The daily Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1916-1917, 1916-10-17
SOLDIERS ON BORDER
ANXIOUS TO Be HOME
Sergeant E. A. White, For
mer University Instructor,
Says Boys Are Restless.
4TH MO. ON A HIKE
Carranzistas Are on Good
Terms With U. S. Guards
men Along River.

"The boys are all anxious to come
home. Although they are well anG
are not having to undergo any hard
ships, they are ready to see home
folks again. Anyone who reports that
they are contented and willing to stay
on the border any length of time is
not telling it straight"
This is the message brought by
Sergeant F. A. White to friends and
relatives of the men from Columbia
and the University now serving in the
National Guard on the border. Mr..
White has been honorably discharged
from service and is in Columbia on
his way to take up position as in
structor in English in Northwestern
University, Evanston, Ill.
According to Mr. White, the Fourth
Infantry, of which the Columbia COM
pany is a unit, started last Friday
morning on a 65-mile hike from
Laredo down the Rio Grande. The
hike will take five days, and a COM
pany will be left at each of several
points that have been carefully guard
ed. The Fourth Infantry will relieve
the Second Infantry, which has been
stationed along this line for the last
six weeks. The regiment distributed
along this part of the border ahead
of the Second Infantry kept its post
for six weeks. One conclusion is that
the Columbia regiment will see guard
duty for the next six weeks.
Boys Look for Good Hunting.
THE first stop on the hike was to
be at Santa Rosa Ranch" said Mr..
White. Hunting is good in that part
of the country, and most of the fellows
were planning on taking shotguns or
game rifles with them. Our major
shot two deer there recently. Quail
and many other kinds of game are
abundant
THE boys had the pleasure of
wading in mud up to their hips when
they crossed the Dolores Creek, so |
have learned, since they started
Stops will be made at Del Rio, San
Ygnacio and Zapata. This last town
is small county seat. The court
house is in the center of the town,
and it is necessary to have only one
sentry on duty on a clear day. He
sits in the courthouse tower with a
field glass and keeps his eye on the
whole situation. This is where our
company will be stationed"
The hike down the river is being
made by two of the three battalions
of the Fourth Infantry The other
battalion is on a 3S-mile hike up the
river. At all times during the march
and while on guard duty, each manS
in the regiment carries 100 rounds of
ammunition and has his pack rolled
ready for instant action. All that is
necessary to be ready for departure
is to pull down and roll up the tents.
On Friendly Terms With Mexicans.
I'VE have been on friendly terms
with the Mexican sentries practically
all the time," continued Mr.. White.
I'VE get all our water from the river,
preventing any contagion by boiling
it. The fellows sent down to bring
back water come within talking dis
tance of the Mexicans each time. The
only exchange of shots l know of oc- |
Cured at Fort Mcintosh, and that was |
not due to any hostile feeling"
According to Mr. White, the boys of |
the Fourth Infantry are getting to be
as fond of bull fights as the Mexicans
themselves. This form of amusement |
can be found at New Laredo, Just
across the international bridge. AL
though taking chances of suffering the
penalty of sixty days in the Fort
Leavenworth prison, some of the SOL |
dier boys dress in civilian clothes and |
take in" the bull fights. 81 wouldn't
say whether any of the fellows from
Columbia have done this or not" said |
White. That would be giving things
away. They will tell you all about it, /
If they have, when they come back"
Columbians Win i'm Baseball.
The Fourth Infantry baseball team
now heads the regimental league, with
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