Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1914-01-20
Grateful Prisoners Of War An
ticipate Living Easy off
Uncle Sam While Interned
at Fort Bliss.
BURR0s. BOOSTERS AND
DOGS ARE INCLUDED
MeroadO Dumfounded but
Happy at Remarkable Spec
tacle Of Foreign Army Di-
vision Entertained on Amer
lean Soil. !,

{ by Leased Wire 10 Evening TFcrald.l
~ Paso. Tex. Jan. 20-The g.200
Mexican soldiers. six generals and
1889 women and children who
sought asylum In the United states
after they we're driven out Of Oli-
naga, Mexico, by General Francisco
Villas rebel forces arrived here to-
day and were formally interned at
the Fort Bliss military reservation.
ThcS are to be held by the govern
ment indefinitely on the fo0ting of
prisoners Of war.
Arriving IN ten trains from Maria,
Texas. the refugees we're taken inns
medlately to Fort Bliss where lhey
were put In camp incloaed by a,
barbed wire fence, and guarded by
United states troops.
The first OF the refugees 70 Step
on the train was General NercadO
himseH lie was followed by the
other Mexican generals all shorn OF
their INSIGNIA OF rank except the bits
81 gold braid which nlill clnne ~
their ragged uniforms.
II am completely dumbfonnded by
the position We are In said Merca-
do. 1T ls something Unprecedented
go have a whole army division inter-
ned on foreign soil. We are gratetui
to the United states for the asylum
afforded us. aud for the attention
shown my soldiega hope the world
will understand that our fllsht 10 this
country was on grounds Ot human
lty 20 save the lives OF women ana
children. as well az OF soldiers who
ran out OF ammunition. The reoela
would have maaaacred ua. What y
TO become of US ] DO not know. We
shall wait and see"
General Mercado was Joined by his
wife and three Alaters-iR-law, WI"
will remain with him IN camp. Abom
one-third of the common n0ldiefs are
accompanied by their wives.
~ soon as they could be aBaoueo
the refugees were assigned so perma-
nent quarters ana soon seFiea OF
camp fires told that the Mexican VII
Iage suddenly implanted ON American
soil was preparing for breakfast.
colonel Frederick Perkins Of the
twentieth infantry was put In charge
Of the rrfugeeE' camp under direction
Of Brisadier General Hugh l.. scott
Nercndo told Perkins that the Mex
lean soldiers would do everything ~
their power TO show their gratitude
90 the United States. lie then or
dcred an the refugees 90 dig ditches
and help put up the i,o0o or more
tents None Of the Mexican soldiers
or officers will he permitted te leave
the burhed wlTe enclosure. They VIII
he guarded day ana night 70 prevent
any possible escape Ga Mexico.
Each train Of refugees was run into
the cnmp ON spur. The unload
ing presented varied and animated
scenes. WIN the women and dis
armed Mexican Hoidlcrs there tum-
BLEED on dogs and fightlng cocks saved
from the battle at ojlnaEa and love
ingly carried on the long march
one family even unlOaded burr"
sun packed with domestic utensils
Tho bodragalcd and exhausted pie
tura of q whole village OF people
uddenly dumped Oft on foreisn soil
was frightened hy brilliantly colored
blankets and shawia Of the women
The Moxicnn generals az first ap-
peared dazed and speechless By the
spectacle but soon they joined Win
the American officers In putting the
camp in order.
s.ghtseern from ~ Paso were kept
outside the harbed wire stockade.