El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-22
ORDERLY j. s. CAMP ON DESERT
SURPRISES NATIVES Of MEXICO
American Soldiers in Mexico Are Not Short on Food
and Horses Have Most Of he Time Had Plenty
Mexicans Can't Understand American Money is
Worth Twice as Mu Oh as Their Money.
BY cEOReE H. cLEMENTs.

that natives intent upon selling bread
cakes, tortillas or other dellcacies must
establish themselves outside the camp
and walt for the soldiers to come to
them rather than seek the soldiers in
the company streets or at the company
kitchens There were two reasons for
this order, either OF which should have
been sufficient One was that the wide
openness which had hitherto prevailed
might be conducive to the presence in
camp OF spies in the guise Of vendors
OF food, and the other was to guard
against the Introduction Of diseases
Of any kind into the camp.
Smallpox Scare started.
story was brought into camp one
day that there was smallpox In one
OF the many villages which go to make
up the municipality OF Namiquipa An
inspection was ordered but the soldiers
took the matter into their own hands
at once without waiting to be ordered
TO do so by their officers They were
among the first to enforce the order
that vendors OF food keep their dis
lance, and, having done their full duty
IN this respect, they focked to that
portion of the river set apart for the
washing Of persons and clothing and
washed both so thoroughly that germ
Of any kind would have starved to
death had it lighted upon them. And
they have kept up the practice till
every day is wash day at this head
quarters.
Private messes are not so elaborate
mere as they Were at the old camp at
Dublan, for the reason that there is
not so much TO buy. The Mexican
women, unlike their Mormon sisters.
are not inclined to make ieilies and
preserves or to bake bread and bis
cult While we are well down toward
the tropics this plateau is so high
that the season is probably not so
well advanced as it is on the shores
OF Lake Superior or along the St Law
renee. For that reason there are no
fresh vegetables such as onions or
lettuce rs there was at Dublan. At
mat the officers and the cOfrespOu-
dents, and the latter are all here now.
manage to do fairly well in the wav
OF adding tamales, tortillas cheese and
eggs 20 the raions drawn from the
commlssary department Sweets are ,
craVed under circumstances such as
prevail in camp like this and il the
wives and sweethearts or even the male
friends OF those in camp would send
an occasional box of chocolates or even /
OF the commonest variety OF stick ,
candy they would confer lasting favors [,
upon the recipients Chewing gum
would also be acceptable.
Plenty of Tobacco.
OI tobacco there is a plenty, now that !
the transport system between here and :
the border has been brought to a rath- |
er high state Of perfection by the add /
ing or hundreds OF motor trucks Of n /
type able to stand the going. which IS I
rather rough in spots. The trucks 7
nave made IL possible for the quarter 4
master TO bring I'm not only all the es-
sentials Of the customary daily ration
hut few delicacies which are bought
eagerly and relished greatly by men
and officers.
Wild stories have found their way
INTO some Of the newspapers Of the 4
United States, some Of them taking the
form Of interviews with army officers
to the effect that men and animals
Of the expedition were worn thin and
gaunt because of lack of food. all tend
Ing TO create the impression that there
Is woeful lack Of "savvy" on the part
Of at least the quartermaster's depart
ment II not OF the entire army in its /
executive branches.
No rood Shortage.
I crossed the International line at
loumDus, n. a., with the first sec
ions Of the army forming any part OF
his punitive expedition and have been
with it constantly ever since, on the
march, and in camp, and with scout
ng parties and for that reason have
lad ample opportunity to observe its
God supply, at least. There have been
lines when. owing. to lack Of trans
lOrtatiOn facilities, the food and for
ige was confined TO essentials. but. SO
ar as my observation goes, there never
las been a time when the men did not |
ave full rations Of bacon. hard bread
nd coffee and the animals full ra-
ion OF grain, though hay has fire.
Iuently been lacking.
This statement does not apply to the !
men and animals composing the fly
ng columns operating at the extreme !
ront, far from the lines and out OF I
each Of the best efforts OF the quar-
ermaster. These men when they went ,
nto the Businesses Of the Sierra Mad
!