The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-12-15
ARMY is READY
FOR The WINTER
Pershing's Men Build 'Dobe Huts
in Camps of Punitive Expe-
diti0n.
TENTED CITIES DISAPPEAR
Soldiers Make Preparations for Living
in Warmth and Comfort During
the Winter Misunderstanding
Prefers a Tent.

Field Headquarters Punitive Expe-
dition, Mexico.-Preparation for liv-
Ing in warmth and comfort during the
winter months are In full swing In all
the camps Of the punitive expedition,
from the border to Ell Vale.
The tented cities of the summer
months are disappearing and In their
stead are rising little villages of mud
huts. Already the offices Of division
from big tents to long row Of adobe
dwellings. Each Office boasts fire.
place.
Whole regiments are already living
In mud houses. For weeks the enlist
ed men in all branches of the service
have been making 'dobe brick and
erecting little huts. Comfortable one
room residences" are being built by
the officers. Crude fireplaces are part
of every dwelling. Cold winter nights
will hold no terrors when the homes
are finished.
Bathing has been done In the open
air, under improvised showers, with
wooden barrels as overhead tanks.
Now, adobe lighthouses are being
built, with big crates where huge tubs
OF water can be heated.
Gather Around campfires.
Campfires are beginning to CLEAN for
the first time since last spring when
ME troops crossed the border. The
nightly gathering of officers around the
fires in front OF regimentai headquar-
tiers has begun again, while huge boz
fires attract troopers and infantrymen
In different portions of the camp.
Winter clothing has rot vet been Is
sued to the troops, except overcoats.
However, each newly arriving truck
train brings the heavy underwear and
outer garments worn by American sol
diers In cold weather. In a short time
the 10,000 men OF General Pershing's
column will be completely fitted out for
the winter months.
Big shipments of Sibley stoves are
expected soon, so there WIFI be no lack
Bf warmth in the houses occupied by
men and officers.
This camp is situated at an elevation
of about 5000 feet, and the Eel Vale
encampment is nearly thousand feet
higher. No snow has fallen yet, but
the nights are becoming cold. The
days are nearly always warm.
First Winter in Field.
A nnmber of the regiments in Mex
leo, iHfantry and cavalry alike, are
,at, g.at n
In masy years. Many officers are
watching closely to see how their men
endure the rigors of this new expert
ence.
In most eases Mexican workmen are
being employed by the officers to build
their dwellings,. Houses for the en-
listed men have been constructed al
most entirely by themselves. Material
such as roof-timbers, corrugated sheets
and taxpayer Cor roofs and glass for
windows is purchased at the quarter
masters depot here.
No provision has been made yet for
she1tering the thousands of horses and
mules I'm service here, but IL is reported
that plans for this are In the making.
Unlike most of his officers, General
PershiDx prefers a tent as q dwelling
place, whether II be sur,mer or winter.
He has said there will be n bungalow"
built for him this winter. A small Oil
stove takes the chill or the canvas
home. where be transacts most of his
business.
When the expedition is withdrawn, a
complete village will be left behind.
csady for the occupancy Of any natives
Who wander this way boosing for .
pome.