Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1916-07-14
COMMUNICATIONS.
A GRAPHIC PICTURE OF CAMP
LIFE ON THE RIO GRANDE.

LIFE ON THE RIO GRANDE'
To the Editor Of the Register;
Perhaps first Of all should assure
the friends of the First Vermont boys
that we are still long way from any
thing that resembles war, II any
imagined that we would jump of the
train and start right in to shoot
ing Mexicans, they had an exaggerated
idea. To be sure we are in town
where there are more MeXicans than
Americans, and we can look across the
RIO Grande and see the flag on a
Mexican custom house about as lar as
Chapman Hill from the college, but IN
Eagle Pass Americans and Me%icans
are as friendly as any kinds of folks OF
different race are at home, and there
has been no trouble hereabouts across
the border, rode this morning in q
Ford driven by Mexican and drank a
glass of vichy served by neat Mexican
drug clerk and suffered no harm.
So far we have been making CAM
and are likely to be busy fixing our
selves up for comfort for several days
We are located on a plot Of dry, dusty,
stony ground, gently sloping, even but
covered with cobble stones, about
mile from the center of the town,
Water pipes had been laid across the
camp sight with faucet for each com
pany. The water is abundant and OF
good quality, but when it comes from
the pipes it is of good temperature tC
boil eggs. The soil is "adobe, " a kin(
of clay, but full of stones. Its wors
quality is its infinite capacity for dust
About sunset last night we were treated
to Mexican rain" A fierce wind
starting without warning, filled the ali
with dust and in ten seconds everything
open, including eyes and ears, was filled
with it. 1t is not sand, but fine ella!
dust, which is infinitely worse. Thi
Mexican rain" is the only kind thi
region has had for over six months
There is not blade of grass nor even
weed on our camp site. Around thu
edges grow few mesquite" bushe
if that is the way to spell it but the.
have more thorns than shade.
To-day (Monday) there is a gentl
breeze and the sun is at intervals CRATE
fully overcast. 1t is of course very hot
but one perspires freely and is not 81
uncomfortable as one would think, TIT
men are cheerful and in the best o
spirits. COL Reeves has given tn
order to work slowly and not to hurry
anything, which Of course is the RICH
way to get the most accomplished in tn
end in this climate. The result is tina
we have not a man in the hospital an,
the surgeons are giving their time t
overseeing sanitary arrangements. Tn
whole camp understands that LOOKING
after health must be one of the frs
considerations.
Letters from DR.. McMurphy and Mr.
A. E. Sherwin of Burlington awaited me
offering to send goggles for companie
c and NJ and to the hospital Corps.
have wired for 10 pairs for these unit
and suggested a request through tn
papers for goggles for the other CON
pames. They will be Godsend if W
get them. Those with shields to kee
out the dust are most useful.
can later as soon as they reach me-
use magazines and any kind of interest
ing reading, | shall be glad to dis
tribute whatever is sentme. Of cours
Hope to get Y. M. c, A. tent, wit
writing tables, paper files, and games
and if | can not get these facilitie
from the quartermaster' department
am going to ask the friends of the boy
in Vermont to supply US. We want
have the cleanest and best camp on tn
border and to do that it will be nece:
sary to have our own facilities fc
recreation in camp,
1t would be a great help if the Stat
Y. M. C. A could send here the ter
and equipment which were provided q
the State camp last summer.
The messages that are already comm
to me from home approving my actio
and wishing all success in the work al
of great help and encouragement