New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-22

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: This letter, which was written by
private in the 18th Regiment, now sta
toned at McAllen, Tex, seems to me, by vir-
tue Of its descriptive qualities and Its humor,
worthy Of being printed. trust you Will
agree with me and give It place in your
paper.
Should any Of It's readers care to send
small contributions I should be glad to re-
ceive them; and will invest them as wisely as
possible in Comforts for the men OF the
18th, and will forward them to the writer
Of this letter for distribution. | have for
obvious reasons suppressed proper names and
the company number.
CORNELIA B. ROGERS.
New York, Sept IS, 1916.
Ny Dear Mrs. -: A few days ago received
"a letter from our mutual friend, Miss NJ,
and inclosed was an excerpt from letter
you had written to her. Will you please
accept through me the thanks Of Company
- for your great kindness? Miss NJ
wrote me asking to what use she could put
the s25 check you inclosed to her. and l sug-
gested candy, tobacco and scrubbing brushes.
Last evening | received from her q letter,
also two packages containing one gross of
Bull Durham. | distributed this about an
hour ago. and you may be sure the men
fully appreciated the gift BY this time
Miss NJ will have received my letter. and
will no doubt send on the other things within
3 short space Of time.
Escaping Banjo Drill"
To-day am lucky; have just been placed
on Special detail" with fifteen other men
picked from the company; the reason l say
| am lucky is that the rest of the company
are on what is known as "banjo drill" a
banjo being the army name for a spade.
While they are digging bitches, etc, I'll be
at headquarters with my shoes shined new
leggings and dress clothes supervising the is
suing Of communications.
II it will not bore you, | should like to
tell you something of our life here on the
border. but first | want to make myself quite
clear in one thing: if in places | seem to
make the life we are leading filled with
hardship, don't misconstrue my remarks and
think the 18th are whining, for they are not.
The 18th does kick-as single-handed, double
riveted, three-ply kickers the 10Th has no
equal in captivity, but after they get through
kicking they will grin and go about their
duties. Once the kick is out OF their system
they are satisfied.
We are in McAllen, Tex, little town
forty-eight miles from Brownsville and eight
miles from the Rio Grande, which is the
border. Immediately west of the 10Th lies
the camp of the list, and east the camp of
the 18th. We are also circled by the ODD Regi-
ment, the 1st Cavalry, Squadron A, LIST and
I'd Field Artillery, hospital camp, etc. When
the 18th struck McAllen on Wednesday, July
3, the camps of the fist and 7th were already
made. 1t was binding, scorching Texas
day; by 10 a. m. it was 1T degrees in the
shade. and there was no shade. We had a
breakfast of coffee, bareback and beans.
Blanket rolls were made and our march to
the camp site, mile and half away, COM
menced.
Hiking at III Degrees.
Now, a mile and half does not seem far,
but we had been on the train seven days
and we were loaded with an eghty-pound
pack and rife. They gave the order for the
"route step" and we started. At the finish
fourteen men had dropped from heat pros
tration. My own mouth felt like dry ashes
and the perspration trickled down my body