South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-03-31
VILLA CAMP IGN
ENDURANCE TEST
U. s. Soldiers Called Upon to
Exhibit All Kinds of
Pluck and Ability.
international News Service:

international News Service:
FIELD HEADQUARTERS AMER
ICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES, I
COLONIA DUBIAN. Chihuahua.
Mexico. March 26-CBv motor 20
Columbus. " NJ, March 31J-In few
campaigns has the American army
been called upon for more success
sive tests of endurance. pluck and
ability Of its men 90 think quickly
in emergencies than in the present
chase OF villa. From the day when
the troops went over the border OF
New Mexico and the officers in the
hard march across the desert began
calculating on how much water out
OF their canteens 20 pour down the
back OF a half-fainting man and how
much TO save for the thirst OF the
final hour OF the march. every min
ute has occupied the inventive genius
Of the men who are projecting this
expedition more than 200 miles into
Mexico.
The largest problems. such as the
chase OF villa and the supply of
means OF existence % fast moving
columns are among the military Sc
crets covered by the censorship.
But the hundreds OF new prob
lens. mostly individual. which have
been solved on sight by the Amer
lean fighting men and which are not
forbidden publication are 10 some
extent an illustration of the spirit Of
the larger military questions that
have been met
Further south Colder
Today for example a snow storm
swept over the field headquarters.
The driving snow particles seemed
all the more uncomfortable because
they struck faces which during the
previous days had received scorCh-
ing sun burns. one cavalryman in
disgust exclaimed: The farther
south we 90 the colder IL gets" but
meanwhile an infantrylnan found an
empty tin. rectangular in shape in
which he cut some Sits near the
bottom for ventilation. He piled in
some wood, started a fire in the
tin, set 10 outside OF a tent until the
smudge was over and the sticks
were blazing and then brought il in
side the tent where IL furnished
warmth equal 10 a small stove and
a pleasant aroma 1t worked so
we'll that the camp was searched for
oil tins
At another camp the men had
gone in with baggage so light that
no one had anything larger than
shelter tent. just large enough for
two men TO lie under. Three days
later. however, to the civilian. there
was the regulation army camp outfit
and the patrol station. Probably
none except a practiced military eye
would have noted that the command
ing officers tent had entirely the
wrong angle at it's top.
IL was not tent but makeshift
pieced together out of some dis
carded tarpaulins and part of
smaller tent. This officer had what
he asserted was his morris chair. be
sides some very comfortable barrels
The chair was mainly a box, but il
had a back. and roomy side arms
made of boards, reinforced by strips
of galvanized iron. The arms and
back were bevelled for further eff
feet.
They Borrowed a Saw.
The officer said he had found the
boards.
But who brought nails on this
hike?" he was asked
Nobody. we took the nails from
some boxes OF supplies which were
used up here"
who carried a saw"
Nobody. with our outfit. We
borrowed one while the outft to
which it belonged was halted in
front Of our camp"
What did the wood carving"
THE cooks Ratchet"
Instructions not 20 occupy cities
have multiplied the mems problems.
for not only are the camps pitched
at distance from cities. but the men
and officers stay away from the
towns. which otherwise they might
frequent TO make purchases OF food
supplies or souvenirs Hence il
comes about that i'm fast marching
command the men run out OF to-
bacco or else use up all their matches
before their smokes are gone
The great cottonwood trees which
abound wherever there is water have
been the first aid for comfort OF this
expedition.
First Of all the cottonwood its
green visible for many miles across an