Middletown transcript., 1916-07-22
MARYLAND GUARDS
IN FOR LONG STAY
Looks As If They Will Spend
Christmas In Mexico.
RIGORs OF CAMP LIFE
Becoming Hardened-WiII Be Con-
solidated With Regulars For
Drills - Promotions
Announced.

EdSI0 EdoS, 40A6Lo'--AL DO6Ah0 ~
look like the Marylanders, in common
with other National Guardsmen, are in
for long stay in Texas and for active
service in Mexico next winter, after
| the men become acclimated and sea-
soned.
The latest information is that the
soldiers will "eat their Thanksgiving
dinners at Eagle Pass and their
Christmas dinners in Mexico" 1t is
said to have come from an authori-
tative source and bears out impress
sions formed by the commander of the
Maryland Brigade when the troops
were at Laurel.
Rapidly becoming accustomed to the
rigors of camp life in a Southern eli
mate, the guardsmen from Maryland
are not thinking much of their future
so far as the service is concerned.
Every man says he is here to do his
duty and is going to do it. A platoon
from the Fourth Maryland under Lieu
tenant Beers is guarding the property
Of the Eagle Pass Lumber Company
and the railroads, too, in the vicinity
of Camp Ord. Companies B and M, of
the Fourth, are patrolling the Rio
Grande with a detail from the Third
United States Infantry.
To Consolidate With Regulars.
From now onward the Maryland
guardsmen will be consolidated with
regulars for drill and instruction,
guardsman working by the side of a
regular. The men are looking for
some strenuous but interesting work.
General Gather says they will get it.
Some promotions in Troop A will
interest the people back home. Corp.
George E. l. James has been made
duty sergeant and A. C. knight quar-
termaster sergeant. Privates. J. V.
Brooks, w. U. Warner, Maurice Kauf-
man and Edward Ames have been
given corpOralships. The men of the
troop are in fine shape and are look
ing forward to the day when they will
get horses and cross the Rio Grande.
They Miss DANNY" and the Club.
Field Hospital No. l has set the
pace for cleanliness and sanitation,
and there are no harder workers
among the troops at Eagle Pass.
Major Ullrich is putting them through
the PAGES. The boys of Danny"
Loden's Concord Club and Klu Klux
Klan say they are missing the club
house on Carey street and Danny"
The boys of the Field Hospital Ambu-
lance Corps No. 1 and Torop A are
camping with guardsmen from Kansas
and Connecticut and regular cavalry
outfit and are fraternizing with them |
as if they had been friends from boy
hood.
Three or four shots were heard dur |
ing the night, but are supposed to
have been the result of premature ex- |
plosions or carelessness in handling |
rifles. The shots occasioned some lit
tie excitement, but it soon subsidized |
Several Mexfcans were observed |
patrolling the other side of the river
They appeared to be poorly equipped !
Some were without uniforms and only |
a few carried rifles, but all appeared
to be well supplied with ammunition.
Lanterns Show Moves Of "Enemy."
After nightfall the Mexicans carried
lanterns, affording the Maryland boys
much anus ement and enabling them
to keep themselves well posted as to
the movements of the enemy. A few
of the MeXicans were mounted and
looked pretty fit, but they caused no
concern this side of the river. 1t is
reported that the Mexicans have with
drawn many of their troops from
Piedras Negras. At least, few are seen
by people coming into Eagle Pass. The
garrison, however, seems active and
the streets Of the city are full of sol
diers, mostly officers, well equipped
and looking much like Americans. ex-
cept for their headpieces.
Making Camp Comfortable.
Indicating that the Maryland troops
will be kept on the Mexican border
for considerable time, orders were
and wire screen mess halls and
kitchens. Hitherto regular kitchen
tents have sufficed for preparing
meals, and the men have either eaten
at rough board tables put up in the
open, or have sat on the ground, their
meat cans between their knees. The
men and officers believe that building
the more comfortable and elaborate .
quarters means that the militia is here ,
for a protracted stay. The order in
cluded all militia units now in camp !
here. :
Names Brigade Staff. !
General Gather has organized his
brigade for administT ative purposes.
He appointed Lieutenant Colonel
Adams, of the First Brigade, quarter
master; Lieutenant-Colonel Bowie, of {
he Fifth Brigade, inspector and Major
Iriffths Davis, Of the Fourth Brigade,
sanitary officer.