The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-17
FUNSTON WANTS
MEDICAL CORPS
FOR EMERGENCY
Model Hospital Train TO Be
Sent From Washington.
100000 Asked to Guard the
Health of Troops.
BANDIT BANDS INCREASE
Big Bend Raiders Are Menace
to the q. s. Side.
25O New Machine Guns Arrive
at San Antonio.
BANDIT BANDS INCREASE
Big Bend Raiders Are a Menace
to the q. S. Side.
25O New Machine Guns Arrive
at San Antonio.

San Antonio, Tex, July 17.-General
Funston stated today that all informa-
ton coming to him indicated rapid
increase in the number of bandits in
the region below the Big Bend coun-
try and unusual activity on their part
General Pershing has wired to Gen
eral Funston that officers of the de
facto government had informed him
they had recaptured seventeen of their
soldiers from Villistas and that each
of these men had his right ear cut
off. Pershing did not state in what
district these Villistas were operating.
Recently the Carranzistas claimed
Villas followers were cutting off the
left ears of men who refused to join
their ranks.
Funston has asked the war depart
ment to ask for an emergency medical
corps appropriation of 100000 to
cover any emergency work that may
be necessary to safeguard the health
of the men in service on the border
Model Hospital Train.
The war department has notified
General Funston thai a model hospital
train of 13 coaches will leave Wash
ington July 81, arriving here July %.
1t will be deliberately equipped for
campaign service. Immediately it will
be used to transport sick men from
sub-base hospitals along the border
to the base hospital here. A smaller
but similar train will ply between the
encampment towns IN the Brownsville
district and the sub-base hospital at
Brownsville.
The train coming from Washington
will accommodate two hundred pa
tients. 1t will be thoroughly equipped
with CntS nnaratinO rooms diSnpO Sa ~
and every modern convenience, and
will be accompanied by medical corps
specialists in wounds and diseases.
General Funston says of the bandits
gathering below the Big Bend coun-
try that the location of one consider
able band we'll below Otinaga is fairly
definitely established. Many smaller
bands scattered along the Mexican
side, back from the river, are reported
by Mexicans. They are committing
living off the country which now af
fords but a precarious existence for
its peaceful population. General Fun
ston does not hesitate to say that
these bandits are a distinct menace to
the American side, and Colonel Gas
ton. commanding at Maria, is exer
cising the greatest vigilance against
possible raiders.
Get New Machine Guns.
The Third Wisconsin infantry, with
1,1S0 men, has arrived, completing the
Wisconsin brigade at Fort Sam Huus-
ton. This regiment, the last scheduled
to locate here, increases the number
of soldiers now here to more than
$4,000
Two hundred and fifty of the new
Lewis machine guns arrived at the
arsenal here with 100000 rounds of
ammunition. These guns are to be
carried on small automobile trucks in
stead of on mules.
Robert Bacon, former secretary of
state, and Richard P. Strong of Bcs-
ton, returned from Brownsville and
have left for Ell Paso. They refused
to discuss conditions in the national
guard camps. Mr.. Bacon said the re-
port sent out from New York that he
had been given a commission as sec
ond lieutenant in New York regiment
was totally unfounded.