Evening star., 1916-10-23
ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT
AT j. S. BASE CAMP
Enables American Soldiers in Mexico
to Enjoy Moving Pic
ture Shows.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
FIELD HEADQUARTERS OF THE
AMERICAN PUNITIVE EXPEDITION
IN MEXICO, October 9.-The army
chaplains who accompany the Ameri-
can punitive expedition in Mexico have
not only marched abreast of their
toughest charges clear through to the
Sierra Madres. but here they have dis
tinguished themselves in a new way.
They have established the first electric
plant within "A 125-mile radius of this
spot in Chihuahua. for the lighting of
a reading room and a movie show"
However commonplace the electric
light has become in the states, it is
still rather an innovation in this part
of Mexico, especially in an army camp
in the Casas Grandes valley. But,
thanks to the chaplains, who devoted
much time to pestering the authorities
for permission to bring the necessary
machinery in on motor trucks, the gas
engine, generator and other equipment
arrived about two months ago and now
the meaneSt private can read the latest
periodicals and write his letters under
electric lights. Even the general hasn't
that privilege.
As for the movie" shows it is hard to
the interest they have aroused and
sustained. At home the movies" mean
nothing more than nickel. short
walk and an hour or so killed. But
IN camp the evening show is some
thing to look forward to all day and
taIk about the next day. Making adobe
brick and other officially prescribed
ways of passing the time soon pail.
tiens. but the motion picture shows are
always popular as ennui breakers.
Chaplain Manages Show.
The busy little engine that illu-
inmates the reading room, runs the
projecting machine for the picture
shows, lights the prizefight arena and
makeshift vaudeville stage belongs to
the equipment of Chaplain J. NJ Moose
of the eth Cavalry. He also manages
the shows, censors most of the soldier
mail for several regiments and acts
as agent for the money order depart
ment of an express company. From
his stipend for issuing these orders
came originally the funds for bringing
down the films from Ell Paso. He, by
the way, has made out money orders
for s66,000 in three months. But the
money he thus expended from his chap
lain fund will be paid back from the
athletic fund that has grown to almost
$4,000 from the proceeds of half a
dozen boxing exhibitions. Chaplain
j. A. Randolph of the I'd Engineers
performs the same offices at Ell Vale.
The reading room, which is well
lighted and supplied with benches and
tables. is in charge of Chaplain o. j. N.
Scott of the 10th Cavalry. The Young
Mems Christian Association has fur
nished $1,000 envelopes and 10000 let
terheads, which are given out gratis.
With the Red Cross and the Young
Mems Hebrew Association it also sends
reading matter. The tent will accom-
modate several score and generally is
well filed.
More than five months ago the chap
lainS filed their application for a
cinema outfit, but it was not until the
last day of August that the first show
was given. During September there
were twenty-six, and all were well at
tended. Estimates of the nightly crowds
run as high as 5000. and not even regi-
mental minstrels cut down the number
of patrons. The section reserved for
officers, which holds about $50. is al
ways packed.