Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-27
/ HARD LUCK STORY OF HEAT
AND M0N0T0NY SENT BY LIEUT..
MCALARY AT LAREDO, TEXAS
,uance of Clothing Greatly Appreciated New Enlistment
oath-Arrival at Worst Tme-Trip Uncomfortable Camp
ground Old Onion Field-Tras Show American Lack Of
ronrol-People Good to Soldiers

| We arrived at the worst time. No
rain had fallen for 10 months and the
dust lay thick on the wild Texas lands.
1t is dreary country down here and
as our train sped through Texas we
could see the red sand, the MESQUITE
| bushes and the cactus. No shelter from
the hot sun and roads extremely rough
I wish I could give you a real picture
of the country but you have to see it to
| appreciate it.
! The Trip
! Our trip down was uncomfortable at
times, but the rousing receptions we
! had on the way We're, enough to stir
your blood New York state was grand
but we had to get into the South to
really appreciate how good the people
/ were. At all the stations where we
| stopped we found welcoming crowds
and the boys mingled freely with the
people. The behavior Of the soldiers
was excellent and they left behind
| good impressions.
Our first real stop in the South was
| at Kansas City on the Kansas side Of
| the Missouri river. We had been in
/ Bangor & Aroostook and Maine Central
day coaches from Thursday to Sunday
and a dirtier lot of fellows you never
saw in your life. We were met by rail-
road officials and marched to one Of
! the city baths. There they filled the
tanks for us and gave us bathing suits
and towels. Believe me, we frolicked
| some. When clean, we returned to the
beautiful and massive station. This is
one Of the finest buildings anyone
could wish to see. 1t shelters a small
| town.
We found they had changed US over
into Pullman sleepers and we were
more comfortable for the rest of the
trip which ended Tuesday afternoon.
Fort Worth Reception
| We received fine receptions at Fort
| Worth where the ladies served nice
refreshments. San Antonio was a fine
place, too. and we found the sentiment
to be, that as we were coming down to
| help Texas, Texas was going to show
her appreciation. Texas certainly has
| done so. On our arrival in Laredo we
ice cream and pure water ready for
US. We think lot Of the Red, Cross
down here.
Our camp ground was in an old
onion field and was pronounced by
military men as the worst they had
ever seen. 1t was furrowed and dusty
and mighty unpleasant. 1t was impos-
sible to keep anything clean. Since
then we have encountered the opening
OF the rainy season and We have lev
eiled off the ground and it is more
solid We have had regular cloudbursts
OF rain and the wind was fierce. l
don't know which is worse, the rain
or a dust storm Either will come up
in minute and YOU have to step some
to keep your tent and things from
/ Blowing away
The Rio Grande is less than mile
away and is crossed by a railroad and
| highway bridge. Both are we'll guarded
and a soldier in uniform cannot get
over them.
Laredo is an old city, the county
seat of Webb county. and is a quaint
Spanish city of $1,000 people. Most of
them are Mtxicans and the control of
tie county is said to be in Mexican
hands. | am told that there is plenty
of graft and political holdups and l
guess it is true. Americans, being in
the minority, get the little end Of it,
Ross Affair
\ short time ago government
AGENT, Capt. Ross, arrested a Mexican
thought to be an officer Of Carranza
on recruiting duty. Capt. Ross later re-
leased the prisoner, and the latter was
found dead next morning with a bulle.
in him. Capt. Ross was arrested.
| saw the hearing in the fine court
house. Capt. Ross was released on
$1,000 hail due chiefly to the pressure
of some Texas rangers. 1t was quite
scene and it showed me that the
Texas people have their dander up and
will stand no fooling.
In another room was being held the
trial of four bandits, accused of be-
ili2 in the raid at san Ygnacio, 40
miles south last month. Yesterday they
We're found guilty and sentenced to be
hanged. Oh, yes, this is some country.
Expect to March
We expect to march to San Ygnacio
very soon, possibly tomorrow. Compa
Mes |, X. l. and NJ left here last Tues
clay morning at daylight and marched
90 miles to Zapata, arriving there at
Saturday F. NJ. Jim Mcmahon is the
only Waterville boy down there. The
motor trucks With the baggage had a
hard time getting through and they
had to send mule teams from Fort Nc
Intosh to assist them.
Our regiment will soon be strung
out hundred miles or so along the
river. Laredo will be our base and we
expect to return here in a few weeks.
No one expects any fighting unless
with bandits War with Mexico seems
remote. 1t will be tedious job of pa
trolling and I am frank to say 1 wish
were out of it.
The Mexican peop.e would like bread
instead of lead. They are an ignoran*
lot. The kids hang about the camp at
meal time and pick up all kinds of
scraps to eat. We now keep them out
of camp 7 would not feed sonop of tho