Arizona republican., 1917-07-15
MEXICAN REFUGEE
 CAMP |S UTILIZED
 TO CARE FUR BAND
rRepubllcan A. p. Leased wire1


 COLUMBUS, N NJ. July 14-Tonight the United States army is host to Arl- zona's deported miners, mill men and small merchants who are encamped on the plains of death" half way be- tween Columbus and the Mexican bor- der.
 A small city of canvas has sprung up on the site of the Mexican refugee camp. established by General Pershing and LAO men are sleeping on beds to- night for the first time since Wednes- day at Bisbee These men were round- ed up and deported from Bisbee, Lowell and other settlements of the Warren district early Thursday morning, were brought to Columbus Thursday night, their guards forced to return with them to Hermanas, N. M. where they were left after the locomotive pulling the special freight train had returned to Fl Paso They returned here early to- day under escort of United States cav airy.
 All afternoon the men have been working in blistering sun setting up tents, digging pits for field kitchens hauling firewood and sinking latrines It was declared to be the hottest 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 regular soldiers from the Columbus camp.
 The first government rations were issued to the men for their supper, consisting of 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 of ficers and soldiers, an orderly, we'll policed camp was established out of the chaos which followed the arrival of the travel stained men shortly after noon.
 Lieutenant Shekerjian provost mar shal was in charge of the work of establishing the camp and organizing the refugees into a regiment composed of battalions and companies for feeding and caring for the needs of the men. He has relieved Attorney William B. Cleary in charge of the men. The Bisbee attorney, having had a 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
 
 slider when they will be returned to Bisbee where they have their families, homes and many of them business af- fairs They are almost universally agreed they will be ready to return to Bisbee when accompanied by United States troops and not before
 One American miner said tonight:
 We are raring to go back to Bisbee but not until the soldiers go along to protect us"
 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 nothing 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 a 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 money and valuables taken from them at Bisbee but are unable to gives names of any one who robbed them
 They also claim their wives were not being permitted to draw money from the banks but this report was not con- firmed by any specific facts.
 Mrs Myra Reeh, who came here tc see her husband at the camp, stated late today she recognized the Bisbee merchant who entered her house al night while she was alone.
 After the companies had completed establishing camp they all went to the big water tank in the camp and batheC their tired, blistered feet, washed theil clothes and then slept in the shade oi the wedge tents. Tonight they were sitting around in groups, having oEs of the number read the newspapers tC them. exchanging experiences in tht Bisbee roundup, and smoking the to- bacco which was issued today. There has been no disorder since they ar rived They obey orders without com ment and seem to have accepted theil
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