The Alaska daily empire., 1916-04-07
WITH PERSHlNG ARMY ON MARCH
 AFTER BANDIT
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lSNNClI GullEhponuIlAI'-f
 COLUMBUS, N. M.. March 2S.- There are several varieties of hell on earth, and among them must be included an infantry hike along the dusty roads Of Northern Mexico.
 It is bad enough on the cavalry; 1t is tough on the horse artillery, and 1t is hard on the men of the wagon trains and the motor trucks and ey- en the little flivvers that-go buzzing by in white clouds, but way. way back in the ruck. back in the track of the hoofs and wheels tramps the infantry. taking the dust of the whole long drive after Francisco VII la.
 The first couple of days these "doughboys" could be found scattered along the road in squads nursing their sore and blistered feet while waiting for the ambulances to get up Today they came swinging down the Mexican highway into camp with scarcely man missing from the ranks
 They were soft" in the beginning. Their feet were tender The sixty five-pound packs on their backs tugged at their hearts after the first few miles of the march. Now they are gradually growing hardened and inured to the work.
 Horses and mules died during the first couple of days and were left to the coyotes and buzzards that trail every column. Cavalrymen rode in saddle sore. but the men plodded along and made their camps every night. limping a little. but still on foot
 Their very souls were seeped In the dust during these marches. It. is hot overhead; 1t is powdery soft underfoot The grind of the wagon wheels and tue churn of the horses hoofs have cut the dry roads to chalk. A marching man inhaies the dust with every breath. It settles In his clothing: 1t settles in his eyes, in his throat and in his ears.
 By night a chill comes on from the mountains through which the troops are marching. and this chill got down in under the dust and in- to the bones of the men who came staggering in at nightfall. the first couple of days too weary to do any thing but fall in heaps and pant
 Now when they get In the first inquiry is for the water holes, and there is a wild rush to bathe. They are coming in with their blistered feet taped. but they are coming in with their heads up.
 There will be much said no doubt about some of the marches made by the horse soldiers of Pershing's command later on, but there will never be any march equal to any of the marches that are being made by the soldiers of the punitive ex- petition.
 During the first couple of days it was common sight to see Capains and neutenants carrying guns and packs belonging to the men who were unable to keep up under the load. Every officer shared his can teen of water with the privates. Lieutenant Henry Meyers. riding along at the head Of M Troop of the Black Tenth Cavalry. stopped ! his command beside foot-weary band of infantrymen and made the troopers give their water over 10 tne "doughboys." All things consld- cred. the horses and mules with the expedition have stood the Journey well. the losses being comparatively insignificant, but the infantry has been wonderful.
 The few Mexicans encountered stand at the roadside and view the long procession of Americans that must seem to them interminable. in dumb amazement. They offer no comment. however. but rush around hunting eggs and other articles to sell to the soldiers.
 The squadron of seven aeroplanes, which passed over the line of march from Columbus. headed South. and moving SO high that they looked like flock of buzzards, reduced the Mexicans to silent wonder. The equipment of the army division that is swinging over their roads was an. other source of astonishment to the inhabitants. They are accustomed to armies. but not to an army that moves like this one.
 Marching has been about the ex- tent of the activities of the punti. tive expedition to date. No hostility has been encountered from the na- tives.
 Their disappearance is not due to the advance of the troops.
 Long ego they were driven out by the various revolutions that beset the Republic. Once across the long stretch of dusty country, between Palomas the first stop and the green valley of Ascension River. the expe- dition began encounterlng some few signs of life. but up to that time only a few Mexicans had been seen.
 At Colonia Diaz. in the country settled by Mormons. and one of the most beautiful sections anywhere in the world, the American boys began seeing fhe ruin that the revolution.