Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-08-25
ARMY IN MEXICO
IS SWATTING FLY
Every Precaution Is Being Taken
to Prevent Spread of
Disease.
SICK SOLDIER OF NO VALUE
Lessons Of Cuban and Philippines
Campaigns Not Lost-Supersti-
tious Mexicans Expect Fulfill
ment Woman's Prophecy.
ey GEORGE n. CLEMENTS.
Of the New York Sun.

BY GEORGE II. CLEMENTS.
CORRESPONDENT Of the New York sun.
Temporary Headquarters. q. s.
Army, near Colonia Dublan. Mexico
"Swat the fly" is an order which Is be-
ing obeyed with alacrity along the
entire line of Communications from
Columbus to San Antonio, Mexico,
ever since the setting In OF warm
weather.
Up to this time no flies of the COM
mon or garden variety have appeared
at Namiquipa or at other camps To-
Gated on the high plateaus to the
southwark, but at this camp and at
the camps between here and the bor-
der the house fly would be an insult
ferable pest were he permitted to
breed and flourish without protest.
From the first 1t has been an In
variable rule that at every camp. no
matter how temporary its nature, all
refuse which might furnish a nesting
or breeding ground for flies must be
burned before camp Is abandoned. As
the season advanced the rules became
more rigid until now all latrines are
covered and provided with fly traps
Of the most approved pattern to catch
the vagrant flies which come In from
outside the camp.
Few Flies In Camp.
AS a result of all this there are few
flies to be found in any army camp.
large or small, in all that portion Of
Mexico occupied by American troops.
All water for culinary or drinking
purposes must be procured from wells
or pumps which have been provided or
from carefully guarded flowing
springs. the origin Of which has been
carefully inspected. All water from
shallow wells or pumps must be chem
ically treated or boiled. The men
have been so schooled in the matter
Of health conservation that they make
no protest against the extra work in
volved In the pumping Of water as
against dipping it from nearby
stream or in chemically treating or
boiling 1t.
The result Of this care regarding
flies and water may be found in the
empty hospital tents
and in the few calls made upon mem
bers of the medical corps for treat
ment for even the most minor forms
Of sickness.
A sick soldier is of no value to the
army In time Of war and detriment \
In time Of peace. For that reason ev-
cry effort is made to keep him healthy
ut all times, but particularly when his
services may be needed on the firing
line ut a moments notice. The les
sons learned during the Cuban cam
paign and the later campaign In the
have not been lost.
The Mexicans are nothing II not a
superstitiOus people, at least so far as
the uneducated among them are con-
cerned, and they have a stock Of folk
lore stories in which they piece most
implicit confidence. The cOnsterna-
ton caused by the discovery of the
face Of the late Francisco l. Madero
on the western slope OF the Santa
Clara mountains opposite Namiquipa
a few days ago may be cited as a
sample Of the child-like faith of the
average native In ''signs."
Old Woman's Prediction,
Out Of the talk among them which
the discovery of the face in
the mountain has come a story new to
most II not all Americans connected
with this expedition, to the effect that
many years ago ian old woman" made
a prediction that Mexico would at
some future time pass through a pe-
Rod OF great national Stress during
which time there would be three presi.
dents bearing the name Francisco and
n fourth who should be remarkable
for the great beard which he would
insist upon wearing.
The story went on to say that the
three 'Panchos" would occupy the
presidential chair for but brief periods
each. and that the bearded one would
suffer death in a frightful war with
foreign power, after which a lasting
though dearly bought peace would
come to the country.
1t is pointed out that since the COM
ng into power Of Francisco /. Madero
IN 1911 Mexico has had two other.
presidents bearing the name Francis,
co. Francisco de la Barra and Fran.
cisco Carbajal. To carry out the pre-
fiction Of the "old woman" still fur.
her. 1t is pointed out by the supersti-
-ious ones who believe in "signs," that
the country now has a ruler, though
not called president. who insists in
wearing a great beard.
lnasmuch as those who place reli-
ince upon "signs" and the words of
old women" are for the most part
'atalists, there has been a growing dis
position on the part of those who have
heard the prediction Of the Mexican
Mother Shipton" to believe that her
prophecy Is about to be fulfilled and
mat there Is little use In trying to
[orestall war with foreign nation
which has been destined and want IL
TO begin as soon as possible In order
that the promised lasting peace may
be ushered In.