from the wagon by the
brave New Mexico veterans, who bath
ed their bayonets in gore to the hilt.
Captain Abbott, who charged
at the head of his men,
gallantly singled out the largest
one watermelon) and after a
desperate hand to hand struggle came
off victorious having dispatched the
foe with his sword. He was not
wounded. The company was prompt
ly ordered to Fall out and bury
the dead which was done with mill
tary honors," all members of the com
pany participating This finished, the
boys gathered about the graves OF
the fallen, and gave three hearty
cheers for Our Captain Owing to
the sense of modesty, the little skirm-
ish" was not reported at brigade head
quarters as New Mexico's loss was
small.
The above and many like humorous
Incidents have served thus far TO break
the routine of camp life and make the
boys forget that "hiling is work"
Fine Education for Young Americans.
Seriously though, the maneuVers al
Camp Mabry, are the finest
schooling possible a young Amer
lean, that in the time OF wal
he may have rudiment-
ary knowledge of what he may be call
ed upon to do. The New Mexico boys
are a credit to their Territory. They
have marched, worked, and done guard
duty cheerfully and well.
Bacon, beans, hardtack bull neck
and coffee do not compose the mos
delectable bill of fare yet there has
not been any waste of sighs and tears
for cooking like mother use to do.
"F" Company from Santa Fe consist
ed of fourteen men and two commits
stoned officers until its arrival al
Camp Mabry when it was detailed
with "a" company of Las Cruces, MAX
ing a total of 35 men under command
of Captain Abbott The trip to Austin
was uneventful except for the fact that
Sergeant Charles Viera, of Santa Fe
issued a formal challenge to any one
on the train for a clog dancing con
test which he won
Captain Abbott has gained popular
ity by his considerate, though strici
enforcement of military regulations
Incidentally 1t might be stated that he
bought out pie counter for the com
pany, which did not in the least de
tract from his standing. The boys
were hungry.
Military Operations on Extensive
Scale.
The general military operations ar(
conducted on an extensive scale AM
1t is an imposing sight to see the Ions
lines of khaki clothed soldiers, stretch
ing out for several miles, with skirm
ishers deployed and the artillery GOV
ering points of vantage. The guards
men take an active interest in tn
the work. The regulars perform thel
duties with machine like precision
which is the admiration of ever
Rookie" in the camp. Their gun
form perfect line of flashing stee
as they march and at the halt, dow
they come with single thud, no mat
ter how long the line. However, cere
monial drills have given way to tn
more practical work of field campaign
ing, which Is not so spectacular bu
much more useful in war. The noun
ing of guard, the most important par
Of a soldiers duty, is carried out in d.
tail and the guardsmen are learnin
great deal.
A. 7. Read, Of Santa Fe, was Injured
With the exception of the Academia
shooting of regular soldier and tn
death of another, as the result of
fight when off duty, the only seriou
accident to mar the camp life wa
that which occurred to A. r. Read, c
Santa Fe. While off dlty, on leav
Of absence, he with comrades, went t
Austin to see the sights. In tryin
to catch moving car, he struck vic
emily against telephone pole and wa
knocked to the ground in an uncon'
cious condition. The boys remove