New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-01
Return of Texas Drowned
Rat Season Spells Re-
view of Guard.
$50 LOSE BATTLE
WITH ICE CREAM
"Week" and Meat" Start Ru-
NOR That 9TH VIII Return
Celebrate Over, False News.
BY ROBERT II. ROHDE.

BY ROBERT II. ROHDE.
Headquarters 9Th Field Division.
United States Army, McAllen, Tex,
July Sl.-~The mad round Of pleasure
upon which little Major Flores unwill-
inSly started when he accepted Cen
eral Organs invitation to come over
from Mexico and dine with the division
headquarters staff was interrupted to-
day BY temporary return Of the Rio
Grande valley drowned rat season.
Before his return 20 Reynosa Satur-
day night Major Flores had received
and accepted another invitation to eat
an American dinner IN the gringo camp.
This one came from Brigadier Cen
eral Dyer, and General Dyer promised
a more magnificent show even than
that furnished by Major General
Organ. who. with Major Flores at his
side as distinguished guest had re
viewed the Eth Regiment. General Dyer
agreed 10 show the major some more
Yankee soldiers on psrade-a whole
brigade OF them.
Men Ready When Rain Comes.
So the 9Th. 18th and list regiments,
composing General Dyer's infantry
command, were all ready for the big
show this afternoon, when the clouds
turned themselves inside out
II raineG in Reynosa, too. and Major
Flores. who likes parades quite as
much as dinners, decided 10 put of his
visit until some other day when be
can have both at the same time.
Chances are that when he does come
other commanding officers Will be IN
line with fresh invitations, and before
the last one on the list Is reached the
major from Reynosa will probably be
in the market for a dyspepsia cure.
Lieutenant Colonel Terriberry was
alarmed to-day when hospital reports
showed a big jump in the sick list,
irsm is per cent 20 2.75 per cent
Feared Malignant Disease.
The colonel was laying hssty plans TO
combat some malignant tropic disease,
assembling his forces against the first
hint Of contagion which has yet de-
vcoped here, when the rise in the SICK
list was traced 10 the third infantry
and explained. One hundred and fifty
men of that command had reported at
sick call.
Their faces were a sickly green. but
il was an overpius of ice cream, pop
and pink lemonade that had done it.
A dozen lucky men In the regiment
had received generous remittances
from their homes upstate and had in
vited their friends to help spend the
money. The hundred and fifty will
be well in the morning, the surgeons
promise.
In the camp Of the 7th last night
there was ceremony of leave taking.
Convinced-and how easily-that they
were 10 start for home within week,
Companies paraded in their streets and
2 catch-as-catch-can band, beating on
dish pans and blowing through combs,
serenaded Colonel Fisk. The excited
and the pleasant but false news spread
through the whole second brigade and
the scenes in the 7th camp were dupli-
Gated all along the line.
How the News Started.
And this is how it all started: Cap
tain Myers, regimental commissary,
shouted 10 an unidentified supply SER
geant: "Why don't you come over here
and get your meat?" The cry was over
heard by Private Harrison Journey, Of
F Company, who cunningly revised II
and passed II on as. On, men, zap
tain Myers says we're going in a week"
Meat and week don't sound alike, nor
is the context ambiguous, but that, any
how, is the official explanation. Some
Of his best friends cut the culprit to-
day. =,
An artillery range has been located
and practice will begin within few
days. The artillery men believe they
are to leave their guns here should they
be recalled before they see action, and
they will 90 the maximum in practice
while they have the ordnance to prae-
tice with
Chance for Lieutenants-
General Organ has received word
from the War Department that second
lieutenants Of Guard troops under the
age of twenty-seven. will have an OPP
portunity TO prove their fitness for COM
missions in the regular service should
the experience on the border incline
them 70 army life.
On the recommendation from their
commanding officers. such lieutenants
will be assigned TO test service with
regular troops.