The Winslow mail., 1911-04-29

tunity to get under fire.
If the parade grounds on which the
troops are now encamped are not
large enough the maneuver grounds at
Leon Springs, about twenty miles
from this city, will be used. This
mobilization has impressed upon the
officers and the war department the
urgent need for having larger accom-
modations for the troops at this point.
Already arrangements have been
made for the construction of addition
al barracks and further arrangements
OF similar nature will be made soon.
San Antonio looms up as the strategic
point of greatest Importance for the
mobilization of American troops in the
event of trouble anywhere in Latin
America, and it must for all time in
the future be possible to mass the en-
tire strength of the United States
army here. That, at least, is the opin-
ion of many army men,
The troops from along the Canadian
border astounded native San An
tonians by their utter disregard . for
the fitful north breezes, which occa-
sionally bring the temperature down
to so or co. Most of the time the
temperature stays about 70, and for
few days before the recent rain it was
between 80 and 80.
Troop trains which came through
Texas were queer-looking arrange
ments. There were cattle cars for
the horses, box cars for the artillery
and equipage and Pullman cars for
the. men. The three kinds we're
grouped in many of the trains. One
serious mistake of the Spanish-Amer-
lean war was repeated. The caissons
of the artillery companies were
packed in one section of train and
the guns in another Hence, when
the first section arrived the contents
might be unloaded, but couldn't be
moved off until the second section
came in. In some instances har-
ness was packed in the cars of one
section, while the horses were in an
other But, on the whole, the move
ment has been successful. 1t is espe-
cially notable that all of the trains
have been handled from various parts
of the United States with great speed.
They have received the right of way
over everything else, and not an acci-
dent has occurred.
A little city has been built up
around Fort Sam Houston. Saloons,
dance halls, billiard rooms have
sprung up over night. Property has
advanced about 1000 per cent in value
and what would have bought the land
few weeks ago wilN not now pay
rent for year on it.
The police were prepared to pre-
vent trouble in the city, as the sol
diers were inclined to have good
time There was tendency toward
animosity between them and Mexican
residents. This was particularly re-
grettable because thousands of the
"Mexicans" were born in this city,
and have never been across the line.
them do not speak Spanish.
By no means an unimportant part
of arranging for the troops was to in.
and inspectors were rushed from
every part of this department, the To-
cal Office was spread out into tenn
porary quarters, and the mail was
handled without delay.
Pontoon bridges and engineering
impedimenta remained on the cars
ready for quick movement. Hundreds
of the cars brought here were not
taken away. Many of the bids accept
ed by the quartermaster' department
called for the delivery of goods on
board trains, and not at Fort Sam
Houston That meant that the sup
plies were ready for shipment to the
soldiers who were being rushed to
border points. This army of 10000
men has been divided. Ten thousand
men remained in San Antonio and
10000 went to the border and formed
wall from El Paso to Brownsville.
Troops did not arrive as rapidly
as scheduled, In spite of the well-laid
plans in the office of the war depart
ment in Washington. Military men
say this movement again demon
strates the fallacy of scattering the
troops in small posts throughout the
country. The prospect for trouble, un-
certain as it is, has caused enlistments
to increase enormously, and scores of
newly-recruited troops have come
with the veterans.
1t is an interesting group of men
gathered in San Antonio There are
soldiers who have seen service in the
Philippines, Cuba, China and Alaska,
and won distinction for bravery, and
there are men here who fought Indi-
ans in Texas a quarter of century
! ago.