The Washington herald., 1914-06-10
AMERICANS QUIT
THE REBEL Army
Four Soldiers Of Fortune,
Mulcted Of Salaries,
Leave Forces.
TWO GO TO TAMPICO
Gunner Jack" Won Tarlenheim Says
Constituencies Fear Secrets
Will Get Out.
TWO &c TO TAMPIc0
b, JOHN X. wINkLER.

Tampico. Mexico. June 4-(Delayed In
can gunhers, who spread terror among
the Federals at Monterey, Tampico and
other engagements by their habit Of
dropping explosive shells where they
would do most harm, have deserted the
northeast division of the rebel army IN
a body. Two of the American soldiers
Of fortune-Landis johnson and Tommy
wfndham-haye hikes for the border.
while the other twolJohn Won Tarlen-
helm and Major Foster-slipped down
to Tampico.
Sitting in my room last night, with
the liquid perfumes OF the tropical night
stealing in the windows, Capt Won Tar
lenheim. known throughout the rebel
army as Gunner Jack told the story.
Jack has rubbed the rough edges of life
for most of his years. which do not
exceed eight and twenty. He is an engi-
neer by profession, a graduate Of Car
negie Tech" in Pittsburgh, a native
OF Kansas City.
He Is Soft OF Voice.
As for the rest, he is soft of voice,
firm of hand, unauaIming OF eye.
in the first place" he began, ''let me
tell you that the rebels want no more
Americans with them. that is, no more
Americans in a position to observe things
as they are and to possibly write letters
or send reports back to the states.
can't be very much more specific than
that. But the rebels are in deathly fear
of Intervention and they know that If
the American press and public knew GER
tain things there would be such strong
demand for Intervention that all the bot
ties of grape juice in the world would
not fOrr1 dlr1N Cfr IN ST
the tide of public opinion. Whereby
American officers are being given a cold
shoulder at present"
With many a chuckle the young dart
lagnan told Of his experience with the
rebels
Il enlisted six months ago at Mata-
moras" he said, because 1 could handle
a machine gun and field pieces.
I was made captain at SO a day. In
addition, / was promised all kinds of val
liable estates and perquisites. There were
three other Americans in the brigade,
which was commanded by Gen. Cesario
Castro. Johnson and Windham were
captains, Foster a major.
Slept on the Ground.
We'll, 1 served the Neuvo Leon and
Tamlaulipas campaigns. sleeping on the
ground, helping the mules drag my gun
over the sand and mountains, etc. At
Monterey / was called upon to fire my
gun day and night. At first l used to
hit what was aiming at Once 1 knock |
ed a freight car full of Federals of the |
railroad tracks !
II soon learned that II was noise and |
not accuracy that was required of me. I
Frequently they would want me up in |
the middle of night and beg me to |
make a noise to frighten the enemy.
Then with only half an eye open I'd ram
in a shell, close her up, point her nose |
in the air and smash the firing pin with
a hammer or a carbine. 1t was lots of
fun. and casualties were much less than
an old-time New York Fourth of July.
In fact. that has been the situation
all the way through with the exception
of one or two real fights. The rebels
have executed far more than they have
killed in battle. Right now they have
600 of their enemies imprisoned at Mon |
terey, and the Lord only knows how
many of them are slated for death.
Coming ID Vn to finances, / have been |
properly -mulcted. Altogether for my six |
months services I have received sixty
pesos. or exactly six days pay I have
than 1 would for killing muskrats in |
some states.
Sought Back Pay.
Last Sunday in Monterey they told |
me to go to the paymaster and draw my |
back pay. l went to Gen. Castro's Office |
and found the paymaster with a pile of /
freshly minted bills in front of him. He |
expressed supreme surprise when 1 asked \
for my back salary. 'Ah, Senior El /
Captain he protested, you have been |
placed on the generals staff. That is a |
great promotion. Also an honorary posi-
ton Indeed. you should appreciate it
We'll, / told him and several other
officers who happened to be there how
/ appreciated it, and then after exhaust
ing my vocabulary, I eased myself out of
the place and out of the rebel army"
What next?"
The answer came without hesitation:
"A regular job with an American boss"