Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-07-15
Small City of Canvas, Which
Springs Up Between CoIum-
bus and Border, Will Bel
Their Temporary Home.
MEN WORK IN BLISTERING
SUN, PREPARING CAMP
Day Said to Be Hottest Of
Summer and Many Are
Forced to Rest in Shade of
Their Tents.
tsY MORNING JoussAL SPECIAL LEASED wiHrI

fsY MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wIsEl
Columbus, N. NJ, July 14.-Tonight
the United States army is host to Ari-
zona's deported miners, mill men and
small merchants who are encamped
on the "plans of death" half way be-
tween Columbus and the Mexican
border.
small city of canvas has sprung
up on the site of the Mexican refugee
camp, established by General Per-
shing, and LAO men are sleeping on
beds tonight for the first time since
Wednesday at Bisbee. These men
were rounded up and deported from
Bisbee, Lowell and other settlements
of the Warren district early Thursday
morning and brought to Columbus
Thursday night. Their guards were
forced to return with them to Her
manas, n. M, where they were left
after the locomotive pulling the spec
ial freight train had returned to Ell
Paso. They returned here early to-
day under escort of United States cav
airy.
Government Issues Rations.
All afternoon the men have been
working in blistering sun, setting up
tents, digging pits for field kitchens,
hauling firewood and sinking la
trines. 1t was declared to be the hot
test day of the summer here and many
men were forced to quit and rest in
the shade OF the khaki tents which
were erected under the direction of
reg lar soldiers from the Columbus
camp.
The first government rations were
issued to the men for their supper,
consisting or canned beef, canned to-
matoes and bread. They will receive
a ration of coffee for their Sunday
breakfast, the first they have had
since leaving Bisbee.
Under the direction of the army
officers and soldiers, an orderly we'll
policed camp was established out of
the chaos which followed the arrival
Of the tired and avel-stained men
shortly after noon.
Thinking of Return.
Lieutenant Shekerjian, provost
marshal, was in charge of the work
of establishing the camp and organ
izing the refugees into a regiment
composed of battalions and companies
for feeding and caring for the needs
of the men. He has relieved William
II. Cleary, attorney, in charge of the
men. The Bsbee attorney, having
had bath, a shave and a change of
linen, was not recognized when he
appeared at the camp today.
Now that the men have had settled
for them the problem of where they
were to go, they are beginning to con-
slider when they will be returned to
& Bisbee, where they have their fami-
les, homes, and many of them busi-
ness affairs. They are almost uni
versally agreed they will be ready to
return to Bisbee when accompanied
by United States troops and not be-
fore.
One American miner said tonight:
I'VE are rearing to go back to Bis
bee but not until the soldiers go along
to protect us"
In Dark as to Next Move.
Army officers are also in the dark
as to what the next move will be and
say they have orders to feed and care
for the wants of the men and moth
ing more. They are not being treated
as prisoners but are being guarded by
soldiers with side arms and no one Is
permitted to enter the camp without
pass.
The men believe the president will
order them sent back to their homes.
but there is no information in camp
upon which to base this supposition.
The men continue to complain about
having had money and valuables
taken from them at Bisbee but are
unable to give names of any one who.
E they said, robbed them. They also
claim their wives were not being per-
mitted to draw money from the banks,
but this report was not confirmed by
any specific facts.
Mrs. Myrtle Reeh, who came here to
see her husband at the camp, stated
late today she recognized the Bisbee
merchant who entered her house at
night while she was alone.
Minor Cases Crowd Hospital.
After the companies had complet-
ed establishing camps they all went
to the big water tank in the camp
and bathed their blistered feet,
washed their clothes and then
stepped in the shade of the wedge
tents Tonight they were sitting
around In groups. having one of the
number read the. newspapers to
them, exchanging experiences in the
Bisbea roundup, and smoking the
tobacco which was issued today.
There has been no disorder since they
arrived. They obey orders without
comment and seem to have accepted
their lot until the president and for
mer Gov. George w. P. Hunt. in