New Britain herald., 1916-09-23
MEXICANS OBSERVE
 THEIR HIDALGO DAY
Corresponding to Fourth of July
 in the United States
Especial Correspondence By J. F.
 COnnerS.)

Conners.)
 Nogales, Arizona, Sept. 16.-Fol- lowing the return of the Connecticut troops to Nogales the week was spent mostly in recuperation from the long. wearisome hikes and the re-arrang- ing of camp quarters. Inspection drills have taken all other spare time and the men had been lined up time and again while some decorated off, cial paraded past to give them the "once over." Because of the absence of the California troops and the Sec ond Connecticut, which is hiking to Huachuca, the First Connecticut Regiment has been getting heavy guard duty. Company iE of New Britain had charge of the town and a few turbulent Mexicans the day before yesterday. Sergeant Veley thought it significant when he saw many Mexicans come across the line with their baggage. Sergeant Smith had a particularly delicate post that required careful watching day and night.
 Mexicans Celebrate Holidays.
 
 ain was tumbled into autom obile until all the men had been left at some post or other. The cause of these extra precautions is the unusual exuberance of the Mexicans across the line who are celebrating "Hidal- go Day" which is the Mexicanss Fourth of July. Tomorrow this com- pany is to be marched to the pump ing station again for more guard work. Here we will await the return of the Second Connecticut Gas they did us a couple of weeks ago) and another sham battle with it's concur rent, ,manoeuvers will take place. 4.-e.t
 A horde of dirty peddlers, each with some distinctive Mexican sou venir, has invaded the camp and have carried away nearly all the "eagles'' and "cartwheels' that the boys re- ceived on pay day.
 Nogales has changed considerably since the rejected soldiers were sent back to their homes in Connecticut During the early summer soldiers were in the majority on the streets. Houses and shops were closed and an atmosphere of decadent prosperity prevailed everywhere. Now it is quite the opposite. Former citizens, now certain that their property will be properly protected, have returned Closed resorts have reopened and Mexican refugees, Yaqui Indians and wandering laborers have lent quite a cosmopolitan atmosphere to the place.
 Hidalgo Day festivities began in Mexico on Thursday morning when a Mexican bugler sounded a wierd call that summoned all his country men. The festivities close tonight and believe me, a Mexican celebration is all that the term may suggest. For three whole days we have heard noth- ing but bands fireworks and wolfish howls. The toll of a bell in an an cient mission church across the line at midnight on September 16 started the celebration.
 At the present time, aside from the continued internal strife, hunger seems to be the worse affliction of this accursed country. Thousands of the plebians are destitute and are starving. There seems to be but lit tie hope for improvement and these economic conditions are generally the cause for each new revolt. Promises of food and money by some ambitious chieftain brings hundreds of plebians focking to his standard, ready to risk their life for food and% money.
 Celebration Dates from 1910.
 But to get back to the celebration in Mexico. This celebration is an annual event and dates back to Sep tember IS, 1910 when one Senor Don Miguel Hidalgo started with his little band of followers, even as did the Minute Men, in America After days of strife and tumult the famous Hi- dalgo finally succeeded in iberating his country and put an end to Span ish dictatorship in Mexico. Each year the date has been observed, but since the great revolution of 1910 it has not been as widespread or elabv crate. The Huerta regime nearly raised the importance of the day to it's former place of reverance and splen- dor, but again it has been allowed to fall away.