Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-09-15
THREE MEN 70 THE
MILE WATCHING
BORDER
Five Cavalry Regiments Stand
Guard on Mexican Fr1aties ;
Line Is 1900 Miles in
Length.

~R~N rA
Length.
san Antonio. Tex. Sept is.--Po-
liciug the frontier acting AZ the
watch on the Rio 0rande, are the
officers and men Of five ~ the six
cavalry regiments IN the southern
department between brownsville
and the eastern line of California.
where the eastern line Of California.
where the Jurisdiction OF that depart
ment ends and that OF the west be-
gins u approximately 1900 miles.
IN other words. there are SOME
thing like 5000 men. three 90 the
mile. preserving the neutrality laws
~ the United States. while Mexican
belllgerents strive for supremacy.
There are other troops IN the terri-
tory contiguous. but the duty Of en-
forcing the rule 81 peace and order
along the dividing line between the
two countries devoives entirely on
these bronzed soldiers. who are be-
ginning TO tire Of the heat and to
hope something more exciting viii
start soon.
All Of the Third cavalry and Bait
teriog a. y and g Of the Third field
artillery are at Fort Sam Houston
ana. naturally. convenient to almost
any place where they might be
urgently needed. but the officers a.
the headquarters OF the brigade are
almost convinced blinking NJ she sun
will continue 90 be Just ~ exhliarat-
ing a. anything they may have to do.
Between brigade headquarters and
the war department at Washington
there runs a special wire. For weeks
and months officers OF both the cave
airy and artillery left at headquarters
have waited for the telegraph 90
bring something moving waited In
vain. n they could be absolutely
certain nothing demanding activity
on their part IL likely 10 happen they
could spend all their spare time in
studies. hut TO expect something
stirring and "a get daily disappolnt-
ment Is. they are frank to admit. dis
couraging.
Various District Headquarters.
Whether due to orders from Gem
eral Wood or 10 the caution of Gem
eral Bliss. Is not known. but Il s. "a
fact that officers of the department
stan decline 90 give the location Of
the various detachments OF troops
now standing guard over the north
ern bank OF the Rio Grande. Any
way. the troops are moved SO free
quently, az the suggestion OF "A
colonel. OF even captain. that such
a matter as naming the exact spot
where all the men are camped would
DC exceedingly difficult.
The districts whore there are head
quarters OF the various attachments
nre. Brownsville. Laredo. Eagle Pass.
Bis Bond. Sierra nianca-ciint. III
Paso. New Mexico, Eastern Arizona
and Western Arizona. IN every in
stance the detachment headquarters
D. located IN the biggest town In the
1 district. Troops In California are
under General Murray and are not
counted in the list OF those under
General Bliss.
Many OF the troops doing duty OF
the border have been there nearly
two years. when the Third cavalry
returned To headquarters It's officers
ana men had seen nineteen months
Of practically uninterrupted service
In the neid.
Some OF the other cavalry rcgi-
ments were part Of the patrol when
the Third went out. ana there b not
much chance OF relieving any of them.
because OF the fact practically all the
cavalry available for service ct this
sort Is engaged Many Of the smaller
ldetnchments are far from places OF
lnny size and some OF them do not re-
ceive mail more frequently than once
Il week To All intents ana purposes
they are lin the field"
Il Is conceded everywhere. and par
ticularly at Washington. shat no shree
men ever born can keep constant
watch on mile of international boun-
Diary. or a mile OF any other sort OF
line. unless they are on a mountain
top and work in relays. II Is out of
/ the question 60 think o. mountain
tops In some parts Of the territory
covered boy these men in khaki
| So Il became necessary for the de-
apartment 10 work out a system Of its
Town. one that has proven effective
land practicable. The men patrol In
small attachments and. frequently,
| there Is "a squad without commits
/ ground. and there Is nothing along
81 her bank of tho river that escapes
their attention.
/ Mucn OF iNe tNAiff lfNNV ull"H ~
patrolled daily. Most OF the remain
der twice a week and All Of Il M least
once week And when there h oc-
casion for such surveillance believed
90 be warranted, one or TWO troopers
VIII be left 10 watch one particular
place. II help Is needed. they know
how 10 get Il Just as rapidly az the
sturdy cavalry horses can run.
As told before. the special wire az
the post connects directly with Wash
ington 80 that the lonely squad pa
trolling IN the Big Bend Is just few
hours removed from Major General
Leonard wood aud Secretary OF War
Garrison-- and they are just few
moments from the white house. The
United States army's system of COM
munication Ia up 90 date.
The Information Is advanced hy the
lofficers that for months there has not
been minute 81 the day on night
when any news Of Importance from
any os these isolated squads along
the border would not have received
instant attention at Fort Sam iious-