El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-07-04
G0Uern1nentMay
Build Railroad
Along Border
Left Over Materials MAY
Be Used; All Units of
Army Coming Here.

That the war department intends to
give the border districts full protec-
ton against further bandit depreda-
tons from the Mexican side and also
to prepare in advance for any eventu-
atty that might occur is evidenced by
the fact that an efficient force, rep
resenting all branches Of the service,
is being concentrated along the Rio
Grande, according TO information fur
nished by military authorities.
In addition to the concentration of
infantry, cavalry and artillery forces
the government is rapidly placing an
efficient air force in the border terri
tory, and recent advices from the
southern department announce that a
complete system of military highways
and narrow gage railroads are to be
built in the Big Bend section.
Colonel Investigating.
Salvaged railway material from
France will be used in the construc-
ton Of the border railroad system, IL
is announced from authentic sources
When the European war came to q
sudden close, the United States was
left with an immense supply Of rail-
way construction material on hand.
Had the war continued for a short
time longer this material would have
been utilized in preparing trackage
for the service OF supply. The en-
gineering corps is tnoW planning to
utilize this material in building mar
row gage railroads through the Dor
der districts connecting all important
posts IN that section, It is said.
Lieut. Col. H. p. Perlee, engineer
corps, has arrived in San Antonio and
is making an extensive survey Of the
border situation, with the narrow
gage railroad project in view. it was
learned in FL Paso Friday. Lieut.. Col.
Perlee viii go from san Antonio to
the border districts and will probably
visit FL Paso, II is understood he
viii later report back TO the war de-
psrtment on the ACCESSIBILITY OF mar
row gage railroad construction IN the
southern department
More Units Coming.
Recent movements of the war de-
partment in sending large aviation
formations into the border district in
dictate that the air service is to be
ranked as one Of the most important
arms OF warfare Military authorities
assert that air forces win be efficient
along the border for patroliug and
accommodating purposes as well as for
BON bling expeditions should further
punitive movements become necessary.
Fort Bliss is 10 become the center
OF all air activities along the border
for distance OF at least 200 miles. A
complete system of hangers. together
erected near Fort Bliss. and an air
force OF approximately 100 officers
and sec men viii be stationed here
While but two air squadrons. the
95th and the nth, are now in the FL
Paso district, il is almost certain that !
other air units will be ordered here I
within a short time.
Veteran Flyers.
With the concentration OF a large I
air fleet, construction and repair units !
become necessary, and II is likely that /
q construction and also a repair /
squadron viii be sent to Fort Bliss or /
within the near future
Military authorities announce that I
practically all the planes used 10 1
patrol the border viii be piloted by 1
veteran birdmen who received their I
raining on the battlefields of I
France. Additional air centers viii 1
be selected at intervals OF apprc1i- /
nately zoe miles in both directions 4
from Ell Paso until a sufficient force
Is concentrated to protect the border /
from California to Brownsville