El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-05-17
NEW MEXICO MEN
NOW ON BORDER
How a Chicago Newspaper
Man Wrote of Their Ar
rival at Columbus.

Dispatch from Columbus. \. NJ =,
the Chicago Daily News under the sig
nature of Junius B.. Wood. thus refers
TO the arrival OF the New Mexico
militia companies in Camp Columbus
A army in the making is going
through the transformation process
here with the arrival OF the New Mex
leo national guard. In all OF the
towns recruiting officers have been
left behind to sound appeals to patriot
ism. which it is hoped will bring each
company up to the strength on which
the government insists before muster
ing it into the federal service.
"A regiment of 500 men and a bat
terry OF field artillery with 147 men
was the showing OF the state, although
New Mexico. on the border, is one OF
those states in which the sentiment is
strongest and the demand the loudest
for Intervention in Mexico.
Some of the guardsmen came in
derby hats and some in caps many
wore white collars which wilted in the
sun. Others carried suit cases like a
trOup Of transformers, some were coat
less, with shirts of varied hues. others
were in uniform or part uniform, but
they all belonged to the regiment. The
akaAA1 $3.50 q - g z
though willing TO fight, was far from
ready.
Many OF Them Are Boys.
The regiment will be even smaller 1
before il is mustered into the federal 4
service. Many of the militiamen are
boys. The United States does not have
the same age-free requirements as
the Mexican army and in its ranks boys
not carry rifles which stand higher
than their heads. Many who came in
the stress Of state enthusiasm will not
accepted. What they lack in other
respects they make up IN enthusiasm.
The first delegation to arrive were 100
youths whom the state had refused to
bring. They came on their own re-
sponsibility.
Half of the New Mexico militia are
lark kinned. They chatter in Spanish
the corner Of the big camp which
called theirs last night seemed as
If it were a Mexican camp. Spanish
8 the language which comes natural
10 them. even though they are in the
army. However, the Ameri-
AN army has had loyal soldiers who
poke other tongues than English.
Fiction Of National Defence.
zone Of the fictions Of the national
iefence, SO far as state forces are con-
,erned. is that each one is as complete
y equipped as is the regular army.
They have plenty Of equipment, but
Tot always Of the most practical kind.
a pile Of camp supplies was
mattress Of feather bed proportions
or some soft muscled militia officer.
Quitting Of the regiment showed
n the same uncertain way as that OF
he men.
when they arrived one of the Off
ers suggested to the regular army
.uartermaster that his boys would be
eady to cook dinner by noon today
nd that the regulars shout feed them
rom their mess kitchens until then.
army officer advised the state Of
icer that he had better start his men
up ovens and building fires or
here would be many empty stOmachs
4 camp.
=" Wen help them all We can, but we
ont intend to pet them, was the way
n army officer expressed It. No II
3 going to wait on them and thev
as well start taking care Of
nemselves.'
Tents of Companies Different.
1.-THE army furnished trucks to haul
ne queer assortment of baggage from
ne railroad train. A amp site was
lready picked out for them, with fresh
-ater piped to within a few feet of the
tents and cord wood ready for
The home boys put up their
tents and darkness came long be-
IRE all Of them were up. They pre-
.nted a Keeling appearance. far diff
from the usual straight lines OF
street. There were as nan
Of tents as there were COM
mics.
1T was harder work than for a
,mpany Of regulars going into camp
a 30-mile hike. Some OF the
.gulars would not ave bothered
,out tents. but would have used their
ankets and slept in the open. Put
ne up tents was about all the work
e militia boys a time to do. Cooks
ought with them tended to the meal
bolted. Then they went to sleep
Id the band, which had expected to
but did not, was not missed.
q" They're willing. and viii be sol
ers some day. but a foreign army
uld march from coas 10 coast while