The Lakeland evening telegram., 1916-07-20
SOCIETY EDITOR GIVEN
THRILLING NEWS OF
DARING DEEDS OF
FLA. NILITIANAN
(st. Augustine RecOrd.)

suppose there is an element of
risk in seeking information about
military affairs in these stirring
days, when spies lurk in every dark
corner and in many light corners,
too. However, l accepted the assign
ment to get first-hand story on pre-
paredness and I went directly to the
camp where the Florida soldiers are
assembled.
Unfortunately, none Of our st. Au-
gustine boys were there and was
forced to rely on my intuition In
picking out an officer who would !
talk. After looking at number OF
sturdy-looking soldiers I hesitated in
approaching them, for their faces
seemed grim and determined. One
tall young soldier, whose face was
almost forbidding in its stern lines
and grim look almost frightened me
when he walked towards me. was
sure he was about to accuse me of
being a spy. l noticed that he had
two stripes on his arm, and was
sure he must be colonel. steeled
myself for the interview as he came
directly to me.
| was most delightfully."- disappoint-
ed IN my coniectures when ne re-
} moved his broad-brimmed hat ana
bowed with a most charming smile,
, which completely transfgured his
: face "Can | help you in any wayg
he asked. "If So, please command
: me. I gasped ''oh, colonel, this Is
too good of you" l called him col
onel and he accepted the title, SO
) knew that / had made no mistake
l in determining his rank. am
newspaper correspondent, and wish
70 interview you relative to the Mex
lean situation and preparedness IN
aonara," Fearing that he would
g think was after official secrets
}, hastily assured him that wouio not
{. seek anything but his personal
d views and not to entrust to me any
}, os the weighty military secrets
e which we're locked in his breast
l. "I shall be delighted to answer
IL your questions" he replied ana ne
& invited me to seat in the snaue ol
n tent av. I noticed as we passed
er along some of the other soiolers
h looked at us. and it seemed as II they
s. turned away to hide their smiles.
III s,,ppose they thought the coione
s. would be subjected to an unweicom'
ed ,n,erview scanned his face anx
c. ,o,s,v hut saw no signs OF worry
It hut rather a pleased expression a
ms 70 he did not object to being inter
f. viewed.
* When we were seated ] asked
nd ha had won his title by some heron
d doad ON the field Of battle. YES II
-as decd" he answered; ut was IN tn
IN Mexican war. MY regiment wa
M scaling a mountain, chasing VINO
ool division OF Mexicans up the ciins'
he was at their head, and ] noticed tn'
ter the treacherous 'greasers' We're 100
ers an,np a lot of loose boulders to hu
ian down on my men. l rushed up
nut the last few hundred feet OF tne PIT
nre cipitous cliff as II shot from gu
drew my trusty sword and newed
,rn path through the hordes OF Mexica
| until I reached the place where &
gang was prying loose the
boulders One after another Tn
fell before .my furious onslaught a
10 nv men climbed in safety 10 I
~" W summit of the mountain. was IN
brevetted colonel
u "But," / said, IT thought the Nc
'ai' lean war was fought some si'
'pei wears ago; think history sta
all tSAs" He assured me that the h
tories were in error, that he was OF
"a wears old. so how could the "
have been fought so long agog :"
edi- you carry your sword with you
1av vou go to the border againf'
in asked. "oh, yes" he answered.
uch will take a trunk full, for once ] 81
her. ON the war path ! wear swords
the very quick. The edges and poi
the get b1unted from killing so ma
she'd of the enemy, and continual grill
any ing wear them away
ion. "If we go to war with Mexico.
yood asked. "do you think 1t will be e
to defeat them?" Under certa