The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-31
ALABAMA INFANTRY
ENJOYS EVERY MILE
OF THAT LONG TRIP
OVER TEXAS PLAINS

(COntlnueu IrOm fuSe Oneb
sued 10 days travel rations. IN addition,
arrangements are made to furnish hot
coffee three times day at convenient
places along the road. Each man is al
lowed q cents a day coffee money ~
the government
\ Our gfirst stop was at Mobile, where We
were issued coffee and marched through
the city for exercise. We reached New
Orleans Monday night, and here the boys
had a disappointment, for they had ex-
pected to be turned loose for several
hours. But time was short, so the people
of the Crescent City were spared. Here
we met battalion of the Second Georgia
on their way to Ell Paso. They are fine
looking set and seem to be well hardened
and disciplined.
The next morning we drew into Beau
mont Tex, and detrained for coffee ana
exercise. We reached Houston at noon.
and, headed by our band, marched
through the city. The people seemed glad
to see US and gave Us a hand" all along
the route. The Young Mems Business
league of Houston here inserted itself
and took charge of our safari. Its rep
resentative led the battalion to a bath
house it had built for the use of passing
troops-surely the biggest bathhouse in
America. We were informed that more
than $1,000 soldiers had bathed there a.
ready. Thus treasured and figuring that
if that mighty army had been able to
stand it, we certainly could, our boys
gratefully took advantage of the hospi-
tally. Each man, his additions DONE
was presented with sheaf OF stamped
post cards in honor of the occasion. Hous-
ton is a real live town, with hustling
lot of young men. The Birmingham boys
declared that they would go there to live
if they were ever run out of Birmingham.
ARRIVAL AT DEL RIO
Wednesday morning we reached Del
Rio, Tex, and realized that we were
really out west at last. In place of the
green fields and rich orchards of east
Texas we looked out upon barren coun-
try of mesquite and cactus. We got well
acquainted with Del Rio, for our train
was held there by the news that bridge
had been burned ahead of us, so we made
it a day. We noticed that the town was
p1ofusely decorated with flags and bunt-
ing and were wondering how the natives
had found out we were coming, when a
local dignitary appeared and informed
us that a carnival was in progress and
that we were invited to take part. Our
Georgia friends soon came UP and the two
DattailOnS, WITH their DdnuS, joined III TO
help make a Del Rio holiday. There is a
squadron of the Fourteenth United States
cavalry and battalion of the Third
United States infantry stationed in Del
Rio Thus aided and abetted we made
what must have been an imposing mill
tary pageant. We have never been able
to find out what the celebration was all
about, but had a big time over it. any
how.
Del Rio is a hustling town of about
10000 inhabitants, 60 per cent of whom
are Mexicans. It is situated within rifle
shot of the Rio Grande. and gave us
our first touch of the border country. The
regular troops have been there for four
years. and have almost given up hope of
ever ''going in" They have been waiting
so long for orders to march into Mexico
that they have ceased to expect any,
Their eagerness to "cross the river and
their disappointment at being held back
is pathetic.