The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1916-09-05
MARYLAND SOLDIERS
PARADE EAGLE PASS
Boys at Camp Ord Receive Much APP
plauss, in Military Parade-Mary-
Land Shows Up Best Among 5000
Troops.

Land Shows Up Best among oVoo
Troops.
Eagle Pass, Texas, Sept. 4.-Mary-
land soldier boys at Camp Ord brou-
ght smiles 10 the face of General
Gather, honor to their old home
State, and elected cheers and hand
clappings from the people of an apa-
thetic town in the military parade
held here this morning.
There were more than 5000 sol
diers in line, which left no doubt, if
any had existed, that if the Mexicans
along the border in this section of
the world are still looking for trou-
BILE they are more foolish and more
ignorant than their most irreconcil-
able enemies have declared them to
be.
The Mexicans were given every OPP
portunity to see the fighting force of
Eagle Pass. The parade went the
limit as far as the bounds of this
country are concerned. The dis
banding point was en- the very last
street of Eagle Pass, on the banks of
| the Rio Grande itself.
However, they did not go to Pied
ras Negras, though a good part of
Piedras Negras came to them, and
that part of Piedras Negras rubbed
| it's eyes and thought some convincing
thoughts. These thoughts were eX-
planned most eloquently by a little
Mexican boy who chung to the hand
of his grandfather, typical Mexican
| if ever there was one. The grand
| father wore monumental Sombrero.
He had on a shirt of many hues and
wore whiskers a la CarranZa. The
little boy stood with his eyes pop
ping from his head, then he turned
to the grandfather and said:
"Popa grande, muchos gringoes,
muchos gringoes, popa grande,"
which being translated into Ameri-
can and without the repetition, is
MANY Gringoes, granpappy."
While the Mexicans were undoubt-
eddy filled with a wholesome respect
for the soldiers here by reason of
the demonstration, they probably
were surprised at the utter lack Of
visible patriotism on the part of the
people of Eagle Pass. A boy about 3
years old stood on a street corner
and waved two little American flags.
Another American flag four or five
! inches hung in front of a Mexican
saloon. A flag was put out at the
postoffice when the parade was near
| ly over That was all Eagle Pass
could do in the way of an outward
manifestation of its patriotism.
1t is not State pride that awards
the first honors in the parade to
Maryland. The home State made
the best showing in every way. There
is no doubt of that and the people
here paid tribute to its representa-
| fol1 Of
the proudest days in the career of
General Gather. He received an
honor that warmed the cookies of
his heart For the first time in his
life, the General commanded a di-
vision of the United States Army.
Nobly he bore his distinction.
| The parade in it's makeup was one
of which he could be proud, but a
still greater source of pride for him
was the fact that there was not
hitch in the turnout, that it started
at $50 O'Clock on the exact minute
scheduled and that it kept moving in
true military fashion, taking nearly
two hours to pass the reviewing
stand at the Court House.
The General gave the command
and the Maryland brigade, with Col.
Little at the head and led by Com
pany M, of Annapolis, started from
the base of the hill near the Gen
erals headquarters. The Marylan-
ders looked like soldiers AS the
General reached the Court House, he
fieft the line and joined Gen. Fred
erick Silby, commander of Eagle
Pass district, in the review The
First Regiment Band played Mary
land, My Maryland" as it came
swinging along, and the crowd
cheered. Next marched the First,
and Immediately behind the Fifth,
with its new colors flying The
Maryland flag recently presented to
the regiment by friends at home eau
ght the eyes of the crowd, it looked
so fresh and bright in the sunshine.
The First Regiment had its machine
gun with it, but the Fifth's machine
gun company was with the other
machine gun companies, which are
equipped with motortrucks for the
carrying of the guns.
Maryland had more men in line
than any other State 1t had, in ad-
dition to the two infantry regi-
ments, Troop A, the field hospital
and the ambulance corps. Troop A
got chance to show the equestrian
skill OF the members. The horses
were in almost perfect alignment
throughout the parade This fact
was commented upon favorably by
many 1t was hard to realize that
these men were not members of the
regular army. Their improvement
has been great. This same caunuaku..!
dation applies to all the No
organizations in line. The e..
and the commanding officers of IT,
various units had urged the men q i
be particularly mindful of the fact
that the people back home wanted
them to do WELL
1t stirred the heart as the First
Maryland played the State anthem.
but, when Immediately behind the
Fifth, the Thirtieth Infantry band
came marching along and broke in
to the same strain as it passed the
reviewing stand, as a tribute to the
commander of the parade, the effect
was heightened. The crowd caught
the spirit of the tribute and turned
to see how General Gather accented
it. Every air played by the bands
passing the reviewing stand was of
the South. Even one of the latest
ragtime selections, care You Front
Dlxie?" recalled that section.
| After the parade General Gather
said:
| Il am sorry that the people of
Maryland could not see their boys.