The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-08-17
.A GARRETT COuNTA|N ON
THE MEXICAN BORDER
Private J. C. Brenninger Writes An In
teresting Letter.
To the Editor and Friends.

over the Minneapolis and ST. Louis
railroad July Is. 1916. At Albert Lea,
Minnesota, the Bat talon stopped for a
while to take some marching exercise
and to partake of the appetizing re-
freshments that were awaiting our
arrival and were given US by the good
, citizens of this place. We again en-
J trained after stay of few hours and
went on our journey from this wheat
belt state through the greatest corn
belt state in the Union to Abba, Iowa.
From Abba we glided over the iron
rails of the Wabash road to MoberIy,
Missouri. At this place we enjoyed a
nice plunge into the lake nearby. From
Moberly we speeded over the Missouri,
Kansas and Texas route to Muskogee,
Oklahoma. Here we enjoyed the good
accommodations of the Y. M. C. A..
which was ready for our arrival.
We continued our travel southwark
through the stumbled grain fields, the
cattle and pony ranches of Oklahoma,
oyer the Red River of the South into
Denison, Texas. This city welcomed US
with receptive hand, and showed their
love by giving US nice feast. On we
went from here, passing through the
corn and cotton fields. through Austin
into San Antonio. This place gave US
hearty ovation and treated US so kind
ly while we were there that number
of the boys say that when they are
mustered out they are going to make
their home in San Antonio. From here
we passed over the San Antonio and
Arkansas Pass Line to Sinton, thence
on to the Gulf Coast Line to Kingsvile,
where we stopped for while.
This beautiful and wealthy southern
city is the center of one of the largest
ranches in Texas. 1t is known as the
King Ranch. The place is miles west
of the Gulf of Mexico and has a grow
ing population of retired people who
come in to its gates from the north and
the east. In fact, this place is so nice
and wealthy that a raid was planned on
the place about three weeks before we
arrived by the Mexicans, who lived
there, under the secret direction of one
of Villas followers. When all was
ready the leader came up by boat over
the Gulf of Mexico and then by rail. In
the city of Kingsville about thirty Mexi-
cans were waiting to join him Among
the number was prosperous Mexican
baker who had fifty rifles and about
seven hundred pounds of ammunition
stored in his building. When the OPP
perfume night came, the ill-intentioned
outlaw was speeding over rails of steel
to join his lawless band and thereby do
like the cur in the story, attempt to
bite the hand that was feeding HIM.
But at that quiet hour of the night
the ranchers sprang upon them like a
wildcat upon its prey, and took the
leader and baker out and shot them
down like they would shoot Texas OK.
We continued our. journey to Karli-
gen. Here, two weeks before, a small
fight took place between Mexicans and
cowboys and the result was ten cow
boys and thirtY-slx Mexicans were kill
ed
The MeXicans say they could whip the
u. S. A. if we would leave Texas out.
In looking over the situation, ! have
formed.the conclusion that Texas alone,
with her militia, soldiers, cowboys ard
rangers could handle Mexico very nice
y on land. 1t is stated down here that
one soldier is equal to ten Mexicans
and a ranger is equal to ten American
soldiers.
From this place we journeyed to our
destination, Llano Grande. We are
now in camp on a wealthy ranger land
the vast Rio Grande Valley, six
miles north of the Border, % miles north
west of Brownsville and about 80 miles
, west of the Gulf. There are cowboys,
rangers, United States Volunteers and
, U. S. Regulars all along the border,
and north of the border for three or
four hundred miles, guarding and pro-
tectlng the railroads, the bridges, the
) ranchers, the towns and cities and all
kinds of U. S. industry.
: On this camping ground there are
about 20, 600 soldiers from Minnesota,
Nebraska, Indiana and some regulars.
} All have their pyramidal tents, pitched
, among the mesquite trees, in the branch
= es of which the beautiful song birds of
5 the sunny south sing at the dawn of
t day, when the hot morning sun is glld-
: ing the lofty palm trees of the border
! land.
/ We are in good camping ground and
I are thankful for It, Only the heat, the
0 water. tarantulas, scorpions, snakes,
] feas, storm, Mexican bush whackers,
5 and sickness bother US at times.
n will now quote from F. P. Gibbons,
who is encamped at McAllen, Texas, to
to show the priyations and sufferings
that some are enduring. Everything
Gas wet and fiat. The moist earth
. la A.