The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-12-10
MEXICAN WOMEN
SHARE HORRORS
Wives and Daughters AeroInes
IN the Long war.
PROVIDE FOOD FOR TROOPS


Hands as Spies--seldom Has World
Seen Such an Example Of Love and
Devotion as They Display.
Eagle Pass, Tex. - The horrors OF
the civil strife In Mexico are shared
heroically by the women-the wives
and daughters of the poor ragged SOL
diers of both forces. Their enforced
part in the warfare has been going on
for the last three years. They are the
foragers and in that capacity are the
advance guard OF the army and do
all the menial work in campmaking
While they seldom take part in the
actual fighting, their hardships are far
greater than those Of the men. The pa
tience and devotion Of the women OF
the poorer class of the Mexicans are
astonishing.
Even the provisional government of
Mexico gave semiofficial recognition to
women and children as being impor
tant adjuncts Of the regular fighting
forces.
The first definite knowledge that the
noncombatants In Piedras Negras. sit
uated just across the Rio Grande, had
that the federals were about to take
possession of the town recently was
when a train arrived from the south,
pulling several freight cars filed with
women and children. They had been
sent on ahead to forage for food and
have dinner ready for the hungry
horde of soldiers who arrived an hour
or two later
The women dumped their bundles OF
dirty clothing, cooking utensils and
other portable property from the cars,
and In a few minutes an open square
near the railroad had been picked out
for camp site for the soldiers. Bare
legged, half clad children. boys and
girls, ranging In age from four to
twelve years rustled around, and In
short time they had the campfires go
| ing.
In the meantime the women were
| foraging through the town for food.
Here and there a stray pig would be
found wandering along the street. The
women would give chase, and his fate
would soon be settled. II cow fell
| into their hands, so much the better.
Each woman works for her own par
| ticular mess, IL 1t may so be called. 1t
| usually consists Of her husband and
| perhaps another relative or two. There
is much rivalry between the women In
preparing meals for their respective
patrons.
When the repast was over the men
! and the children lay fat upon the
ground and enjoyed delightful siesta,
while the women busted themselves
with other duties.
The uncomplaining women are often
forced to perform services OF the most
dangerous and painful character. They
| have marched hundreds Of miles
through the cactus covered desert, car
rying their smaller children and pots
and pans upon their backs, while their
older offspring trotted by their sides.
When the son of one Of these women
reaches the age Of twelve he is given a
gun and becomes soldier.
Seldom has the world seen such an
example Of devotion to men as is shown
by these women. To be sure, these
poor creatures are densely ignorant and
have little knowledge of even the ordi-
nary comforts Of life, but their hearts
are filed with deep love for the no
madic home and fireside. despite its
humble surroundings.
Il r., fra;pht 90 that n nGad tD
transport the federal as well as the
Constitutionalist troops from place to
place over the country the women and
children are crowded together like so
many sheep and cattle. Often they are
made to ride In fat cars which are un-
covered. In these unsheltered cars the
rain pours down upon them.
The women frequently are sent out
on scout duty and to discover the plans
of the enemy. Only occasionally does
performance of this kind come to
public notice. notable instance oc-
Cured just before the recent fall of
Torreon. General Trucy Aubert Of the
federals was anxious to learn the
strength of the Constitutionalists. He
needed all of his own officers and per-
sonal staff. and he did not care to In
trust the important mission OF learn
ing the actual strength OF the Constf-
tutionalists to any man In the ranks OF
his troops.
He mentioned his need to Senorita
Lomesa Bordaz, an ardent supporter OF
the government cause and daughter of
former banker Of Torreon. She vol
unteered to make trip through the
Constitutionalist lines and visit their
different camps. Disguised as an old
woman Of the peon class, Miss Bordaz
set out On the back Of burre and for
ten days travelled from place to place
In the yelleyl- Yiaitng many rehs!