Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-08
AMERICAN SOLDIERS WINNING
FRIENDSHIP OF THE NATIVES
Orchestra Composed of Mexican Poems
Gives Sunday Night Concert in
Gen. Pershings Camp.

GEN. PERsHING'S CAMP AT SAN
GERONIMO RANCH. April 3, by aero
plane and motor courier to Columbus.
piece orchestra gave an unexpected
Sunday night concert in Gen. PERISH
ing's camp last night. 1t was the first
music to which the American forces
have been treated since they entered
Mexico more than two weeks ago.
The orchestra came into camp in a
wagon, returning from a Sunday 'fe-
licitation" at a nearby ranch. and was
halted by eager shouts Of the soldiers
just as the campfires were lighting
about the broad mountain-inclosed
mesa, which is the camp site. There
was a vaquero driving the wagon. four
musicians and three children in the
small wagon box and a bass viol as big
as an army soup kitchen dashed on be-
hind the wagon with hemp ropes. Be-
side the yaquere driver sat "a woman.
her arms filled with a heavy bundle,
which seemed to hold several babies.
Play Villas Marching Song.
The orchestra played few selections
for the soldiers, including La Cucu-
racha," the Villa marching song, the
chorus of which runs:
The cockrosch. the cockroach.
No longer can he go.
Because he hasn't any
Mariawsnna for his pipe.
Gen. Pershing called the musicians
over to his camp site. an open log FIRE,
LII rnJv Il
brake made Of yellow scrub daisies. a
mountain flower, the only foliage avail
able. thick enough to shut of the sud
den gales.
There was no sign of wind when the
orchestra ranged in a semi-circle in
front of the general. The campfire
smoke rose almost perpendicular and
sounds of the camp carried for great dis
tances.
Asks for National Airs.
play some of the Mexican nationai
airs" said Gen. Pershing.
The Mexicans played la Goldornia"
and then some Carmen" selections
Wonder was expressed at their must
cal talent, for they were a ragged type
of poems, dressed in blue jeans. all ex-
cept the vaquero. who stood at the
head of the line, more ragged than all
the rest, but displaying a pair of leath-
er chaps reaching nearly to his hips.
At Gen. Pershing's request. one of them
sang "Adelita," a favorite Mexican
song.
This concert. under the stars on a
nearly treeless wilderness. lasted for
an hour Then the Mexicans climbed
into their wagon. seemingly greatly
pleased, and drove across the plains.
without lights, over country which the
Americans have some difficulty getting
through at night even with lights.
New Uses for Aeroplanes.
Each day has found new uses for the
army aeroplanes which for the first
time began flights among the cliffs and
crags of tho peaks of the Sierra Tara
humares less than a week ago. 1t has
been discovered that they are excellent
pathflnders. The native scouts have
not been entirely satisfactory, and, in
a few instances. when scouts could not
give clear description Of what trails
lay beyond a ridge. an aeroplane has
gone up, returning with information
which in a few minutes was transform
ed into a good trail and Typographical
map.
skill Of the army aviators by daily
adventures which they have pulled
through safely. Two days ago an
aviator was caught in a wind which
blew OFF his goggles. He finished his
ride with an Icy wind. estimated at