The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1917-04-19
COL. SELLERS ORIGI-
MATES CLEVER IDEA FOR
PATROLLING BORDER

Col d. X. B. Sellers, of Albuquer-
que who is spending a few days in
Canon City is the man who originat-
ed the idea of utilizing the Navajo
and Apache Indians for patrolling the
border, which is likely to be adopted
by the government.
Col. Sellers was asked his opinion
as to what it would be best to do TO
raise a home guard for the protec-
tion of the citizens of New Mexico
from invasions by Mexican bandits
along the border. He Immediately
replied that in his opinion the Navajo
and Apache Indians who are on a
reservation in New Mexico and IN
Arizona, would make ideal men TO
protect the border from invasion
In an interview today he said; The
Mexicans that cause US the most trou-
BILE on the border are nomadic fel-
lows that travel in small bands of per
haps fifteen or twenty. Sometimes
when they want to strike in force
they gather together in bands of sew
eral hundred, make their attack and
then disperse into small groups again.
They are hard to combat with organic
ed forces, such as army men, because
they know only guerilla warfare
Now, the Navajo and the Apache
are fighting Indians. They ale sons
of nature. Give them some arbuckles
coffee. some cornmeal and a few
of nd N.
definitely under almost any condi-
tions. They fight as the Mexican
fights, only far better and more des-
perately. It would delight them to
fight the Mex. at his own game.
"AIl the equipment they would
need would be a good rifle and plenty
of ammunition. They have their own
ponies. that are just as hardy and as
used to hardships as they are them
selves.
"a thousand of them strung along
the border could guard il as effective
ly and as easily as ten thousand Amer
lean troops. They would be of abso-
1utely no use in combating an organic
ed force because they know nothing
oft hat kind of fighting. But the peril
of the border is the nomadic, raiding
bands who strike and disappear. who
fight behind trees and from ambus-
cade. That's the kind of battle the
Indian knows and tie kind with which
he is fully able to cope.
There are about 5000 of the H.
600 Navajo Indians on the reservation
in New Mexico.
"Th reservation comprises all of
San Juan county in New Mexico and
all of Navajo county in Arizona .of
the 5000 in San Juan county a thous-
and could be raised within a few
weeks. They would need competent
leaders and those are obtainable from
among the chiefs who are unusually
intelligent.
THE Whetherill boys, who are
Americans but know the Navajos
thoroly and posses their confidence.
would be the logical men to guide
the organization. There are four of
them. John. Al. Clayt and Win, and
they are ideal men to have as leaders.
as they are known and trusted by the
Indians. Navajo Bill" and others
will also be men for this job: there
are many of these frontiersmen who
can do wonders with the Indians
Col. Sellers is a man of ideas. with
the push and ability to carry them
out He has been very active in
New Mexican affairs for the better
ment of the state for many years and
his suggestion for the use Of the In
dams is but one OF many original
ideas to be accepted for their full
value.