The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-22
LOOK FOR SCRAPS
Army Camps ON Border Infest-
ed With Mexican Kids.
Pick Up Anything That Can Be
Fed to Their Parents.
GIRLS LETTER FROM FRONT
Says Soldiers Think They Are
Starved, but They Aren't.
Don't Go Up Town in Evenings
Because They're Broke.
GIRLS LETTER FROM FRONT

There are lot of things to occupy
the minds of the troops on the Next
can border besides work. That is the
claim of Sergt. Frank Blackledge of
Company K. First Kansas infantry. in
a letter to Miss Florence Classify, 1923
Jackson street, this city. Blackledge's
company is from Galena. He is well
known here.
The troops are not starving, he says,
although some of the men think they
are However, sweets and other
things from the home folks are not
unthankfuliy received. To a man
camped on a burning desert with
nothing in sight but mesquite brush,
MeXicanS and sand storms, they are
like a Whit of paradise. Blackledge
is mess sergeant of Company K
The Letter.
Camp Shafter. Eagle Pass. Tex, July
16, 1916.
Dear Florence: We arrived here just
one week ago today. The time GER
tainly flies for me. I have most of
my time full and don't get much time
to think how fast it goes.
Whoever said it never rains here is
mistaken There was a hard rain
night before last and others at other
times nearly all last week. The nights
down here are great. The moon IS
big and bright. 1t comes up early and
brings a soft cool breze with it. The
only time this country is good looking
is when the moon is shining and then
it is actually pretty.
The early mornings are pretty here,
too. Before it gets too hot the air is
clear and cool and the sun is just
coming up. I cannot describe it be-
cause 1 am not a poet or painter.
Our camp is situated about a mile
northeast of town. Looking south
west all you can see are MeXicanS,
hills and mesquite brush and in the
other direction you can see mesquite,
cactus, sand and United States army
camps.
All that with an occasional herd of
sheep or cattle mixed in.
Mexican Children Numerous.
At every meal time the camp is in
tested with little Mexican kids looking
for scraps. They will pick up any
leftovers and put it in basket and
take it home to eat I had about
| twenty-five loaves of mouldy bread
when We came here and they carried
| it all away. You should see some of
their clothing. All they wear IS hat,
shirt and a pair of pants. The hat is
generally one they have found and is
Usually in fair shape but the pants are
the most comical things 1 have ever
seen They are made over from some
mans worn trousers. They usually fit
like a sack and reach from their
shoulders to the middle of their lower
| limbs. Their sole purpose is to cover
the kid and they serve the purpose so
we'll the kid can hardly be found.
| cit has been pretty hot today but a
cool breeze is blowing now. L nave
slept all the afternoon. None OF US are
starving. Some of the fellows think
they are but they aren't. / guess some
of the troops were pretty short ration
ed on the way down here. We had
three meals a day, however.
The Daily Program.
"Our daily program begins with first
| call at 5:45 o'clock in the morning
Every one must get up then and fall
in line at $50 o'clock when assembly
is blown. Reveil1e is blown at
morning exercise. Mess comes at $50
At 7 o'clock the sick call is blown.
"At 1880 fatigue sounds and the
camp is policed after which drill is
started and at 1880 they are told they
can stop by the sound of recall. Mess
again at noon. The afternoon is Their
open until o'clock when we have
mess again, early because of SAND
storms At tattoo is heard. That il
the longest and prettiest call excep'
taps, which is at IL o'clock. If any
one is caught out in camp after tina
it goes pretty hard with him. We car
all go to town in the afternoons ane
evenings but the most of us are broke
and mostly we stay at camp and sing
| There goes first call for retreat anC
I will quit.
write soon and lots of it.
FRANK"
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