Evening star., 1914-04-26

Standing as erect beneath his eighty
seven years as any young West Point
graduate might hope to hold himself,
Mai j. Thomas Turner of Ala B street
northeast, veteran of the Mexican war
OF 1S47, last night declared to re-
porter OF The Star his willingness and
his desire to so back to the country
across the ITO Grande and fight again
for the United States flag. Not only is
Mai Turner a veteran of the Mexican
war, but he also fought in the civil
war and before that in the Indian
wars of Oregon and Washington terri
tories of 1853 and of 1856. He believes
that distinction of having served in these
four wars is equaled by no living Ameri-
can. His son. Lieut.. Francis Asbury Tur-
ner of the 9Th Field Artillery. is now at
the front
Mai. Turner. despite the fact that more
than half a century has gone by since
ne and his comrades fought their way
into Chapultepec, has forgotten none or
the atrocities which he saw the Mexicans
commit. and belives that the troops OF
the United States should so into the
prisoners" His ideas on the subject of
Mexico admits of no 'watchful waiting"
Recalls Mexican Methods.
Speaking of the methods of war en-
ployed by the Mexicans, Maj. Turner
said: 1.-THE city (Chapultepec) was well
defended when we attacked it, but it
could not withstand the cold Yankee
ight. We got in but when We had en-
.ered the Mexicans hid themselves in
houses, on tops of houses and any place
slse they could find, where they could
hide, and began .sniping our men.
of ba Df
nausted by the march and fighting, burn
ing with thirst and in many cases badly
wounded. dropped along the way When
night fell the Mexicans sneaked down
On these defenseless men and committed
The most terrible atrocities upon them.
That is the kind of fighting the Mexicans
10 and If / had my way our forces
would enter Mexico and take no pri-
soners"
In the war with Mexico Maj. Turner
served under Gen. George Z. Pickett,
then second lieutenant, who became
famous for his charge at Gettysburg. At
this time Maj. Turner was hardly more
than boy.
His Active Service.
His service in the other three wars
In which he took part was of most
active kind. His tales are many and
his recollections keen, and the long
lapse of years has not caused him to
-worget the days in the Indian wars
when he quenched his thirst by drink
ing water from a buffalo wallow.
which was filled with tadpoles.
But war has no horrors for him.
Time has touched him lightly-his
footstep is firm, his eyes have fire in
them and the grip of his hand is
strong. All his faculties are excellent,
with the exception of his hearing, which
became slightly impaired about two
years ago.
He was born in Baltimore. Md. Sep
tember 4. 1926. and is able to trace
his ancestry back to the time one of
came to this country under the second
Lord Baltimore in 1886. On his ma
ternal side he traces his ancestry back
to the Vallants- and the Aulds. two OF
Maryland's Oldest families Frederick
Douglass was one time owned by his
cousin. Cap. Tom Aud.
Early Life on Plantation.
Mai Turner remained in Baltimore
his mother died. and he was sent to
live with his grandfather on a Mary
land plantation. which was given tc
the family by Charles the Second
There he stayed until he was abou,
the world for himself. In his army
service he has been in every part OF
the United States and Mexico, the only
state which he thinks he has missed
being South Carolina.
In addition TO his son. he has five
children living, all residents of this
city. They are Miss Laura Turner
Miss Edith Turner and Miss Elsie Tur-
per. a teacher in the Western High
school: Mrs. Maud Estelle Gibson anc