The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-03-29
BLOCK HOUSES AGAIN GIVE
IRA VELERS IN MEX. A THRILL


Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
Vera Cruz. Mexico, (By MaiD-
In the state of Vera Cruz today the
Carranza government confronts one
of its greatest problems in bandit ex-
termination. II is that fact that adds
zest to the present situation in this
interesting region, and heightens the
thrill of travel on the railroad line
between Mexico City and the port OF
Vera Cruz.
Danger has decreased to the abso'
lutte minimum on this line, but the
ride has a thrill--bandits or no ban
dits-for the trip from the Mexican
capital to the seacoast, from a scenic
viewpoint, has few rivals in this
world of natural wonders. 1t was
this same scenic splendor which, in
the old days, proved an ally of the
roaming bandits. With the train
swinging around high precipices and
through mountain gorges, and with
rugged peaks affording excellent ad-
vantage, whether his boject was hold
up or blow-up.
Those were the days, however, be-
fore some wise head in the Carran2a
lineup out-guessed the bandits and
conceived the notion of erecting
bockhouses on the very eminences
that formerly had been points of van
tage for the bad men. So blockhouses
blocked the bandit. The traveller to
Vera Cruz today, after he has ira
versed about half the distance and
has entered the mountainous district,
sees at intervals of every one OF two
lilometers these picturesque for
tresses constructed Of adobe or ce-
ment and containing apertures where
the trusty firearm may be rested. In
side the houses are Carranzista sol
ders At some places the bloelhouses
seem to be in the most precarious
positions, perched up on the noun
tain sides, but their presence has
not met with faovr in bandit circles.
But the government has another
card which it plays against the mau-
rauders. This is the armed escort
which accompanies the train. At
tached to the passenger train is a
freight car containing a body of Car
rama soldiers, nondescript, but with
mausers very much in evidence.
Then behind the passenger train is
another string of cars, a troop train,
which carries still more soldiers. The
troops in this train act as reinforce
ments, if the occasion demands after
the soldiers up front have engaged
the attackers in a preliminary skir-
mish.
Time was when the troop train, OF
"eZplorador' as it was called, tav-
eled ahead of the passenger outfit
doing scout duty. But there was a
flaw in this arrangement The canny
bandits graciously allowed tAe troop
train to pass, then dynamited the.
AT least that was the theory accord
ing to the Hoyle Of banditry, and
the troopers might have continued
many miles ahead before they learn
ed what had happened in the rear.
SO the position of the trains was re-
yersed.
With this bandit-proof combination
Of blockhouses and armed escorts,
the traveller to this picturesque port
may reyel uninterruptedly in the of
ferings Of nature From Mexico City
he advances toward the divide, the
highest point which separates the
mountainous plateau district from the
terra caliente, or "hot country Of
the coastal region
Finally he reaches this divide and
then, peeping downward through the
mountain passes, he catches sight of
the tropical country beneath him. He
has begun to coast to the lower lev
els lie is still in a high altitude,
amid the temperate climate of the
mountains, but there beneath him. in
full view, are banana trees and CO.
coanut palmsa South Sea Island
setting. Around and around the
mountains the train passes and the
same fruit vendors are waiting for
the traveller when he reaches the
lower levels They have descended by
means. of the shorter, more precipi-
tous foot paths.
Finally the traveller has reached
the lowlands; he can almost reach
out Of the car window and pluck ba-
nanas. He is coasting into Vera Cruz.