The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-01-26
J. s. ASSEMBLIES LARGE CAVALRY
 UNIT IN TEXAS

Fl Paso, Texas, Jan. 26.-Formed quietly along the Mexican border, with headquarters here, during the last month Or two, the largest body of mounted United States troops under one command since the close of the Civil war, the Fifteenth Cavalry divi- sion of more than 1S,O00 picked men, is training for it's ostensibIe purpose, that of rengthening the overseas ex- peditionary forces, meanwhile keeping vigil on the Mexican uncertainty IT any marauding band along the Rio Grande doubts that the boundary is not under about the best protection it has been since the Mexican troubles began, an attempt to cross and raid would bring such an answer as the Eighth cavalry has been giving in the Big Bend region of late. The swift riding protectorate extends from No- gales, Arfz., to Brownsville, Texas. It is peculiarly a cavalryman's job.
 Organization of the Fifteenth divi- sion is part of the war departments s program to form three such bodies of mounted troops. Major General George Wintle Read, West Pointer, and native of Iowa, has practically com pleted his staff organization in Fl Paso, where all the headquarters troops provided for in the new tactical schemes of a mounted division are as- sembled, besides one brigade of three regiments, the Fifth, Seventh and Eighth, the Eighth being temporarily directed from Maria, Texas. Another brigade, made up of the First, Eff teenth, and Seventeenth regiments has it's headquarters at Douglas, Ariz. The other brigade, the Sixth, Thirteenth, and Sixteenth, reports to San Antonio, Texas. At Columbus, N. M., the Twelfth cavalry holds the port where Pershing's expedition entered and emerged from the Villa chase.
 At Fort Bliss, Fl Paso, the Sand Field Artillery, cavalry outfit con- verted, is under canvas, with all aux | iliaries such as supply, sanitary, am- intuition, signal. engineers and head quarters trains, plus an expected 1 squadron of 12 airp1anes, and other l useful units.
 General Reads command follows, historically, the famous cavalry di- vision of the Army of the Mississippi commanded by Major-General James Harrison Wilson, daring leader under Sherman, who vanquished the Con- | federate Forrest captured Jeff Davis, and destroyed the last arsenal in the | old South at Selma. Ala, after a me- morable campaign, offshooting from | the march of Sherman's columns to the sea- General Wilson still lives at Wilmington, Del, in his Sand year. His memories recount war adventures l of that epoch that have caused his command to bew ritten by military authorities, home and abroad, as the best body of mounted soldiers ever | gathered together up to that time in the western hemisphere
 Wilson, however, had only 13,500 men. The 18th Cavalry division on this border numbers 5000 more. Will son had only three batteries of artiI- lery. Read has twice that number Wilson's men had to pick up horses best they could. Reads troopers have the finest trained animals in the service and many remount stations to back them up. Scouts in the Civil War discerned only by ground ap- proach. Flying cavalry in the shape of Liberty motors on wings win pilot the new division and set it's fire ranges.
 Wilson was hustfing engineer and was proud of his mems achievements in that line under fire, but modern science has furnished the 18th Divi- sion with apparatus not dreamed of half century back. Non-effective troopers now will be cared for in the field as in a home. with the aid of hospital and ambulance units, motor, and horse. There is no danger of food or fighting materials lacking, with companies of motor trucks to fol- low the fighting men.
 1 General Read is recently from Camp Upton, N. r., whence he received his second star. He is a medal of honor officer, and won that on the Mexican border last year. His service in In- dian wars, Cuba, and the Philippines has been notable. His elder son, Cap tain Burton Y. Read, is on his staff, and his younger, George W. Read, Jr., is a sergeant at Fort Bliss. Mrs. Read and his daughter, Miss Margaret Read, are prominent in Red Cross affairs.
 Any threatening developments in Mexico will find United States cavalry firmly holding the north line of this country ready to put down lawless- ness. If the B1anton bill passes Texas may be authorized to mobilize divi- sion of cavalry for strictly border pa tro1. There is sufficient infantry along the border to keep the peace, but in- fantry is most needed in the great struggle overseas. Cavalry, therefore,