El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-20


! farther south Each new garrison. il
! II occupies the ground held and forth
! ned by Its predecessor, adds to the
: Iorutications found upon arrival and
! by the time the expedition accomplish
es ITS mission and retires from Mexico,
: there VIII be a splendid line Of little
/ forts extending from the border a.
Columbus TO the sOuthernmost limit OF
the American advance and future revO-
lutionists IL there ever are any in
venient
Except for the wind which blows
constantly from the southwest, this is
an Ideal camping spot, particularly
from the standpoint Of defence. One
hundred thousand men could be so dis
posed on the broad level plain on which
the tents are pitched as to give all
access TO wood and water and plenty
Of tent room. The flow Of the river
at this point is ample for that number
OF men and the proportion of animals
which, under the rules would accom-
pany them. There are additional thou
sands of acres grown to a heavy stand
OF grama grass which would afford
good grazing for many days and the
surrounding hills are covered with a
fairly dense growth of liveoak from
which the camp and kitchen fires could
be replenished for months and furnish
boughs with which to build shelters
from the Winds for every minor unit
OF the entire organization.
Plenty of Dust.
While the winds blow as they did at
the old headquarters camp near Dub
lam there is not so much dust though
there is enough of that to make the
operation Of a typewriter difficult to
say the least. At Dublan the soil was
OF a silly nature and when the silt
was ground into powder by the horses
and men II was sport for the breezes
HnH.
Here the soil is as hard as the proverb-
ial flint, which defies the powder
grinding propensities Of the hoofs Of
the animals and the heels of the men
and, besides, is covered with thick
turf 1t will do for the present but
in time viii beNa place to be stunned
by those who are averse toN breathing
dust particularly il the winds con-
tinue TO blow as they have since the
camp was established.
As at Dublan, and in spite OF the
high winds. bathing continues to be
the greatest Of outdoor sports enjoyed
by the soldiers. A mile or more Of the
river, well below that portion set apart
by the sanitary department under the
supervision of which the water sup
ply is furnished, bathing and clothes
washing may be INDUCED in TO the
hearts content Of the men and tho
officers.
The bluff which parallels the river
honeycombed with springs which have
been developed by the engineers TO the
extent Of digging them out and box
ing them in to keep them free from
contamination Of any sort, furnish the
water for the kitchens and for the |
cups and Canteens Of the men.
Camps Kept Clean.
1t must be surprise to those Of |
the natives Of the country through |
which the expedition passes who have !
been members or in contact with any |
VI the revolutionary armies of the re-
public, TO see the care taken by the /
Americans to keep their camp ground /
free from litter and their water supply /
rec from contamination. Every bit of I
efuse is burned or buried and woe be- /
.idc the man or men caught violating /
n the faintest degree the rigid rules !
aid down by the sanitary department. /
Every can in which beef vegetables.
fruit, milk, etc, has been brought to 4
amp. upon being opened is thrown
INTO hot fire in order that its wrap
per may be destroyed and not fly rs !
liter over the landscape and that [
very drop Of its contents which might 4
ittract a fly is rendered inocuous as Z
b propagation Of disease carriers. This (
after precaution is one which is not /
Understood by the natives who would
ike TO carry away the cans and put ;
hem 10 use around their houses. They
ook upon the burning OF the tins as
bit OF proverbial American wasteful-
less They gather up the burned tins
md they dig up the buried ones as
Don rs the soldiers who buried them
cave the spot
Care OF Horses.
The horses Of the cavalry, artillery |
nd the wagon and pack trains which
ave been living upon short ratiOns !
O far as hay is concerned. welcome the |
est and opportunity TO Craze given by |
he stops made in this valley. The |
orses and mules, while having the |
trength naturally given by the heavy /
ations Of grain fed daily, were begin I
ing to look lean and gaunt though !
muscular and otherwise fit for the |
York cut out for them in this cam
align. The stop has given an Oppor-
unity, too, for the blacksmiths to get
o their work in the matter Of shoe
lg the animals all around so that in
ase OF any sudden move being made
DR. any purpose they will not be
iught barefOoted. The wagons, too.
re being overhauled and every bit Of
God, iron and leather given the once
YER" in anticipation of the order to 1
ove up to the front which may come
any moment.
In the camps Of the "doughboys' as
the camps Of the artillery and cav
Try, there is activity in the matter
getting ready for eventualities The
fantrymen have been hardened -by I
ng from the border to this point and
re as fit as the riddles that are al
avs used as examples of prime fit
ess for any duty. There has not been
ny talk Of sore feet for many days
lst and there has been no throwing I
way Of equipmente as has many times
arked the forced marches Of infan-
ymen in the armies of many lands.
Weather IL Cold.
That this is true Is due in a meas
e TO the cool, not 70 say cold wealth
which has prevailed since the march
gan more than q month ago, but 1t
also due to the good sense displayed
the commanders in not forcing
cir men beyond the limit Of human
duriance in the early stages Of the
specate game in which they are en-
-ged In the matter of getting their
s military machine up TO the front /
While the cavalry has SO far borne
g brunt of the work of ferretting
[ the hiding places of Villa and his
nos- Of supporters, the infantry has
pit the long thin line Of communi-
ton with the border open and safe
even ordinary travel. a thing un-
ual In times such as these
must quit-toO much wind and dust