The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-08-03
Letters From The Border.
Official Statements from Officers Of the End
Maine as to Conditions at Laredo.

gusta with the men IN day coaches OF
good type, three men to double seat,
which we consider was the best that
could be furnished under the circum-
stances, and great was the delight of
the men and the satisfaction of the Off
GERS when Sunday noon at Kansas City
we were furnished with tourist sleepers,
thus affording the men two good nights
of sleep before reaching Laredo.
The attention of the railroad men was
all that could be desired. Mr.. Doane of
the M. C. r. R., who accompanied the
Regiment to the end of the trip, was un-
firing in his efforts, and representatives
of every road over which we passed ac
companied to the end of their road. We
believe we have a great deal to thank
Mr.. Doane for, in smoothing out all the
little difficulties that would have occur
red. At no time We're we lacking for
water or ice, very pleasing change
from all past experiences.
The Regiment reached here in good
condition, and the ailments from which
we have suffered up to the present time
have been minor ailments incident to
camp life, and to complete change of
food and living conditions. We have
TODAY received the khaki clothing for
use in the tropics and are already getting
we'll acclimated. Laredo is considered
health resort, and, while the heat is eX-
cessive, there is practically no humidity
and we will not suffer on account OF the
change The men are receiving abund-
ant rations now, as we have had ever
since reaching camp at Augusta, and no
complaints have been heard on account
of rations. FRANK M. HUME,
Colonel, Commanding
2nd Maine Infantry.
LAREDO, TEXAS, July 10, 1916. Having
seen from Maine papers many copies OF
letters from this section, and numt rous
reports of our start from Maine and sub
sequent trip southwest, many OF which
are misleading to say the least, desire
to state some PLAIN facts with the under
standing that they be USED by the Press
either as whole or III part as may be
desired.
We left Maine with the men in ordl-
nary day coaches mot rattle traps and
the men were delighted and the officers
much gratifed when two days later at
Kansas City tourist sleepers were pro-
vided. The United States intends to
transport its soldiers in tourist cars, but
it would not be hard for anyone not look
ing for criticism to realize that in such
an immense movement as has been the
present one it would be impossible to
provide tourist sleepers and kitchen cars
for all these troops, and | wonder that
We were enabled to pass the last two
nights in them. In place of kitchen cars
we had baggage cars with an oven IN
stalled, which answered the purpose
admirably. The day coaches were the
best which could be furnished and much
better than were assigned the Maine
Regiments who attended maneuvers at
Manassas some years ago, when we
made the whole trip in Jim Crow cars.
The travel ration was excellent and
ample, and in the matter of meals the
enlisted men were served better than
the officers, having their meals at regu-
lar times, while the officers had to de-
pend upon railroad restaurants, with
meals coming at times close together and
at other times being more hours apart
than one would wish. However, we all
Jared well. have never known time
when railroads served troops so well in
the important matters of water and ice,
and our arrival at Laredo was one day
ahead of the time we had set. Mr.. Doane
of the M. C. R. R. accompanied US
throughout the trip and was at all times
looking out for US in every way, and he
earned the gratitude of the Regiment by
his whole-hearted interest in US and our
welfare. We know of no other railroad
which sent its representative with the
troops apart from over their own line
and the presence of Mr. Doane smooth
ed out all difficulties before we got to
them.
VIZ 7 E1 of
July 4th, and since that time have been
getting settled and now are about ready
to begin to build an organization on the
return of the Battalions from patrol
duty on which they have been sent. The
heat here is something new to Maine
men but there is no humidity and there
have been no prostrations. And every
day there is a cool breeze blowing, which
offsets to degree the heat of the sun.
And the nights are the most delightful |
have ever experienced. Our sickness so
far is from minor ailments due to change
of living and food, and we believe that
we have not so much sickness as we
would have in camp at Augusta. The
food supply is ample and of excellent
quality, and water is piped through the
camp, with tap at each kitchen, and an
ample supply for bathing and watering
streets about camp. The water is filter
ed but we are ordered to boil it before
drinking, which of course takes time
and causes some objection.
In relation to certain Diamond Dick
or mick Carter" tales which have been
related in certain State of M ane papers,
in regard to Standings, shootlDgs and sui
cides, | would state that it has never
been the experience of the Regiment to
be quartered in place where they were
SO well treated by the citizens as in the
City of Laredo. We are welcomed here
heartily and the Board of Trade has done
everything in Its power to make US COM
Portable and to make US feel at home.
1t is a quiet town, with Mexican quar-
tiers of the type of most Mexican cities.
And, in spite of the presence of many
refugees from Mexico and Of approx
mately 5000 of the National Guard, in
addition to the Regular Army and regu-