Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-04
CORRESPONDENT WITH GUARDS
MEN WRITES OF LIFE ON
MEXICAN BORDER.
ENTIRE BRIGADE NOW
"AT HOME" AT BROWNSVILLE
Troops in Excellent Condition and
Finding Routine Not Hardship
Iowans Win Admiration Of Texas
Newspaper Editor-Avows He Will
Visit Iowa Soon.

Brownsville, Texas, Aug. 4.-On the
heels of heavy downpour Of rain,
which continued internationally
throughout the day, the Second and
Third battalions Of the First Iowa in
fantry> arrived at Brownsville
thirty-six hours behind the first.
Because the water ran in riv-
ers in the regiment streets, transfer
of the camp equipment OF the two bat
talions to Colouia Victoria by auto
truck was impossible, the big army
machines being as helpless as angle
worms in a jug of molasses as they
tried to wallow through the heavy
mud. It was therefore necessary to
bring up mules from Fort Brown be-
fore the battalions could be moved,
and the men were held in their cars
until p. m.
Camp is being pitched to the south
of. the First battalion, where the worst
of the mesquite and cactus has been
cleared away by native Mexican labor
ers. Only the Telling Of enough trees
to permit the erection Of the tents
was required and the men were un-
der canvas within a short time. With
the arrival Of the Third battalion the
movement of the Iowa brigade is com
plete. and Brig. Gen. H. A. Allen,
whose headquarters car was attached
to the Thirds train, has assumed
command The delay Of the two bat
talions, which has proved perplexlnS
to Major E. c. Johnson. commanding
the First, has been explained by the
attention which the men Of the Second
were forced to give to the live stock,
all of which was carried aboard their
train. The Third battalion special
passed the Second at st. Louis and
then ran slowly ahead, General Allen
choosing to keep in touch with the
other section.
AS the two battahons marched into
the camp site they were heartily
cheered by the men Of the First, espe-
cially the First regiment band, which
ACCOMPANIED the Second battalion.
~ Working in the Rain.
Sunday has been a day Of quiet
along the streets Of the First bat
TALON. While other regiments were
at service, the Cedar Rapids men
worked in the rain alongside OF their
fellows in service from Dubuque and
Waterloo, srubbtns the company
streets OF the mesquite roots and
carrying off piles Of cactus and dead
branches left when the ground was
originally cleared. In the absence Of
live stock the men were forced to put
their shoulders to the wheels Of the
company wagons in carting off the
debris or tug away at long ropes
hitched to the doubletrees in oldfash-
toned fire engine style. Church was
dispensed with, as every effort is to
be put toward clearing the camp, and
it will be Monday before anything
like regular routine can prevail.
By that time plenty Of work will
await the soldiers. Brigadier General
James Parker, commanding the
Brownsville division, bids fair to prove
stlckler for hiking, and to that end
has arranged a four weeks program
for the Iowa troops, which has long
distance marching as both entree and
piece de resistance. Aside from the
regular drills both morning and after
noon. the men are to be marched
four miles each day, first with only
rifles and side arms. and finally with
-
week O. long distance hike Of twelve
miles, which are expected to be COM
pleted within three hours.
=, Ten Miles Without Rest.
'I want my men trained to the point
where they will be able to march ten
miles without rest and still De iii
to go into a fight If necessary Cen
eral Parker is quoted as saying.
Such a program, the press reports,
has gone hard with Indiana, Illinois
and Ohio troops, but it Is expected
the excellent conditioning which the
Iowa soldiers received while in con-
centration camp at Des Mones has
rendered them fit for the most eXhaus-
tive marching.
In connection with the condition
and appearance Of the Iowa brigade,
the Brownsville Daily Sentinel Of this
date carries the editorial:
The editor has fully made up his
mind that if he ever falls heir to q
railroad ticket long enough he is going
to Iowa. If the soldiers now in Browns
willie are sample of the people Of thai
state, and without doubt they are