The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-10
Why SOLDIERS
ARE ON BORDER
In Letter to Mayor Lotion, Corporal
F. D. Ward Of Company l, Elk
plains Reason for
Mobilization.
NEWS OF THE LOCAL MEN
Soldiers Arc Getting Plenty 10 Eat
In Texas Conditions De-
scrIbed 40
Good.
NEWS OF THE LOCAL MEN

An exceptionally interesting ac-
count Of the life on the Mexican bOr-
der is contained in letter received
here today by Mayor Ed s. Lotion
from Corporal Francis D. Ward. Of
| Co. L, son of Mr.. and Mrs. T. J. Ward
Of 1910 Bank street. The letter fol-
lows:
! Brownsville, Texas, August As
we are all off for the afternoon and
have the writing fever, l will try
to give you some particulars about
the border troops and the latest Com
pany L news.
The question is being asked by
many OF the men of the state troops
here In camp: What are we here
for?" It is we'll that an answer be
made to this question and that it be
kept in mind by all. The government
and the people Of the United States
certainly appreciate the sacrifice that
is being made by the officers and
state troops in performing this serv-
families and best friends, also i'm
portant positions. and have come to
q hot and sometimes disagreeable eli
mate. But as yet we have found 1t
agreeably cool and have had plenty OF
rain.
| We should all feel that what we are
doing is not being done In vain, that
we are all rendering to our country a
wonderful service; that we should be
thanked by the people OF the United
| States for patriotic service done for
our country. I don't want to say only
Company L, but all state troops. And
many are asking what this service Is.
| In the first place this country was
and is threatened by war. The condt-
lions on the other side Of the Rio
Grande are worse than they have
ever been before. Villa is still at
large and he is likely to make anoth-
er raid at any time. The temper OF
Americas people becomes more and
more impatient. They are realizing
that the prestige OF the country IS
suffering. Unforeseen situations are
constantly occurring and some of
these situations may demand action.
land the people do not know every
thing that occurs It is apparent that
this may be Of service as fighting
force. It is also apparent that we
should be prepared and the officers
and men be fully trained. This can
only be accomplished by long hours
Of drill each day and by enthusiastic
work. We like it much better than
Camp Dodge.
Trained In Drills.
/ II It is desired to exercise diplo-
matte pressure, the existence Of a
large armed force is necessary. 1t
goes without saying that the armed
force should be we'll trained and tit
for fighting. We all should and are
being trained in drills of precision,
close order drills, because these bring
about discipline and prompt obedi.
ience to commands. A company should
be drilled in target practice in order
that when it goes into battle its fire
will be formidable A soldier who
cannot shoot is not soldier. While
our regiment has received many new
recruits since it began its mobtliza
ton in Iowa, its standard of mark
manshfp has been maintained, and
undoubtedly enhanced by constant
daily rifle practice in which every
man in the regiment has been kept
on the target field for the past month
We should be drilled in marching In
order that troops may be concentrated
quickly at important points; that ou1
army shall be able to pursue the en-
envy and defeat it. There should be
training in camping and all the vari
Gus duties connected with the camp
such as sanitation, cooking. and the
care of arms and equipment. In order
that we may always be ready FOL
duty and in order that 1t may move
in campaign without confusion.
The very fact that the weather Is
: hot or wet that the camps are dusty
or muddy, prepares the troops for the
inevitable conditions Of campaign
and for the hardships that the troops
. may undergo. 1t is well, therefore