The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-05
Seasoned Infantry Needed in
Mexican Campaign.
g. s. Aeroplanes Bird Messen-
gers of the Desert.
HEAT AND BLIZZARD SAME DAY
Mesa Ablaze in Sun, Troopers
Freeze in Mountains.
Army Camp Without Tents
Awakes Covered With Snow.

AT the front IN Mexico,
ing Generals Headquarters, April L.
CBy aeroplane and motor courier to
Columbus, n. M, April 4.)-America's
first detachment of mountain infan-
try, corps of specially trained men
for such service as that in the noun
tain studded country of Guerrero. soon
Will be actively assisting the cavalry
in the search for Villa The belief
has been announced that such a COM
mand will prove invaluable in the
work confronting the American troops
in the Guerrero district.
Much has been written" said the
general, about this being a cavalry
chase. 1t is just as much an infantry
task. There are places in the noun
tains where the cavalry cannot pene-
trate-rocks, cliffs, peaks, caves, can
yons and forests, where at any time
the chase might become a question af
a man to man fight. The infantry in
Mexico is now being brought into
physical condition for this sort of
campaign"
Mirage of the Desert.
An aeroplane this afternoon sailed
into headquarters camp, stopped five
minutes with dispatches and then flew
southwark toward the mountain pass,
20 miles away, flying over a mesa
where the distant mountains were re-
Elected upside down as in water by
the afternoon heat waves on the
ground. The machine rocked and
slipped over this boiling air.
Earlier in the same day from this
same area a troop of frozen cavalry
men came into camp for rest and
food. They had been caught in
sudden norther. The cold was so biting
that they had kept their fingers in
motion some of them said. so that in
case of attack their trigger fingers
would not be too numb for use Yes
terday afternoon in this mesa, a snow
was flying so thickly as to obscure
the adjoining mountains Men and
horses in headquarters camp stood
with their backs to the driving white
flakes, the mems heads covered with
blankets and the horses with noses
sunk almost to the ground. This
morning the men in this same camp
all sleeping in the open awakened to
find themselves covered with a layer
of snow.
Snow, a Serious Joke.
They looked across an irrigation
ditch to see General Pershing himself
white with snow There was not a
tent in camp. The tents and abundant
food are on the way but thus far the
troopers have moved ahead out of
each advance camp without waiting
for either tents or food. They joked
which kept its trigger fingers working
for warmth spent many hours search
ing for a mountain top cabin where
scouts reported that two Villa bandits
had called for food. This house was
/ less than Is miles from the American
headquarters At the house the cav
alrymen found only a man of about
80 and young woman with baby.
The two men who had called for food,
said the aged man, had left for some
place in the mountains.
Villa Spies Everywhere
The people of this region give the
American troops just as little infor-
der who had been condemned to
death after capture by Villa at Guer-
zero and whose life the Americans
saved said he was willing to act as a
guide. but baked after leading some
cavalrymen on a long trail in search
for a suspected house. A sharp order
for him to locate the house imme-
diately brought results. Many of the
Mexicans here show undoubted evil
dence Of being Villa soldiers. Nothing
has developed, however, to indicate
how these sympathizers will carry
their Sympathies in action
General Pershing in an effort to
convince the people of the Americans
good intentions has become to some
extent a judge of petty grievances of
to get a cowhide with instructions
that the money would be paid later
The scout was misunderstood, for
some hours later two small boys ap-
peared in front of the generals camp
fire, crying bitterly The general,
squatting Mexican fashion in front of
them, was told that something which
they considered terrible had happened
to their fathers cowhide. They be-
lieved it was not to be paid for. The
general handed them the price of the
hide in Mexican silver dollars
Pershing Fixes Prices.
The prices of the few articles of
food which can be purchased here
have been fixed by General Pershing
so that both the Mexicans and the
soldiers may not have any cause fol
complaint.
The price for eggs has been agreed
upon as five cents apiece Mexican sill
yer and fifty cents per dozen. eouiva-
lent to twenty-five cents a dozen
American money. Other prices are
about in proportion
Deny Steamer Torpedoed.
New York, April 5.-Two American