Iditarod pioneer., 1914-05-30
MEXICAN WAR FALLS
 HARDEST ON WOMEN


 Eagle Pass Tex-The enforced partic- patton of women in the Mexican war IS one of the most deplorable and perhaps the saddest feature of the long conflict. Even the constitutional government of Mexico gives semi official recognition to women and children as being important ad juncts of the regular fighting forces. The same thing is done by the various oppos- ing elements that are fighting for suprem acy in different parts of the country.
 The first definite knowledge that the non- combatants in Piedras Negras, situated just across the Rio Grande, had that the fed erals were about to take possession of the town recently was when a special train ar rived 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 This advance contingent of women dumped their bundles of dirty cloth ing, crude open air cooking utensils and other portable property from the cars and in few minutes an open square near the railroad had been picked out for camp site for the soldiers.
 Women Forage for Food Bare legged, half clad children-boys and girls ranging in age from to F years, rustled around and in a very short time they had the camp fires going. In the meanwhile the women were foragIng through the town for food. Here and there a stray pig would be found wandering along the street. Then the women would silently give chase to the animal, and its fate would soon be settled If COW fell into their hands, so much the better. They showed themselves expert in slaughtering the anl- mals. If these women foragers happened to spy flock of goats in the chapparal, they quickly rounded them up and drove them down to camp, where the animals were kept under guard, to be used as needed.
 It was motley collection of edible arti cles that the crowd of foragers brought into camp that first day Each woman works for her own particular mess if it may so be called It usually consists of her husband and perhaps another male relative or two, and maybe some particular friend. The soldiers are permitted to form their own messes as they see fit There IS much rivalry between the women in the matter ot foraging and preparing meals for their re spectlve patrons
 One woman arrived in camp at Piedras Negras carrying a squealng young pig by one leg and holding a squawking goose Tn the other hand The glimmer of stocal smile played around her mouth Other women greeted her with enyious eyes as she tied the pig to stake and placed the goose under box near her own particular camp fire. Her thoughts were of Juan, her dark skinned husband who was on his way up from the south with the other soldiers.
 Women Real Commissaries
 "The Lord is good, my children" she said, as she devoutly crossed herself in thankfulness for the success of her for aging trip. You and Juan shall feast this day.
 Indeed, it was grand day for the fight 1 ing Juan, for the little, thorn scared boys and mite of girl, and for Carmencita her self as they sat around the festive board and gorged themselves to their hearts con tent When the repast was over Juan and the children lay flat upon the ground and >enjoyed a delightful siesta, while Carmen cita busted herself with other duties.
 In the proper sense, the hundreds Of poor women and children who attend so ] faithfully to the material wants of the sol Idiers are not "camp followers" In reality they are the commissary departments of l. the armies The officers and the privates