The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1914-01-27

49, -~>~S~N~S
than OF the rebels, since most Of them
were holding a rifle for the first
time. When got up on hill that
first morning and saw how the sit
uation lay | had no doubt whatever
that within twenty-four hours the
Constitutionalists would capture the
city. / met German later in the day,
a shrewd student of war; he was en-
tirely of my opinion, and expected the
Federal troops to march out during
the night, leaving the place to be oc-
cupied without struggle.
My German friend ought to have
known better, for he has lived in
Mexico all his life. My error was
pardonable. / had so far seen only
skirmishes. Now l discovered the
Mexican battles are simply series
of small fights fought on skirmishing
lines. A general advance could not
have been kept back, not even by the
machine guns which tap-tap-tapped
methodically from the Federal posi-
tions. But there was no general ad-
vance. Small bodies of fifteen or
twenty operated singly, so far as
could be seen, without any co-opera-
tive plan. The organization of the
rebels is by "con1mandos,' as it was
among the Beers
One captain had a woman as flag
bealer-a handsome, graceful girl who
wore military head-dress sat on a
big horse perfectly, carried revolver
in her belt and rifle on her saddle.
A day or two after the battle she and
the rest of her commando were at
farm few miles out. There was
sudden alarm. Federal cavalry were
sighted. In the confusion she could
not find her horse. The others gal
loped off without her. She ran into
barn, threw her cap and pistol I'M
der some straw, and strolled out as
the Federals rode up, "just woman"
They only stayed a few moments and
took no notice of her. Ten minutes
afterward the captain with four men
came back and galloped her off.
l have heard Of other soldaderas;
saw one lying dead in street of Mon
terey. But my admiration for them
does not surpass that which | feel for
the hordes of non-ighting wives who
go everywhere with the soldiers. Mex
lean armies have no eommissariat.
These Indian women carry the cook
ing-pots, light the fires, and get the
food ready. A Mexican encampment
is really an astonishing sight. It is
like "a large picnic. Children swarm
everywhere. Coffee and tortillas ap-
pear as if by magic. Somehow, the
women are always there in good time.
They even keep up with marching
cavalry, often carrying babies at the
breast. Their endurance and devo-
ton are wonderful. They are the real
"heroes" of the war.
The same absence of organization
which accounts for this system runs
through Mexican methods of fighting.
The men are not handled in masses
at ALL Street fighting is preferred
because shelter can be taken. Yet.
although in this kind of warfare
craftsmanship is so essential, the
troops are not even taught to take
aim. On the roof of the hospital Ga
strange place to fire FROM dozen
men were letting off their rifles.
could not see one of them aiming.
They shot into the air. The same
thing was noticed on all sides.
Even the machine guns were used
wasteful1y. One was turned for sew
eral minutes upon four men across
the river who were out of range! On
both sides, but especially among the
Federals, many officers are men of
and dash. One young lieu
tenant made great play with a ma
chine gun in big motor-car, charg-
ing about from point to point, and at
all events frightening the little bands
of rebels if he did not kill many of |
them. But either the officers do not |
trouble or they are not allowed to
give any systematic training to their
men.