Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-04-28
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DESCRIBES SITUATION
Staunton Officer Tells of His Ex-
perience With Army in Texas

After two weeks of hard work with
the United States Army in Texas Ad-
jutant Charles NJ. East, Of the First
Virginia Regiment. who was one of
the five officers composing the first
detail Of state militia to 60 to the
frontier. il back in his office resting
from the effects of his trip while
attending to the wants of clients and
selling his experiences to his friends.
Adj1tant East, as we'll as those
who accompanied him. had perfect
health while away and despite the at
tendant hardshlps they enjoyed the
trip thoroughly. AS soon as they ar
rived in Texas they were sent to diff.
ferent places, Adjutant East going to
San Antonio. The camp there is ideal
ly located on high hill about two
miles from the city and about IL, 900
men are in readiness there to take
hand in affairs across the border the
minute word is received.
The Sssunton officer was assigned
to duty with an officer of correspond
ing rank from the regular army.
Together they went over the camp and
Adjutans East was instructed in every
detail OF camp work. Zone morning
We would take what was called tac.
rical walk, explained the adjutant,"
"when problems would be drawn for
Us which we were supposed to solve. ="
These consisted of imaginary attacks
and defensss and the visiting officers
we're given opportunity to lay rheiI
plars and than have them criticised
by officers of the regular army. The
next morning another form OF in
structioD would be given.
Aeropiane flights by Captain Paulois.
of the regular army, greatly interested
Adjutant East, two OF them being
made right over the camp in which
was quaItere6. He was also great.
ly interested in the sanitary arrange
ments of the camp Just how ade
quate these are is shown by the fact
that there is not casa of fever in
camp, and what little sickness has
developed was due to measles and
other simple ailments which we1e
brought IN from outside.
Adjutant East was not sent on the
81 mile nike to St. Leon Spring,
which is one of the regular features
OF the camp practice, ana regrets bav-
ing missed Ghis experience. At the
Spring sham battle is fought in
which ball cartridges are used on an
enemy which is represented by 1000
wooden men.
Giving his opinion on conditions
on the frontier Ad!utant East said
that when he left the camp the out.
come seemed to hinge upon the action
of the two Mexican armies at Juaraz
At the time OF his departure the
ar mics we're drawn mp for battle, and
the opinion of officers at the San
Antonio camp was that if Americans
wers killed OF injured as a result Of
this fight the United States COVE Tn-
ment would at once take q hand.
The armistice agreed to Saturday by
Madero and tina Diaz governments put
new complexion on the natter, hoT-
ever, and tine situation as far as
this government is concerned see MS
to be as much Up in the air as it was
in the beginning.
San Antonio was as neHr as Ad-
jutant East and the other Virg mia
officers who accompanie. him got to
Douglas, Arizona, near where the real
fighting between the Federals anu
the insnrrectos took place. They h,o
all noped to get little nearer to the
fighting and were greatly dissupoint-
ed when they failed to do 30 This
was the only disappointment connect
ed with the trip. however, as in every
other respect, 1t was one of tine finest
the Virginia officers had ever had.
Miss Blair Whitlock of the Mary
Baldwin Seminary has returned from
q visit to friends at Crimora.