New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-01-05
new MEXICO BOYS
ARE THE BEST OF
ANY ON BORDER
COL. E. G. ABBOTTS REM-
MENT, NOW ATTACHED 10
GEN. PERSHINGS ARMY
PRAISED BY SPECIAL
PRESS REPORTER.

That the officers and men Of ihe
First New Mexico infantry are among
The best OF the guardsmen now On
the border and that they are fast
reaching the efficiency standards OF
the regular army, is the opinion of
Phil McIaueh'jn. representative OF
the Associated Press at Columbus,
who Is in F Paeo for few days
81 have observed the New Mcxico
infantry" said Mr. McLaughlia,
"7u' have seen it steadily improve
fromd ay 10 day and from month
to month until today 7 believe the
orranza tion is one Of the most ef-
ficient units on the border Regular
army officers with whom | have
talked share this opinion end many
% them do not hesitate to declave
the New Mexico infantrymcn the
equal of similar number OF regular
troops.
"The New Mexico regiment was
the first to respond to President
Wilson's call One company. that
from Deming, did not wait for the
call, but arrived at Columbus SIX
hours after the Villa rad upon that
town.
"When the New Mexico regiment
first reached the border, newspaper
correspondents and others criticized
the showing made by the guards
men, and this criticism was later. in
measure, at least justified by the
fact that the physical examinations
made by the regular army surgeons.
resulted in fully 40 per cent of the
soldiers being rejected for physical
disability.
Steady Improvement Noted.
"Since that time. however, the re-
c;ment has steadily improved. Col
+. c. Abbott, in command, Major
r. Ruppe and other officers have
worked increasingly to recruit and
bring the regiment up to a high
standard and to uphold the honor
OF their state. That they have sue
ceeded in their task is the unani-
nous opinion OF the regular army Of
ficers on duty at Columbus.
Attached to Punitive Expedition
Recently the New Mexico regi-
ment has been attached to the puni-
tive expedition. being the only ma
t;onal griard regiment directly under
command Of Major General Perish
ing. and it is now doing considera--
bic share of the outpost duty and
guard duty about the base of com
"Another honor which has fall
en- to the. New Mexicans is the
selection of several of their officers
to command truck trains running
between Columbus and the head
quarters of the punitive expedition
in Mexico Captain Arthur Brock
and Lieutenant Frank Newkirk be-
ing recently assigned to this res
ponponsible work.
Men Of All Walks Of Life.
"The New Mexican regiment. like
the various units Of the national
guard, is made up OF men from all
walks Of life. Included in the ranks
arc farmers. bankers, clerks, mer-
chants machinists. mecanics, cattle
men. miners and not a few cowboys.
Incidentally. it is the only regiment
on the border that boasts Of men of
Spanish h-American origin, and though
tlicr.. is considerably healthy rivalry
between these and which might be
called the regular Americans, it is
rivalry for efficiency and works
well in bringing out the best there
is in both classes of soldiers.
"Altogether Colonel Abbott has
reason to be proud of his men and
the State of New Mexico is to be
congratulated upon raising one OF
the best regiments now in the ser
vice OF Uncle Sam"