Evening journal., 1914-07-28
Soldiers WILL FARM
after peace COMES
ConStitutionaliStS at Mata-
moraS Expect 200 Acres
Each After War
WILL FIGHT IF
1T DOESN'T COME
United Press staff Correspondent.

MATAMOROs, Mexico, July 2e--l
There are three hundred Constitutional.
ist soldiers in the barracks here, under
Major I. Crozco, and every man OF
them expects to be the owner of 200
acres of Mexican land when the rovolu-
tion is finished. Many, indeed, have
already tentatively picked out the
plots of ground they expect to farm
Lieutenant Jose d'Antin Zuboaga of
the Ninth Regiment, sucking his corn
husk cigarette on a plaza bench before
the Hotel Montezuma, surrounded by a
dozen or so OF his comrades, privates,
non CONS and commissioned officers. SO
summed up the feeling of the men be-
hind the guns of the Cauanza-Nilla
forces IN relation TO the Mexican land
problem
I'VE viii get the land, he said
He translated his statement into Mex
lean for the benefit Of the men about
him. They nodded emphatically.
"But if YOU don't"
Then the revolution won't be fin
ished"
Jose Zuboaga fought with Madero
through his revolution With Madero
president he was given a position in the
customs service az Laredo but when the
news of the assassination came he hur.
ried to III Paso and Joined villa He has
been fighting ever since As q lieuten-
ant he draws three pesos per dav from
the Constitutionalist paymaster, and
provides his own keep.
A block off the Plaza lndepondica or
the Gale Manuel Gonzales are the Con-
stitutionalist barracks. A half dozen
| typical Mexican houses. two stories
high, built flush with the narrow walk
on the narrow street. iron barred win.
dows and rickety balcony, provide quar-
ters for the men and their women. A
blno shrted and khaki-trousered sentry
slouches up and down the shady side
] OF the street. In an open doorway
mixture of soldiers in KHAKI. women and
a flock of babies are gathered. Out in
the dust a young toddlcr of about rs
months is bitterly contestine with
mangev dog for the possession Of what
] appears TO be q bowl of mush II looks
rs though II were 20 be the dor's long
deferred day. when an accurately
thrown watermelon rind hurtles out of
the doorway and strikes tho cur in the
ribs. whereupon he retreats snarling
The baby buries its dirty fist in the mess
in the bowl and the women laugh.
Life in the Constitutionalist bar.
racks is far from strenuous. There are
few if any drills. Four times a dav the
three companies line up along the
streeta and answer TO the roll call OF
these assemblages the one al noon ia
most important, for il is at this time
that the men receive their daily pay
ment of peso and a half Of Consti-
tutionalist paper money. In the or.
ganization Of the Constitutiopalst
army when man enlists he is given
a uniform generally consisting of a
khaki jacket, riding trousers, leggings
or leather puttees, a cartridge belt and
a Mauser. A private IS paid a peso and
half each day. non CONS two pesos,
second leutenants three and captains
four. Out of this they provide their
own food. With restaurant meals cost.
ing a peso and a half priyates could
not exist were it not for the women
But with his woman TO prepare his
meal over a community charcoal FIRE,
the soldado can get along-in greater
luxury and with less work than, ever
before in his lowly existence
Discipline is lax. Nominally the city
is under martial law At o'clock a
]
in on ponies and the same number 90
out 20 take their places Several loll
about the end of the international
bridge At the ferry station on the Rio
Grande, an energetic young Mexican
armed with a ferocious looking "gat'
and a double belt of cartridges, lays
in wait for you, coming and going
and extracts o head tax of ten centa-
vos. or five cents American for which
/ he gives YOU a neatly printed receipt
stating that YOU have contributed tc
, the Constitntionalist war chest Very
thriftily. the military authorities, when
- they captured Matamoras took over the
: public utilities. The civil officer on
! the mule power street cars also gives
. a receipt when he collects another ter
( centavo piece.
Three months of barracks life hai
worn on Zuboago. 4 friend halls hin
from the doorway of the telegraph of
. flee and whispers to him eXcitedly. HI
. comes back beaming. Orders have Just
, come for the transfer Of number OF
: officers TO the south. He is off to head
: quarters to put in his request. Nitf
him 90 two American boys one twen
" and the other twenty-three, to SCI
If they cannot get into action likewise
: "Whv did you enlistl" | asked one
: of them. He refused to give his nam'
but said he came from near Dayton, O
Its more fun than working IN
: glass factory" he answered. Amy tim'
. 7 want TO leave I can quit That's par
u of our bargain. As soon as ] can tau
+ Mexican they have promised to max
II me an officer. They pay me thre
e pesos as it is. And then,' he added