The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-25
Hardships of Pershing's Men


 Fighting outlaws has been the least of the hardships with which the expedi- tion has had to contend. Cold, heat, | alkali, difficult trails and shortage of food farther south gave the expedition
 more trouble than did any Mexican ban- dits. Officers and men did not realize they were undertaking one of the most difficult campaigns in a most difficult country when they crossed the border. Nearly all were unprepared for the eli
 matic changes. The army was blistered by the sun by day and chilled through by the winds at night. Soldiers carried
 one blanket each, which was far from sufficient. In few days hundreds were suffering from cracked and blistered hands and faces and alkali dust increased the pain Washing only gave the sun and wind more chance to get in their work, so many went for days without bathing hands and face. The first day S hike of the infantry was 27 miles, from
 Palomas to Boca Grandes, march per | haps not exceeded by the hardened sol diers of Europe
 Walking 27 miles along a pleasant coun- try road may not seem much of feat | to the reader but the hike these troops
 made was through a hot, sandy desert with 50-pound pack fastened to the back And 19 of those miles were cov- cred without water! Scores fell behind the column and dragged themselves along. footsore but not disheartened. I Scores fell to the parched earth in ex- haustion. But the column never rested
 until it reached the camping place, Boca Grandes, an oasis past which a small but cold stream flows. Odd as it may seem all the rivers in the Mexican des- arts fh1>n11 1cI, yvh inb fhA Ava have passed are cold.
 But since the first memorable hike the troops have become inured and now can l make the same distance without suffer- ing. And the infantry with the expe- dition has travelled afoot 415 miles into the interior and will probably have to walk back when the expedition ends. | This record of nearly 1000 miles hiking | IS unequaled in American history It is doubtful if any large numbers of troops | in Europe have gone 800 miles afoot. as | the railroads are used when any great distance IS to be covered.
 The American camps at Dublan and Namiquipa were always dusty and windy. ! dust getting into the soldiers mess kit at meal time, and frequently the wind | was so strong that it blew the food from
 his plate. Most of the time the troops
 nave fared well, having three times daily black coffee, beans. bacon and bread Sometimes they would have the menu varied by rice and fresh beef. When
 troops remained at supply base there
 was plenty of food, but on the move
 they had only coffee, beans and bacon. The troops of Colonel Howze, Colonel
 Brown, Major Tompkins and Colonel Dodd, who went as far south as Parral. were less fortunate. Most of these left northern bases with only four or five
 days rations and did not receive re- 1 newal for more than a month Thav were compelled to live on the countrv
 which at this time affords poor living
 But the men managed to get along on tortlllas. The campaign proved harder
 on horses than men and many animals were lost When Dodd's and Howze' s men returned from the front many were mounted on burros and Mexican ponies.
 Their clothing had been torn to pieces by the thorny brush they were compelled !. to negotiate.