Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-24

expressive HlOIlCH VI Tic aims dHu HdLlNS,
indicated that he was willing to exchange
for it the bale of Carranza and lila
money it contained.
Marching slowly on account of the wa
gon trains, the head of the first column
did not enter the base camp here until
Monday at noon after a march Of Isl
miles from Columbus. The machine gun
troops Of the 18th Cavalry, the wagon
trains and other units lost altogether l.
mules. The End Cavalry. which under
Gen. Pershing's personal command made
the dash from Culbersons ranch, lost
three mules. The transport animals of
the latter, however. were more lightly
burdened.
Scenic Grandeur
Gen. Pershings cavalry escort crossed
the boundary at BIZ o'clock Thursday
morning. March 16 1t was a brilliant
moonlight night and freezing cold. but the
brisk cavalry trot kept the men warm.
| The sun rising over the mountains gave
the men their first view of the country
a dreary desert sun scorched. mesquite
and bunch grass dotting a level valley
floored with red material eroded from an
eminence thrown up by volcanic explo-
sions in prehistoric ages.
At Geronimo's Stand
T, At 1.30 the flying column made CarrZo
The negro cavalrymen and soldiers of the
artillery. hospital units and field radio
outfits that had preceded the escort
were encamped on the sides of a granite
butte fronting the canyon in which Ge-
ronimo, the famous Apache warrior
made his final stand and surrendered to
American troops more than 80 years ago.
These facts recalled to many officers.
some Of the older of whom participa -
in the Apache campaign. that the pres
ent expedition into Mexico had set no
precedent and that bandit hunting in a
foreign country. of independent sovereign
ty. was not a new thing for the United
States army.
=, Here on the hillside was observed
for the first time the three units of
the flying column. the artillery the
Negro Cavalry and other organiza .
tions. Some of them had previously
marched from Fort Huachuha, Ariz
and other distant points. and such was
the secrecy thrown about their move
ments that even the officers of lesser
= rank did not know of their coming.
Absolute Secrecy Maintained
In fact the officers of the organiZa :
tons themselves moved more or less
in the dark. Their orders directed
: them to proceed to certain points,
4 where other orders would be found.
I They proceeded thus by stages. not
knowing where the next orders would
: take them and the appearance of Gen
1 Pershing first at Hachita and then at
: Culberson's plainly surprised the SOL
r diers and some of their officers.
8 Bacon and Hardtack
!. At Garlic, the first meal in Mexico
: was eaten. 1t consisted of army bacon
!. part of the five days rations issued to
9 the men. bareback. which tastes some
a what like the Matzo of Kewish relig-
: ious feasts. and unsweetened coffee
officers and men Jared alike.
General Pershing allowed the com
mand to rest until noon. The order
: then was to make all speed to reach
= the big Oiitos ranch, formerly the
! property of a brother of Admiral Lore
Charles Beresford, of Great Britain
at nightfall
n O1itos is 60 miles from the border
At o'clock that night camp was be-
II ing made by the American troops be-
n side irrigation bitches through whicf
> flowed the first running water they hao
seen in Mexico Here also were seer
e the first Mexicans, other than the two
who were observed few miles north
F, of Ojitos. silhouetted against the SKY
5 on a mountain top. These two were al
r first believed to be spies. but scouts
reported them to be ranchers living IN
the valley.
That American Appetite
, The Ojtos MeXicans reaped a goidei
harvest among the hungry soldiers. Fri
, ioles. tortillas and chilli sauce were il
great demand. and in contrast to tn
, Casas Grandes Mexicans, who doubled
and trebled prices on bread and ever!
: other edible, their prices were what you
like to give" The senoras of the ranci
, households cooked half the night, thei
: daughters delivered or served the foo'
: and the husbands and fathers gathered
: the money. At Ojtos the intelligence de
: partment of the flying column receive'
the first definite word concerning Villa
| The Mexicans there reported he ha'
5 passed the ranch Saturday, March II. tw'
days after the Columbus raid, with a!
3 escort of only 10 men. They also state
1 that reports had been received at tn
ranch that Villa had killed five Mexican
! at Corralitos, an American ranch to tn
: SOUTH because they We're working for tn
hated "Gringoes.'
No Hike for Tenderfoot
Although the march of 60 miles al
retired some tenderfeet to the ambu
lances and made partial wrecks of tn
softer men among the officers and sol
diers the column was again in the saddl
shortly after daylight.
The line of march took the trail
i. i. through the mountains from here on am
those who forgot to fill cantccns suf
! fered. for the day was torrid, the dus
thick and the road hard. Going up an
S down hill it crowned precipces and Skin,
t ed ravines and decl.vities.
y The next water was found at Casa
n De Janos, ranch about 10 mile
I south Of Ojitos, where a runnin.
stream, fringed by groves of cotton
e wood, was found. Here Gen. Pershn;
o allowed a five-minute rest. Horse
I were watered and men plunged the
Z heads into the stream: to drink and t,
: wash off layers of dust Then the driv,