El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-01-27


startling developments in United
- States military affairs along the
Mexican border. but the climax came
when President Wilson, in June. 1916.
ordered a large part Of the national
guard organizations to mobilize here,
this bringing the troops in border ser
vice Up approximately 10000, in addi-
ton to the 1900 in the punitive expe-
dition, which entered western Chihua-
hua during the simmer.
OF all the points along the entire
Mexican boundary FL PasO has had
the greatest number OF soldiers. ready
TO take TO the field al -ew hours
notice If further proof was wanting
that this city and its immediate sur
rounding district constitute the stra-
tegic point OF supreme Importance with
respect 10 Mexico. il has been amply
supplied by the successful encampment
and training here OF the grandest body
anywhere since the close OF the Civil
war.
FL Pasos persistent advocates for the
enlargement of Fort Bliss from a batal-
Hon post for infantry TO 4 tactical divi-
sion headquarters have seen this eVo-
luton. and have noted with no little
satisfaction that II has come about
without the least curtailment OF the
municipal advantages that each citizen
and householder is entitled 70.
That the military concentration here
has been perhaps the greatest benefit
to FL Paso Of all events IN Its history
is realized by all students Of mill
tary affairs believe that each coming
year training Of army organizations
viii be continued here whatever ma
tional plan may be worked out 5y the
government The facts concerning Fl
Paso's advantages as the logical
healthy. strategic point for army de
velopment are now known IN the VI
termost regions of the union
Expanding Millions Monthly
From a business standpoint the
achievements OF the quartermastsr 's
department- over which MAJ William
Elliott. depot quartermaster. pre-
sides. are preeminenT. The branch OF
governmental affairs directed by this
officer as general manager is the big
9est commercial undertaking ever seen
IN the country. Mai Elliotts depart
uent is spending from S3.0OO-oDO TO
81 coo 900 Der month to feed the sol
oilers and their animals, clotne them.
keep them comfortable in camp ana
pay their vases approximately one
third OF the disbursements are for pay
FL Paso's wholesalers. manufacturers
and retailers have secured millions Of
dollars worth Of contracts with the
quartermasters's department and every
fine Of public trade has been stimu-
lated by the purchases of $4,000 men
The depot quartermaster employs a
small army of workers to handle the
business at the main depot Mills and
Campbell, and the many subdepots scat
liott's chief assistants are Capt. P. W
Guyney, principal assistant; Capt
Woodson Hooker, property OFFICER;
Capt J. P Hasson. finance officer:
Capt James W. Furlong, IN charge Of
repairs TO motor trains. and capt
James Regan. subsistence officer
There are p commissioned officers all
told connected with the depots- The
regular office force OF officers ane
civilians is 125. and from 100 TO 500
isborers are employed daily. according
10 the needs o. the department.
Buys Everything Used by Army.
Mai. Elliott's jurisdiction extends
from Sanderson. Tex, 10 Yuma. Ariz-
army in this great territory, and fur
nfshes supplies 10 the punitive eXpe-
dirfon commanded by Mai Gen J. J.
Psrshing in western Chihuahua through
Col Thomas H Slavens, base quarter
termaster at Columbus. y. n
Mai. Elliott buys supplies entirely
on proposals from important dealers
the country over. For example ne
has just closed an immense contract
for oats with a Portland, Oregon. deal
81, while he is receiving firewoed from
q Houston, Tex. firm al thu rate OF
30 cars daily. Dressed meats for the
camps come from Kansas City and
Chicago. under government Inspection
two and a half carloads being needed
70 feed the men now in this district.
East Teaxs and Louisiana lumbermen
furnished $50 carloads Of lumber for
flooring and boarding tents before
winter set in Approximately $4,000
was spent Tor iron pipe TO give water
connections 10 every camp m the city
and vicinity. Immense contracts are
in force with manufacturers and Joo-
bers in ST Louis, Cincinnati New York,
San Francisco and other cities.
Permanent environments on the mil
tzry reservation around Fort Bliss TO
be erected during the next few months
will cost the war department $780,
0eo. In buying lumber for these quar-
ters for the regular Organizations. II
is planned 10 use about SO percent OF
the materials furnished to the national
guard camps during the fall and win
ter. The Withdrawal Of the punitive
expedition from Mexico viii, it is re-
ported. release a corresponding num-
Der OF state troops from border ser
Ta- - Do