Evening star., 1914-04-24
SLEEPLESS NIGHT SPENT
IN GETTING READY
Bulk of Troopers Moving on Mexico
Veterans of Philippine
Campaign.
MEET ORDERS WITH DISPATCH
Men Glad to Escape Routine Life
at Fort Crockett-Four Hum
dred Volunteers Due Be-
fore Sunday.

GALVESTON, Tex, April q.
The troops of the reinforced 5th
Brigade, the army's first expedi-
tionary force for Mexico, broke
camp during the night at Fort
Crockett here, and at daylight
moved to the transports waiting
to take them to Vera Cruz. They
we're not expected to sail before
late this afternoon.
Night Without Sleep.
The soldiers marched from camp after
a night spent practically without sleep.
The general sentiment appeared to be
that they were glad to escape the routine
Of camp life under canvas, which has
lasted here for more than year since
the second division was mobilized at
Galveston and Texas City.
These Camp Crockett regiments 4th,
Ith, 10Th and 2sth Infantry, comprising
about $500 men and forming the bulk
of the brigade, were largely veterans,
all having seen service in the Philippines.
They worked all night packing and clean
ing camp. and by daylight the troops not
only were ready to move, but the 100
acres they had occupied Were almost lit
orally broom-swept so careful was the
cleanup.
The whole movement passed quietly.
Wives OF men or officers here and there
watched their husbands When daylight
came with cold rain many women stood
hareheaded OH the sea wall overlooking
the camp. seemingly unmindful of the
weather as they watched passing COM
panies for look at their own men folk.
One Lone Prisoner Left.
One lone military prisoner was COM
pelled to remain in a low rallied inclosure
at the end OF the camp, when all the
troops passed in their march to the
front in full view. He walked round
his inclosure all the time watching the
troops.
The four infantry regiments which left
to-day Joined the mobilization camp from
the following posts: 2sth Infantry. Fort
Smelling, Mimi: 4th Infantry, from Fort
Crook, Neb-: 7th Infantry. from Leaven-
worth, Kan. 10th Infantry, from Forts
Meade in North Dakota, Sill in Oklahoma
and Leavenworth. Company E. En-
gineers which also boarded the trans
ports. came from Leavenworth. The 9Th
Cavalry, which also is ordered to sail
with all possible dispatch. came from
Fort Des Moines, Iowa. Just when the
cavalry would get away was not settled
early today.
In addition to the four transports.
Meade. Sumner. Fitzpatrick and McC1el-
Ian. which were taking on troops this
morning the quartermaster's department
was endeavoring to secure one or two
commercial steamers. which were intend
ed principally to transport cavalry and
I, artillery.
Funston Starts Activity.
Brig. Gen. Frederick Funston, who will
command the brigade now embarking.
was waiting at his headquarters last
night when the sailing orders came He
had the orders telephoned back to Cal
weston. where the whistles of the ships
blew a prearranged signal summoning
their crews. An hour after the order
reached Galveston every officer and man
In the city knew 1t and was either at
camp on the way
Three torpedo boat destroyers. the
Preston, Reid and F1usher. are available
here to act as conveys to the transports.
With the exception of blanket and a
sdog tent for each soldier. the baggage
and equipment of the brigade already is
aboard the transport The supplies load
I'd today included $1,000 pounds of medi-
zine and drugs.
Beginning today the first concrete evil
fences of war enthusiasm in other parts
Of the country will begin to arrive here
In the form of recruits. Four hundred
are due to arrive before Sunday from
New York city st. Louis and Denver.
Private advices here during the day
contained mention of the reported
gathering of rioters in Mexico City or of
other trouble in Mexico.