The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1916-08-04
WITH THE TROOPS ON
THE MEXICAN BORDER
Carl KrOIIpfeiffer, Seyenty-firSt N. Y.
infantry, Tells How They Ar
rive There

start and trip from New York city by a
former citizen of this town, brother Of
Harry Krollpfeiffer, is not devoid OF in
terest in view of the fact that some Of
the soldier boys have been writing
hard luck stories back home, and some
even asking to be relieved. Carl evil
IDENTITY takes his part seriously, at least
he does not complain:
McAllen, Texas, July %, 10.
The Seventy-first Infantry of New
York was mustered into the regular
army on Sunday, June Is, the sixth
day after the MALTA had been called
upon by president Wilson. During
these six days we had been confined to
the armory. The men went home at
eleven o'clock at night and reported at
seven in the morning. In a great
many cases they were compelled to
sleep there.
Tuesday, June d, at 10 a. M, the
order Forward march, was given and
the line started for the waiting trains,
which were to take US somewhere in
Texas"
When we reached the New York
Central yards, where our trains stood,
we we're halted and stood for an hour
before entraining. Many heartbreak-
ing and touching farewell was said as
father left wife and family, son left de-
pendent mother, or a sweetheart was
left behind.
There were many touching incidents
at the time of our departure, but the
most solemn OF all was the short prayer
cy the regimental chaplin, followed by
the Star Spangled Banner" played
by our band. l venture to say that
there were not ten pairs of dry eyes in
the armory, either among the troops or
spectators when this ceremony was
completed.
At p. m. the regiment, 1900
strong, pulled out in three sections OF
fifteen cars each, one battalion to a
section.
We were given promise Of proper
and comfortable Accommodations at Buf-
falo, for we were riding in the oldest
wooden day coaches of the road.
am convinced that the sendoff the
New York people gave US was even
better than the boys got in 90. Sand
wiches, beer, cakes, tobacco, ice
cream, papers and other reading mat
ter were passed out bG the residents Of
towns along the line Of our routing.
AS we passed thru Rensselaer,, N.
Y, all the locomotives in the yard
kept up continuous screech Of their
whistles from the time the locomotive
OF the first section entered until the
last car Of the third section left.
At Buffalo we had short drill and
changed to the Nickle Plate road. We
followed this line to St. Louis. On
our arrival there we found great treat
in store US. The people had gotten
up lunch boxes for the boys and each
man received a ham and a cheese
sondwich, an egg, a pickle, cake,
banana, and pint OF milk. This was
quite change from cold canned
corned beef and bareback, OF which our
meals were composed.
Here we also had the first bath"
Of our trip. The men "shelled" to
the waist and had the hose turned on
them by the employees in the railroad
yard. 1t sure felt good and was sorely
needed.
Company B picked up a rookie"
here. Land crab," or Bum" as
he is better known, was signed up as
mascot. He joined without his own
ers' consent. Now he is an official
"Pollywog." Bum" is midget fox
TERROR.
From St. Louis we went to San An
tonic, via Muskogee, Fit. Worth and
Austin. Here we got orders from
Gen. Funston and proceeded to Nc
Allen, Texas, to make camp.
The better Accommodations we were
promised, hever materialized and We
made the trip all the way in day
coaches. The Seventh New York
came in tourist sleepers, as did most of
the other outfits.