The Republican journal., 1916-05-11

be out of communication for days at a
time and that they would be compelled
| to live Oft the country in which there was
beef aplenty. at least, and In which they
always stood chance of finding ranch
err who would, for consideration, give
them meal of tortillas. Besides, parch-
ed corn fried in bacon fat is not bad eat
ing if you don't have to eat it too long at
one time.
Soldiers Not Ragged.
The stories which told that the men of
the expedition were starving, also told
that they were barefooted and in rags.
This too was a misstatement of the
facts. Once in a great while a man
might have been found with bad shoes
or with holes in the seat or the knees OF
his trousers, but every time you found
such man you picked up one who,
either through ideas of economy was
short on clothing, or who belongs to the
j, class of soldier who Earters every thing
he possesses for little ready money.
Some of the men composing the flying
columns who were compelled to ride
through chaparral without opportunity
to mend rents, present a ragged appear
ance when they come into camp, but
they are the exception rather than the
rule.
1t may be put down as absolutely true
that the army in the field in Mexico IS
neither starving nor ragged, the state
ments of civilians and army officers to
the contrary, Notwithstanding. Now that
the transportation facilities have been
brought up to something like they should
be, there is not only a plethora of the
constituents of the daily ration of food,
with few delicacies thrown in, but
there is an abundance of clothing of all
kinds, from socks to hats, and even the
horses have had feed or two of hay,
brought from the good old u S. A.
Today is payday in camp and there is
rejoicing among the men as a result.
This is the first connection with the pay
master some of the organizations in the
field have had for two months or more,
and the prospect is good for some lively
''crap" and "blackjac games tonight
in some of the caves dug in the gullies
at the foot of some of the company
streets.
So far as the correspondents and other
civilians connected with the expedition
are concerned, they were glad to see the
paymastel come into camp because they
believed he would bring some small bills
and silver with him and make it possible
to get possession of money with which to
buy stuff from the natives, who never
seemed to have any change. They were
not disappointed. The camp is we'll sup
piled with "chicken feed'' now and there
will be no good reason hereafter for any,
one "stalling" in the matter of paying
his just debts on the ground that he can't
get big bill changed.
Natives Are Childlike
Speaking of the natives in connection
with money, reminds me that those of
this valley are about the most childlike in
their ignorance of monetary dealings
that can be imagined do not mean to
pie that they can be cheated, but they
have the most documentary knowledge Of
financial operations and absolutely no idea
of any money but the oIefsilver coinage of
the republic of the days of Daz. They
will not take an American bill under any
circumstances and when you tell them
that an American coin is worth two of
even the best silver pieces ever coined by
the late Don Portirio, they look at you IN
amaZement and refuse to believe you.
AS a result, the quartermaster has pro-
v1ded himself with wagon load of pesos
and minor coins with which to make pay
ment for the corn. maiz, frijoles and
other foodstuffs he buys from the simple
minded citizens.
AS the quartermaster does in this par
ticuiar respect, the officers and men and
the correspondents are compelled to do
in order to supply themselves with the
''blanquilos" (eggs) and other articles
of food they may wish to add to the daily
ration supplied by Uncle Sam. There is
no use in wasting time trying to convince
a native who says eggs are worth "cinco
centavos" each, that he should give up
two eggs for an American Nickel
George H. Clements in the San Antonio,
Texas, Express.