Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-09-19
EQUIPMENT FOR
WINTER QUARTERS
Indications That Soldiers are to be
Kept on the Mexican Border
Until Spring.

by an Iowa soldier stationed at
Brownsville and indicates that the
boys are liable to remain along the
Mexican border until next spring:
Eight carloads of winter clothing
-overcoats, blankets, sweaters,
heavy underwear and fur-lined
gloves-all for the Iowa troops, are
standing unpacked on railroad sid
ing in Brownsville. They arrived
some days ago. Quartermasters of
the three regiments were notified but
were instructed not to unload or is
sue the equipment until further or
ders.
"We'll eat Christmas dinner on
the border or in Mexico
That was the word passed among
the guardsmen when the arrival of
the winter outfits became known.
Their way of putting two and two
together made winter clothing mean
all winter on the border. They
found logic in the argument that if
the government planned to send the
troops home about the first of No
vember as indicated, no winter cloth
ing would be required.
Those guardsmen who have been
under the conviction that the Unit
ed States government expects to
send the troops across the border just
as soon as they are equipped and
ready, declare the winter toys prove
they are right. Consequently con-
lecture as to what the next two
months will unfold has been reviv-
ed with renewed interest.
But, If the troops remain on the
border they will not need the heavy
winter clothing. Days when it is
necessary to "fire up" to drive away
the chill are rare. The present cloth
ing, with the possible exception of
heavier underwear, would serve the
guardsmen.
If the troops were to enter Mexi-
co only mountain campaigning would
require the winter equipment.
Many believe that the regular
army is taking advantage of the sit
uation to get in what they have so
far been unable to get by argument
and pleading with the pork barrel
congress in the name of prepared
ness.
They believe that the army is
spending money just as if congress
had granted big appropriation for
the improvement of national defense,
knowing well that congress must
needs foot the bills they create.
In other words they believe that
the army has purchased all this win
ter equipment not for service on the
border all winter or in Mexico, but
to be prepared, to have it in store
houses. to equip the national guard,
to equip the regular army more COM
pletely when such part of the equip
ment as is unneeded by the guard
IS turned back to the regular army
20 get and to have what congress has
1enied for 10 these many years.
The guard will have no use for
he winter equipment when it re-
.urns home. But the equipment will
De on hand. And if the war depart
nent orders the commanders of the
guard to return it, it will either go
o the regular army or be stored
way pending further developments
n the Mexican situation or other sit
lations that may arise in the future.
The army is devoting its energies
o equipping the national guard in
Ill departments. 1t is equipping the
men with three uniforms, as requir-
d for the field, where they had but
me before. 1t is equipping the men
With new guns where needed.