Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1909-07-30

making the encampment a success by
their cooperation with General Ford.
And last but not least the enlisted
men also come in for large share
of the praise. for their excellent be-
havior ,and conduct during their stay
in this city. which was in striking
contrast with gatherings of this sort
in those states of the effete east,
where in more than one instance
brawls and rowdy conduct are more
or less the rule instead Of the excep-
tion.
General Ford and Captain Brookes
did not leave with the soldiers this
afternoon. They win remain over to-
morrow to close up minor details
connected with the encampment and
will likely so to Santa Fe on Sunday.
They will be quartered at the Cas-
taneda during the remainder of their
stay in the city.
Boys Have Good Time.
Most of the soldiers were granted
passes to the city last night and the
streets literally were alive with the
men in olive drab. The picture shows,
soda fountains and other places of
amusement were patronized and it is
no exaggeration to say that a big
share of that $4,000 or $4,000 distrib-
uted as pay at the camp yesterday
was left right here in Las Vegas.
This is something which the business
men of this city shouldd take into
consideration, for it is a fact which
proves the value to be derived from
having the annual encampment in
this city. Next year and every year
hereafter when the encampment is
held here, the citizens should do
everything within reason to prove to
the soldiers that they are welcome
visitors. Entertainments should be
provided at frequent intervals, for the
boys are away from home, on va
cation, and they expect It
/ Final Review.
i There was good sized crowd a
the camp yesterday afternoon at
o'clock to witness the final parad
of the battalion and official revieg
bE General Ford and officers Of hi
staff The battalion vent through III
evolutions without hitch and Gen
eral Ford was unstfnted in his praise
of the men. The two weeks en-.
campment was productive of better
results than the adjutant general had
expected. In fact better progress
could not have been made.
A feature of the encampment just
closed and one worth mentioning in
particular, is that the weather con-
ditions could not have been more
favorable. There was not a day
when the program was materially In
terfered with by rain or other un-
favorable climatic conditions. With
out good weather, the encampment
would have been more or less of a /
failure, as the time is taken up with
hikes, sham battles and daily drills
of one kind or another, with target
practice on the rifle range an i'm
portant part of the program.
March to Train.
The most inspiring sight of the en-.
campment took place at 3 o'clock this
when the troops, in heavy
order, headed by Adjutant
General Ford, Colonel E. G. Abbott,
Capt. A. S. Brookes and the First
band, playing martial airs,
ito the Santa Fe railway
station. The soldiers, divided into
companies and marching eight abreast.
made very soldierly appearance
and aroused the enthusiasm of the
crowds that lined the sidewalks of
the down town streets. The men
kept perfect step and their splendid
appearance was praised on every
hand. The unexpected parade was a
pleasant surprise, sprung on the peo-
pie by General Ford. at the last
moment. A big crowd was az the
station to bid the boys goodbye. The
Las Vegas company also marched to
the station, later returning to the
armory, where the guardsmen were
dismissed.