Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-05-20

10 Liz dSIhlQJ
In Camp at Sabenito Ranch
near zapata, May 20.
Emerging victorious from the
battles on the FRO river, Colonel
Daniel Van voorl,is' 18th Cavalry
Is nearing home on .ts long march
along the Rio Grarde.
With orders to delay and har-
ass" the Blue" army. four times its
strength, the"Whi'e" force includ-
ing the 5th and y Cavalry, not
only delayed but actually stopped
the enemy" and when the chic!
umpire called off the maneuver,
was so disposed as TO easily u
the Blue" communication a. well
as delay theiI fur,her advance
The maneIvers we're replete with
brilliant acsions among the most
noteworthy were the long night
march OF the 18th Cavalry followed
by an attack on the hostile flank
and the defense % the Frio river
line by the same regiment the fol-
lowing day.
The chief umpire released Cen
eral Hawkins Cavalry brigade at
500 .. m. on May z. The IL Cavalry
was in the saddle and out Of camp
at TOO. Major Oliver I. Holman's
1st Squadron which was camped 10
miles east Of Cotu.ia. made a quick
dash for the upper ford on the
FRO. seized 1t and advanced we'll on
the hostile flank.
Col. v0orhis Into Action
The remainder or the regiment
under Colonel Van Voorhis left
Cotulla at TOO p. m, marching 30
miles, seized Martins ford during
darkness, then pushed on to a good
position in the thick woods on the
enemy's side OF the river. After a
couple hours rest. the troops moved
out again in the direction Of the
blue" main force. Early In the az
ternoon a Blue strong flank guard
was encountered and In a typical
rapid cavalry action the 18th Cav
airy captured a battalion If in
fantry, four machine guns and some
motor equipment. Pursuant to Cen
eral Hawkins policy Of hit and
run. and don't become involved
with a superior force and thus run
the risk Of defeat. the 18th with
drew. In less than o. hours these
Fort Brown end F7r' Ringgold men
had marched so milSs and fought
a successful battle The Blue main
force now changed direction and
marched on the :o.o defended by
the 18th Ca 7alry. Major Holman's
squadron had now Joined and bore
the brunt Of the hostile blow.
Captain Marion I Voorhis' troop
and Lieutenant John Fl. Stodter's
troop covered each other in a beau
tiful delaying action. Both were
supported by Captain Robert r.
Maxwell's machine guns and one
Founders. The Blue force was too
strong, however, and supported BY
tear gas and artillery eventually
drove the lst Squadron back on the
Frio which they crossed covered by
Major Herbert L. Taylor's squadron
from Fort Ringgold. Major Tay-
lor's men were shelled from their
position and the whole regiment
occupied as a final line a long
ridge overlooking the ford. Captain
James Adanson's demolition men
destroyed the ford after the last
machine gun wa acroSs.
23rd Hard to Stop
The 23rd Infantry. leading the
Blue advance could not be stopped,
and although they could not cross
trucks or wagons over the ford for
six hours, the infantrymen crossed
and stormed the 12th Cavalry posi-
ton. Here the cavalry made the
prettiest withdrawal OF the battle.
Twenty minutes after the order
was issued not a horse. man or
wagon could be seer and although
four hours Of daylight remained,
the Blue airplanes never found the
18th Cavalry. That night the Valley
horsemen snatchad a few hours
sleep. prepared to strike a telling
blow against the Blue flank early
In the morning while the 5th Cav
airy fastened by a long night march
to head the infantry off. The 5th
Cavalry stopped their advance be-
fore daybreak and the 18th Cav
airy marched - sun rise on the
10th, but before contact was made
the chief umpire called the man
euvers at an end.
IL would take many pages 70 de-
tail the individual and troop ex-