The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-08-10


Southern Department, that there
would be supplies. clothing and equip
ment enough to go around. The
quartermaster department was simp-
ly smothered and it hasn't gotten on
to its feet even yet. We are blam-
ing no one and critieing no one in the
regular army 1t las certainly work
ed night and day TO prepare for the
rationing of all of Us. Most of us
feel lucky that We Jared as well as
we did.
The men of the Maine Regiment de-
serve great credit for the cheerful
and good natured way in which they
took the situation. There was no
growing or kicking and everyone
seemed disposed TO take things as
they found them and make the best
of them. This disposition was in
marked contrast with some of the
outfits from other states.
From the very first inspection by
tie regular army officers sent from
was evident that the Second Maine
was considered from the point OF
personelle and efficiency at the head
of the list of militia organizations in
this section. This was borne out
when the commanding officers of the
district, General Mann chose the
Maine Regiment out of the thousands
of others to relieve the regular army
organizations in active field service at
stations along the Border in the so
called Laredo Section
There were several transfers and
changes in the personelle of Co L.
Private F. Elmer Nolin was trans
ferred to the medical at the request
of Major John G. Towne and has be-
come the most useful member of the
corps in the Second Maine As soon
as the President authorizes the reor-
ganization, Private Nolin will I'M
doubtedly receive sergeantcy of the
first class. Nolin has taken to this
work like a duck to water. At the
request of Lieut.. Col. Cummings Pri-
vate Charles B. Luce was transferred
to Headquarters Company as Mounted
Orderly to the Lieut.. Colonel Luce
is called the best horse man in the
regiment. Private CoKdon Bracket
was transferred to the QuartermaS-
ters department and is now a full
mule team Private Herbert w.
Griffin has been transferred at his
own request to the Hospital Corps and
is on duty at the field hospital in
Laredo. Private EdW. f. Estabrook
is detailed on special duty in charge
of construction at regimental head
quarters.
The officers of the company remain
as they were. Harold c. Woodbury.
has been appointed Mess Sergeant in
charge of the supplies and of the
Company mess. The new Coporals
are Roy B. Pooler, Elroy O. Lacasce,
Robert A. Emery, Enrol c. Chase and
Howard T. Noble Orders are eX-
pected soon creating another sergeant
and two more corporals, and there is
great rivalry for the appointments.
July 18th Capt. Marston received
the appointment as Commanding Of
ficer of the Military Camp at Perron's
Ranch, and was ordered to take Co.
f to the ranc hby way of Dolores,
which is about % miles from Laredo
on the Rio Grande and Eagle Pass
R. r. a little road owned by the coal
company which owns the mines at
Dolores, San Tomas and Minera,
From Dolores we proceeded by motor
truck and a foot Is miles up along
the river to Perron's Ranch where
we've been located for fortnight and
will likely remain until the regiment
leaves Laredo either for Maine or
Mexico.
At the ranch we were Joined by a
detachment of mounted troops from
Troop X 14th Cavalry, and by large
detachment from Signal Corps who
are under command of Capt Marston
The Signal Corps have set up and put
into operation a wireless station so
that the Post Commander can send
messages to the different military
headquarters from Laredo to Fort
Sam Houston.
Our camp is located right beside a
very large irrigation tank which
forms a splendid defense in case of
attack. We are back about one mile
from the Rio Grande and about $50
feet higher than the river. The re-
suit is that We get all the breeze
there is during the heat of the day
and have a commanding view of the
whole surrounding country. We can
look off to the South of us TO the hills
surrounding the big Mexican city of
Monterey
Six big raids from across the river
have been made at this place the
last one on the day that we left Au-
gusta. The country on both sides
the river is simply infested with out
laws and smugglers. Within 200
yards of our No Outpost on the
bank of the river we can see the
cavalry outposts of the Mexican out
W. A6nHnn xZOS