The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1916-08-03

SOFT happened to n bunch or New 10TH '"N''-
drivers who were shipped out To handle II tram
made up of n certain uniform make OF TRUCKS
They got 30 miles into Mexico, and then dccideu
that they did not like the country at all. lh'y
agreed that the United States government was
foolish to go in at all.
Their spokesman went to the captain ana IN
formed him that they had decided to go back Ihey
did not like the food, the water was not iced. ana
there beer In the godforsnken pihce.
Whereupon the captain gave orders to the sergeant
of his guard. The noncOmmissioned officer IN
formed the drivers that the first of them VINO
turned back to Columbus would be Systematically
shot up
The drivers protested that they were American
citizens and wanted their rights. The sergeant
listened unmoved he drew up his squad into
convenient place for the shooting The drivers
finally concluded that they we're too far away to
consult their attorneys and the train proceeded to
Namquipa
Camping out AWAY from garrisoned town. the
truck trains take the same formation that was
used by the emigrant trains when they were forced
to guard against Indian attacks mt night. The
trucks distributed In circle, with the captain s
runabout, the cook truck and the ammunition truck
In the center. Placed In this formation, the truck
train Is In q difficult position for q bandit band to
rush.
No doubt, many a band has been watching those
valuable trains Of food and ammunition. longing
to pounce upon them. but they refrained. A well.
ordered truck train could get into battle formation
In a few minutes. and the Springfield rifles would
be covering every point Of attack very effectively.
A quarter OF a million dollars In gold was
shipped In with train. guarded by 80 picked
marksnen Bandit bands, knowing Of this. prob
ably longed to rush 1t, but they did not make the
attempt. At night, In its proper formation, with
Its OutpOss alert the well-conducted train should
be impossible 10 surprise. But civilian drivers are
hard to convince Of the necessity for remaining
alert They will lock their ammunition In the tool
boxes; and, while they are painfully solictous OF
the mechanism Of their trucks, they have no re-
gard for the mechanism Of the Springfield rifles
which issued to them.
They have no respect for shoulder straps A
typical incident Espia. The truck
train drew into the place hot and dusty. The news
spread that there a real swimming hole
20 feet deep In the place.
Soldier guards and civilian drivers made dash
for 1t. AS they neared 1t they heard a delicious
splashing, but sentry halted them "Sorry. boys
he said, "but there's officer bathing there now
and the orders are that nobody Is allowed In til
he gets through"
A big ex-taxicab driver from New York proceed
ed to peel Off his army uniform. In another min
ute he Owed into the pool with a mighty splash
He came to the surface and grinned cheerfully a
the indignant expression of the second lieutenant
outraged at the fact that his privacy had been dis
turbed. apparently by the enlisted man.
"Oh, that's all right - shouted the auto driver
81 don't mind If you are little bit dirty. Come OF
In. The water Is fine"
But one Of these days the truck train will be sys
tematlzed. The drivers will all be enlisted men
There will be n fixed rate of speed, and the truck
will all be up to determined specifications
When the truck train Is perfected. the mule trail
will CO. Also, the pride of the cavalry will b.
trailed In the gasone-scented dust Of the auto
truck train.