Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1916-07-14
July 8, 1916.

To the Editor of the Register;
To-day completes the first week in
camp and il is interesting to note what
a change has come about in the feeling
of officers and men, might say we
have gotten over war fever and settled
down to normal camp life, AT first we
almost expected shell from a Mexican
battery any minute, to be answered by
the guns from the American batteries.
We came down here to fight and thought
we would get into it right away
There was reason for this feeling, be-
cause the papers were saying that
Carranza's message would be decidedly
hostile and even the regular army men
were expecting something along the
border and did not know where it might
begin. The rush orders under which all
the militia came here showed that the
war department thought something
might happen very soon.
But all has quoted down now and
people hereabouts expect another spell
of "watchful waiting" 1t is easy to
find a Disguised Texan. They have
thought so many times that Uncle Sam
was at last going to call Mexico to ac-
count, and have been so many times
disappointed, that they are angry all
the way through. could name man
who could not be elected pound keeper
in a Texas border city He is usually
referred to in the vocabulary Of an
army cook and, by the way, if any
body should have permission to swear,
it should be the man who has to work
over an army stove, burning mesquite,
with the thermometer somewhere along
in the second century,
Texas thought the United States
would protect her citizers and their
property in Mexico, but gave that up
long ago Then she thought American
lives and property would be safe from
Mexican raids on American soil, or that
punishment would be inflicted but the
receding of Pershing's column is taking
away that hope. Then when Carranza
guns were turned on our soldiers, Texas
thought surely the hour had struck
and the troop train cheered her;democra-
tic heart. But now when it seems that
soft words and Mexican promises can
turn away wrath over treachery to our
soldiers, Texas siz2les. And 1t is hot
here, no question about that.
The First Vermont has caught the
spirit and is making itself comfortable
for watchful waiting sojourn IN
patience. Mess shelters are being put
up, so the men will not have to eat IN
the sun. Floors are being put down
for the shower baths, Drills are
not being pushed so hard Last
! evening COL Reeves called off the even
ing work and ! had a chance to conduct
a concert and read Kipling from the tail
of an auto truck. The chaplain's show
was attended by good share of the
regiment and appeared to be thoroughly
enjoyed.
am telegraphing to see if we cannot
get a Y. M. c. A. recreation tent from
Vermont. When you think that here
are nearly 900 men, with only the balest
necessities of camp life, forbidden to
leave the grounds at night or at any
time when the hot walk to the city Is
not torture, no place to sit down, and
nothing to read, you will appreciate the
necessity of a place where they can
read and write and have little COM
fort. hope the Y. M. c. A. can SEND
their tent or give US money to build
shelter here, and if possible send mar
to take charge of it. have very few
facilities with which to help the men,
onlv half of a 9X9 tent to myself. II II
had not been for Col. Estey's organ,
/, would have found it hard to do much.
If the patriotic societies of Middle
bury would send me magazines, woulC
be glad to distribute them. If they car
raise little money, can use it very
advantageously for the men. already
have fund, which is doing a lot Of
good. but it will not last long. ...s ss'