The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-09-21
IOWA TROOPS TO
I STAY ALL WINTER?
Shipment Of Clothing and overcoat.
for Cold Weather Use, Indicates
That soldiers May
stay.
TENT STOVES IN STOCK
This Necessary sit Of Camp Equip.
! ment is Already on Hand
Officers Speculate on
Move.
TENT STOVES IN STOCK

BROWNSVILLE, Texas, Sept. 21.-
Large shipments of winter clothing
for the national guard troops in the
lower Rio Grande valley began arriv-
ing at Brownsville supply headquar-
tiers today. Nearly 10000 tent stoves
are already In stock here. Those
companies which have not yet been
issued the regulation heavy army
overcoats will receive them in the
near future.
With the receipt OF these announce
ments from officers in the supply
department here, general opinion as
to the time OF the return Of the Iowa
troops from the border took decid-
ed reverse this afternoon. Some Of
ficers, who had been firm in the be-
lief that the state soldiers would be
on their way to Des Moines during
the receipt of winter supplies at
Brownsville was merely measure of
preparation for some unlocked for
emergency. Many others, however,
saw in this new development the prob
ability of the troops remaining for
at least part of the winter.
On top of this statement. the re-
port was received today that a num-
Der of new companies from other
states would be moved to Browns
vile and. surrounding points this
! month as a further guard for the ter
ritory
1t is certain that, while all indica-
tons pointed to only a short stay for
at least the Iowa brigade, all basis
for reports of an early return has
now been completely wiped away.
Where temporary buildings stood be-
fore, permanent structures have been
or are now being put up. Additional
supplies, which would not have been
needed for short stay, are being
brought in and all quarters are now
being laid out permanently.
At the same time. it is equally
probable that the Iowa men will not
be returned to their state during the
middle OF the winter. Officers of the
brigade are practically united in this
opinion. To send back the troops
and place them in a mobilization
camp under winter conditions, when
they had been used to a southern
climate, would not be impracticable,
but the inadvisability Of such move
is evident. The men, themselves,
would prefer to remain on the border
until spring, they say.
An liberalization competition for
the Iowa brigade has now been open
ed at Fort Brown. The schedule is
arranged according to regiments, one
battalion going on parade each even
ing and regular army officers rating
the relative appearance of the COM
petitors. One honor parade will be
given by the winning battalion OF
each regiment at the close of the
series.
While, up to this time, the work in
training the Iowa men has mainly
been limited to drills and general
conditioning, firing practice and in
struction in handling gun in the
field, trench and battle will start
next week An initial allowance Of
twenty rounds of blank ammunition
per man has been made. This will
be used in sham battles, practice
aiming and firing and general instruc-
ton on the use of the rifle. The first
sham movements will probably be
on a small basis, but as the troops
become more experienced, the entire
Iowa brigade may be placed in the
field at one time for battle on a
larger scale