The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-24

waiting for the ambulanceS to get UP.
Today they came swinging down the !
Mexican highway into camp with I
scarcely man missing from the |
ranks
They were soft in the beginning.
Their feet were tender. The SIS pound
pack on their backs tugged at their
hearts after the first few miles of the
morning Now they are gradually
growing hardened, and Injured to the
work
Horses and Mules Die.
Horses and mules died during the |
first couple of days and were left to
the coyotes and the buZzardS that
trail every column. Cavalrymen rodetl
in saddle, sore, but the men plodded
along and made their camps every
night, hmping little, but still afoot.
Their very souls are seeped in dust !
during these marches. 1t is hot over-t
head. 1t is powdery soft underfoot.
The grind of the wagon wheels and
the churn of the horses hoofs have
cut the dry roads to chalk. A march
ing man inha1es that dust with every
breath. It settles on his clothing: it
settles in his eyes, in his throat, and IN
his ears.
BY night a chill comes on from the
mountains surrounding the valley
through which the troops are march
ing and this chill gets down in under
the dust and on into the bones of the
men who came staggering in at night
fall the first couple of days too weary
to do anything but fall in heaps, and
pant
Now, when they get in. the first in
quiry is for the water holes and there
is a wild rush to battle. They are
coming in with their blistered feet
| tapped, but they are coming in with
their heads up
There will be much said, no doubt,
about some of the marches made by
the horse soldiers of Pershing's com
mand later on, but there will never
be any march that will equal any of
the marches that are being made by
the soldiers of the punitive expedi-
ton.
Officers Garry Packs.
During the first couple of days, it
was common sight to see captains
and Heutenants carrying guns and
packs belonging to their men who
were unable to keep up under the
load. Every officer shared his can
teen of water with the privates.. Lieu
tenant Henry Meyers riding along at
the head of NJ troop of the black
Ienth cavalry, stopped his command
beside a footweary band of infantry
men and made the troopers give their
water over to the dough boys" All
things considered, the horses and
mules with the expedition have stood
the journey well the losses being com
parat1Vely insignificant, but the infan-
try has been wonderful
The few Mexicans encountered stand
at the roadside and view the long pro-
cession of Americans that must seen,
to them intermina ble in dumb amaze
ment- They offer no comment, how
ever, but rush around hunting I'D eggs
and other articles to sell to the SOL
diers.
The squadron of seven aeroplanes.
whlch passed over the line of march
from Colum bus, headed south and
moving so high that thev looked ill.,
1lock of buzzards, reduced the Next
cans TO silent wonder. The equip
ment of the army division that is
swinging over their roads was another
source OF astonishment to the inhab-
! ltahts They are accustomed to
armies, but not to an army that moves
like this one fe''
See Few Mexicans.
Marching has been about the ex-
cent OF the activities of the punitive
expedition to date. No hostility has
0e en- encountered from the natives.
Aneir disappearance is not due TO
me advance of the troops. Long aeo
they were driven out by the Iari 80
revolutions that beset the renl,b1ic
once across the long stretch of dusty
country between Palomas, the first
sLoP' ana the green valley of the
ar eoo,,stoL river the expedition began
elIco unterlng some signs of life hut i
up TO that time only a few NIavioa'.'-
were seen. ~" neAlcdfls
When the first of the Arerio.,
lying columns crossed into Nexican
. seltllory wednesday, March Is, it was
,ae.-1 ~ just Two inhabitants of the
oughly hostile. o'iioi 'ilor-
me amigo was Juan Munoz. a man
stars gals are as countless as the
venerable wife. They were the nniy
people left in the little town of Pa
IoInaS seven miles from Columbus
When the advance guard of Genera; |
town. 0iiu INC
His back bent to a half circle by the
welg I OF ms many years, Juan Munoz
earth with his conical hat and Num-
bling "buenos dias' as the Anerican
horsemen rode by in a cloud of dnst
He was too old to fight, even had he
let SO inclined He was too old to
flee So he had to remain and greet
the gringoes.
Sonora Uses Broom.
The aged Sonora Munoz remained
in her little one room 'dobe jacales |
Some of the American soldiers went
over to interview her after they had |
settled down into camp. When they
appeared in the doorway she arose |
seized a short broom and began |
sweeping the hard packed dirt floor |
She displayed amazing vigor for her
years
1t was Sonora Munoz's opinion, and |
she said so, that these Americanos had /
come to take her chickens. She had |
two chickens Both seemed to be as 1
old as the sonora herself From the |
rafters of the Munoz home hung little |
streamers of drying meat. This meat |
too, was of an antique nature. The
soldiers could not remain long in the
house, even had the sonora made |
them as welcome as the flowers in /
May, instead of giving off the impress
sion that they might clear out any |