El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-08-26

y
w first appeared at Guadalupe
opposite Fabens. Tex, there were four
companies of infantry at Fort Bliss,
which was then a battalion post OF the
United States army.
That was in the winter Of 1910. These
four companies OF infantry were just
enough to mount guard, do the routine
work OF the post and turn out for
military funerals Madero and his rag
tag army had more men at Guadalupe
than did the United States at Fort
Bliss
Today there are 10000 United States
troops at Fort Bliss and the camps
surrounding the fort and downtown,
and $4,000 more troops are coming
During the five years which followed
MaderO's first revolutionary 9fmpt,
thousands Of troops have been INT to
the Mexican border and. from q battal-
ion post, Fort Bliss has become the
most important strategic point on the
Mexican border, surprising even Fort
sam Houston, at san Antonio, in I'M
pOrtance and in the number OF men
quartered there
Is Strategic Point.
Students Of strategy in Il Paso have
always contended that FL Paso was me
logical and strategIcal point Tor the
mobilization OF . great mass OF tIoops
in the event of Intervention IN Mexico
The history Of the five years OF reNO-
luton has proved that their judgment
was good, although Intervention except
by the PerShing punitive eApeultIOu'
has not become fact Win the 70'VVu
regular and national guard uooPS en-
camped in the Fl PaSO zone. lne war
department orders have been issued tor
an additional $4,000 troops TO De Sent
70 the border here. as soon as the I'M
pending railroad strike IS setued' anu
this Will make total OF b5,uuv troops
here addition. a SllEl o.
civilian Quartermaster clerks. hospital
corps assistants, and others VIII De re-
Quired TO care for the neeos OF ms
new army and FL Paso's present popn-
latiOn VIII be doubled by the soldiers
before the end Of the present year.
Stimulated Business.
The effect OF this great mobilization
Of troops IN FL PasO and N Il PaSo
trade territory. has had stimulating
effect upon every line OF business IN
this city The wholesale grocery and
supply companies have been sWamped
with orders. The ice companies have
been unable TO make ice fast enough TO
supply the troops and the city Inc ice
cream companies. the soda fountains
and the restaurants have not been able
TO wait upon all Of the business which
has come 10 them as result Of the
troop mobilization. while the hotels
have been taxed 10 their capacity TO
feed and horse the hundreds OF tour
lists who hive been attracted TO the
city by the presence OF the troops, IN
cluding many relatives and families Of
the national guardsmen-
Millions Paid Out.
This is aside from the direct return
from the troop mobilization. Estimated
August disbursements VIII be $1,000
600 and the September disbursements
viii probably reach S10.O0O,OO0. as the
troops are being increased in the FL
Pas0 district and the necessity for
new issues of clothing will increase
the total expenditures for this period.
During July more than 1000. 600 was
spent for supplies alone in this dis
trict In addition the men Of all the
commands are paid their monthly al
lowances through the local quarter
masters depot and the base hospital
field hospitals and motor truck trains
buy all Of their supplies in Fl Paso for
these units To handle this immense
business there are 500 clerks employed
al the Quartermaster depot and its
branches At the fort, the depot
quartermaster buys thousands Of dol
lars worth Of supplies exclusive of the
supplies bought for the troops, through