Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-17

story of raids and devastation; OF
sons killed in the name of liberty,
sons who were content to stay at
home and tend the flockS Of their
fathers, dragged against their wills
into the maelstrom of revolution
and useless bloodshed.
They have had five peaceful.
fruitful years and their little farms
were again about to produce a liv-
ing yield. Happiness was abroad in
the land, not a cloud in their blue
heaven. Their herds were multiply
ing and the Americans were buy
ing from them. Prosperity was
coming back to these kindly people,
who have never meddled;. have
never taken sides. And now, just
when their sun Of happiness was
shining brilliantly, red revolution
again sweeps over the land and
these people of Mier are again face
to face with stark famine. fear of
marauders and bandit raids on their
little holdings. 1t is causing sleep
less nights Of dread.
Every day some Of them cross the
bridge here. but the CHEEKY smile
that once lighted their faces is gone.
When asked of the situation on the
other side they reply that all is well
with Mexico and that there is no
need of fear, yet their faces tell a
more pitiful tale Of anxiety and
doubt than their lips express in
words. They are expecting some
thing dire to fall upon their land
again. Just where it. will come
from they know not, but that it is
inevitable they do not doubt. 1t has
always happened to them in the
midst of their tranquil days, in the
days when they were looking for
ward to a bounteous year of rich har-
vest: at a time when they were the
happiest and most hopeful Of the
future.
They do not fear the soldiers of
the revolutionary armies nor those
of the federal forces, but they do
fear those who form themselves into
bands of ten to fifteen men and raid
isolated ranches with murder, rapine
and robbery their only cause"
Some of these have already crossed
the Rio Grande, it has been report
ed, from the American side. Posi-
tive information to this effect is not
obtainable. Re that as it may, the
mere rumor that such a band had
crossed near La Acha, (siX miles
west of Roma) and were headed for
Aldamas, caused the inhabitants of
Los Guerros and other ranches in
that vicinity, no little anxiety re-
Gently.
All night long the people there
and at San Pedro. just across the
river from Roma. patrolled the roads
and guarded homes fearing q raid
from this band. That none showed
up has not dispelled the fears OF
these people and now, until the
| present revolution ends. there will
be no farms tended. Flows lie idle
on the rows where their owners left
them, the horses and mules which
| pulled them. being pressed into SER
| vice to carry the defenders OF the
| homes which are menaced now by
foes real or imaginary. 1t is all the
| same in the end. Marauders or not
these poor people will be expecting
raids nightly and there will be nc
| time to devote to producing crops as
| the man power is needed as guards
The result will be an era Of non
productivity extending over a term
| Of neutrality-suspicious. a year.
All is quiet at Mier and at Sar
Pedro. Very quiet, indeed. So quiet
| that the silence is ominous.
The crossing over the bridge here
has fallen off Is per cent from Mex
leo since the revolution broke" The
Continued on page two.)