Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-03-26
Night Outposts Maintained.

Night OutpoStS maintained.
The battalion had only an inner guard
during the daytime. but at night sew
eral outposts We're maintained. The
chief feature of the guard by day was
of a tall water tank on a hiAh point Of
ground hear the plant and in the very
center of the battalion camp. With
pair of high power field glasses he
kept watch on the country to the south
of him. Nothing escaped his gaze. for
the air there is extremely clear by
reason of the altitude, and there are
no trees and very little low-growing
vegetation to obscure ones view. Lone
horsemen making their way across
country as much IS five miles south
Of the line often were spotted.
At night time three outposts were
maintained close to the Mexican line,
to the southwest of the camp. and two
to the south and eastward. They con-
sisted of a non-commisSioned officer
and a squad of about seven men. Rifles
were kept loaded all the time, and, in
addition to cartridge belts. bandoliers
of cartridges also were worn.
On one occasion an outpost had a
brush with several MeNicans. during
which about fifty shots We're fired by
the men of the LIST Separate Battalion.
The outpost guard consisted of Corp.
Harris and Prvates Mason. Colbert,
Tyler. Wilde, Mahoney and Brooks.
About nightfall on August 10 a party
of six or seven Mexicans were ordered
to halt by the outpost. repetition of
the challenge brought a reply in the
form of pistol shots. The Mexicans
dropped fiat on the ground and opened
on the colored soldiers.
Corp. Harris deployed his squad and
returned the fire, driving the MeXicans
before them. The men ran for the in
ternational line, and, after following
har,
District miltiamen gave up the chase.
In the meantime call to arms had
been sounded in the camp OF The bat
talon. The men armed and hurried to
their allotted positions, all lights were
extinguished. and without the least
confusion everything was put in readi-
ness to Withstand an attack or go out
to reinforce the outpost.
Praised by Regular Officers.
Officers Of the regular army who in
spected the camp of the LIST Separate
Battalion spoke In terms of highest
Howard. 22d Infantry (regulars), who
was detailed as experimentation
with the unit, reported that its pa per
work" the keeping of records and files,
requisitions and the scores of other
forms which army regulations demand,
was almost perfect.
A feature of the training which the
men of the list Separate Battalion re-
ceiVed at Naco was the fact that while
marches of eight or ten miles often
were taken. the organization never was
out of sight of it's camp. Occupying
such an important post, the battalion
never could leave the water works I'M
guarded and as the result it's marches
were taken in the Espinol plain to the
north of camp. but at no time was the
body of troops more than a mile away
from its post. The marching was done
in circles for the most part.
On several occasions the 1st Separate
Battalion was called upon to do guard
duty along the international line in the
town of Naco. Its men searched all
persons and baggage passing across the
line to see that the customs laws We're
not being violated. The greater part
of the time this work was done by
regiment of Arizona infantry camped
lust outside of the town. Mounted
border patrols We're furnished by two
troops of the LIST Cavalry (rcgulars)
also stationed at Naco