Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-03
GENERAL MILLS TELLS
ROMANTIC L|FE's STORY
Inventor of Cartridge Belt Used by
American, Bocr, British and
Other Armies.
WAS EARLY Ell pAso sETTLEI.
History OF War Between the States
in NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of GerOn-
iino, Apache Leader, Described by
Veteran.
LRv Associatcd Prcss.1

Ell PASO. TENAS, June 2.-Fow a
young West Point cadet who failed
in mathematics and resigned from the
academy because brSadier- general.
made fortune by inventing the Mills.
cartridge belt and became known as
the grand old man of FL raso" Is told
in n book just published By Brigadier-
General Arson Mills. retired. for pri-
vatc circulation as gifts to hiss friends
throughout the United states. The
book is entitled MY story" and is
the memoirs of General Mills's long
career in the army and in public life.
1t will not be offered for sale. and each
copy was autographed by the author
AS a boy. the author worked at a
loom when clothing was made BY hand
He applied the knowledge he learned
tending the crude loom to the probier.:
Of furnishing the American soldier an
ammunition carrier which would be
more comfortable and convenient than
the old leather cartridge box. the
Mills belt was finally adopted by the
United States Army at the beginning
of the Spanish American war. was
later used by both Beers and british
In South Africa and by many % the
HTnlleS Oh inc WORLD i nc America II
army uses the Mills belt and equip
mert, although General Mills reti. ed
from the company manufacturing these
belts in 1905.
The book also furnishes the first per
manent record Of FL Paso's early his
tory, when this city was frontier
town. General Mills. as the surveyor
who laid out the little border town.
tells how the name of Franklin was
changed by him to FL Paso tThc Pass)
because Of the pass in the mountain
chain near here through which the
Rio Grandc flowed to the Gulf Ills
. experiences in the wild frontier Sc,
Element. as tod in his memoirs, arc
stirring.
The authors story also includes mucn
OF the early history of the War re-
tween the States as 1t related to the
southwest. After casting the only vote
| pollcd here against the Withdrawal Of
Texas from the Union. General Mills
was forced to leave the border and
was reins'ated with his class and given
commission in the army at the be-
ginning Of the Civil War. He was pro
'noted until ne held the rank OF brig
adier-Eeneral a tho time OF his re-
After the close of the war. General
Mills was stationed in the West. The
| pursuit and capture of old Geronimo
the Apache leader: the Indian fights
or the old West. and revolutionary
events in Mexico are related by III,
author in personal way. AZ he oar.
'icipa'ed In many of these stirring
events OF the frontier DAYS.
International boundary commission fo,
tho adind;catins disputes arising ove,
me boundary line between Mexico and
IN" United States: as Genera. Nelson
A. Mii"s's companion on a trim through
europe and as the personal friend
OF national and international cb,~.
'ers ~ Washington. General Mills oh
served keenly national and in,or,..
,ional affairs and includes many n,
ms personal observations in his nub-
| ii;ihcd memoirs.