Valdez daily prospector., 1914-06-02
Wives and Daughters heroines
 In the Long War.
PROVIDE FOOD FOR TROOPS
Their Patience and Endurance Win Hiah Praise-Take Lives In Their Hands as Spies-Seldom Has World Seen Such an Example of Love and Devotion as They Display.

Eagle Pass, Tex. - The horrors of the civil strife ill Mexico are shared heroically by the women--the wives and daughters of the poor ragged sol diers of both forces. Their enforced part in the warfare has been going on for the last three years. They are the foragers and in that capacity are the advance guard of the army and do all the menial work i'll campmaking. While, they seldom take part in the actual fighting, their hardships are far greater than those of the men. The pa- tience and devotion of the women of the poorer class of the Mexicans are astonishing.
 Even the provisional government of Mexico gave semiofficial recognition to women and children as being tmpOr- tant adjuncts of the regular fighting forces.
 The first definite knowledge that the noncombatants in Piedras Negras, sit uated just across the Rio Grande, had that the federals were about to take possession of the town recently was when a train arrived from the south, pulling several freight cars filled with women and children. They had been sent on ahead to forage for food and have dinner ready for the hungry horde of soldiers who arrived an hour or two later.
 The women dumped their bundles of dirty clothing. cooking utensils and other portable property from the cars, and iii few minutes an open square near the railroad had been picked out for a camp site for the soldiers. Bare legged, half clad children. boys and girls, ranging in age from four to twelve years. rustled around, and in short time they had the campfires go- ing.
 In the meantime the women were foraging through the town for food. Here and there a stray pig would be found wandering along the street. The women would give chase. and his fate would soon be settled. If a COW fell into their hands. so much the better Each woman works for her own par tirllar mess. if it may so bc called. It usually consists of her husband ana perhaps another relative or two. There is much rivalry between the women in preparing meals for their respective patrons.
 When the repast was over the men and the children lay flat upon the ground and enjoyed delightful siesta, while the women busted themselves with other duties
 The uncomplaining women are often forced to perform services of the most dangerous and painful character. They have marched hundreds of miles through the cactus covered desert. car rying their smaller children and pots and pans upon their backs. while their older offspring trotted by their sides When the son of one of these women reaches the age of twelve he Is given q gun and becomes soldier.
 Seldom has the world seen such an example of devotion to men as is shown by these women. To be sure. these poor creatures are densely ignorant and have little knowledge of even the ordi- nary comforts of life. but their hearts are filled with deep love for the mo- madic home and fireside. despite It's humble surroundings.
 In the freight cars that are used to transport the federal as well as the l Constitutionalist troops from place to place over the country the women and children are crowded together like SC many sheep and cattle. Often they are made to ride i'll fiat cars which are un- covered. In these unsheltered cars the rain pours down upon them.
 The women frequently are sent out on scout duty and to discover the plans of the enemy. Only occasionally does performance of this kind come to public notice. A notable instance oc- cured just before the recent fall of Torreon. General Trucy Aubert of the federals was anxious to learn the strength of the Constitutionalists. He needed all of his own officers and per sonal staff, and he did not care to in- trust the important mission of learn l ing the actual Strengtn or tne CohSli tutionalists to any man in the ranks Of his troops
 He mentioned his need to Senorita i Lomesa Berdaz. an ardent supporter of the government cause and daughter of a former banker of Torreon. She vol unteered to make trip through the Constitutionalist lines and visit their different camps. Disguised as ap old woman of the peon class. Miss Bordaz set out on the back of'a burro an for ten days travelled from place to place in the valley. visiting many rebel camps. At night she. slept upon the ground. .~.. :. Upon her return to .Torreon she made a complete report to General Aubert. which showed that more than 6,O0O l co,,u<l<,,<l nwa . 1sa$s vSnrc within afrikfn0