The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1916-08-30
CAMP LLANO GRANDE
LETTER TO FRIENDS
IN REDWOOD FALLS
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complete new sets of clothing
were issued, giving each man at
least one change of uniform
from hat to shoes, so that now
a man need not suffer a sunburn
while he washes his outfit nor
go to bed while someone else
laundries it. Horses and mules
are being shipped into the camp
in Cargo numbers until now the
machine gun company has it's
required number of mules and
the supply company is sufficient
ly stocked, while mounts will
soon be here for all mounted Of
ficers and orderlies.
In this tangible property ap-
pears evidence that our stay
here is not to be cut short at
the first of September. It does
not seem reasonable that the
government would provide so
comfortably for it's soldiers here
unless it had need for those men
for several months. Again, the
people along the border are anx-
ious that the troops remain. The
maintenance of large patroling
bodies here means the continued
protection of lives and property
of these border land inhabitants,
a security they have not had for
months or at least until the ar
rival of regular soldiers last fall.
| have heard the opinion ex-
pressed repeatedly by local peo-
pie that it will be disastrous to
them if we leave without having
crossed over into Mexico and CIV
en- the natives a sound thrash
ing, and thereby creating in the
Mexican mind wholesome re-
spect for the prowess Of the
United States. Otherwise the
raids formerly so feared will be
repeated with greater frequency
and violence. If such a reason
ing be acceptable, then, we will
be held here until all points Of
negotiations have been settled
between Mexico and this coun-
try through the commissioners
that have been or will be ap-
pointed, and until such a time
as an organized government in
Mexico can absolutely suppress
the border bandits. The moral
" suasive influence in the con-
duct of these negotiations exert
ed by the thousands of soldiers
spread along this side of the line
is at once obvious. But the
points of dispute will be a long
time in settlement if we are to
believe the history of other dip
lomatic relations with Mexico
and the knowledge we learn from
the people here who tell us of
the postponing tendencies Of the
Mexican mind.
On the other side there is evil
dence of rather circumstantial
nature to prove that we of the
Naional Guard will be home
early this fall. There are those
who claim the job we have at
present is a task for the regu-
lars only, that is outside the
drills with which we are being
trained. In other words police
and patrol duty for a continued
period should strictly be left to
regular force, while the Guard
should only be retained if any
actual fighting is to be done.
Hence. since the probability of
open war with Mexico seems dis
family removed, it is argued that
the Guard will not be held much
longer.
Again, the absence of a real
existing danger and consequent
need of the state forces has been
inferred from two orders recent
i " issued. First came instruc-
tons to furlough home the men
whose terms Of enlistment had
expired and place them on the
reserve list unless they cared to
remain and have the balance Of
the time they served here count
on the three years Of their re-
serve service. If there had been
pressing need, these men could
have been retained for a few
weeks at least as happened in the
time of the Sparish-American
war to similar cases Of expired
enistments. The second order
applies to the discharge, subject
to later call, Of all bona fide stu
dents. It has been estimated
with some degree Of accuracy