| OCR Text |
Show MILFORD BOY WRITES OF LIFE ON THE BORDER. NEWSY LETTER FROM MARION SMITHSON, "G" SQUADRON. FIRST UTAH CAVALRY. The following interesting little contribution from the pen of Marion Smithson, Milford's representative on the border with Uncle Sam's troops, will be read with interest. The photographs referred to in the letter, have been received, but will have to be "electrocuted" or put in - - . cut form before they can be used. Nagales, September 3, 1916." Vver County News, " - l)cu(v4f"TIiiiJF.arJpleased to read in your Interesting liuie sh-ict that I am "writing a book." Thanks for the initial press notice, and accept, for publication these few items from my note book. My troop (Troop G, First Utah Cavalry) is now patrolling a stretch of border six or eight miles east of Nogales. Our objective point is a big cattle ranch to which we ride about every ten days and go into camp. On the following day we patrol pa-trol the border back to our main camp. There are eight troOps in the first Utah Cavalry, and two or three of California, and they alternate every twenty-four hours. This mammoth ranch is called Bue-na Bue-na Vista (good view) and contains about 1,000,000 acres of land. It is partly in Mexico and partly in the United States. There are thousands of cattle and horses on this ranch, and quite a bunch of American and Mexican cow boys. The former are typical specimens, and the latter are certainly picturesque. After pitching camp we immediately immedi-ately surrounded it with a strong out-post guard. The out-post is visited vis-ited through the night by a mounted patrol which returns with any information in-formation they have (generally they have some. There are bold-faced calves that resemble a Mex. with a white shirt hiding behind a cactus or mesquite bush, and even a real Mex with a real gun has happened along. The troops we relieved last had a small skirmish. Then our stunt is to see that no Yaqui Indians or Mexican snipers cross the border bor-der and drive cattle back. Technically our specific duty is to patrol the border and protect American Amer-ican property. The routine of camp life (which by the way, is more interesting than you would at first suppose) brings one in contact with many interesting experiences. Breaking bronchos and rifle and pistol target practice, an occasional "scrap," and even a party. There are always plenty of ditches to dig also. The other day one of the boys was digging away in the hot sun, and the sweat was pouring off him. He was pretty mad also. Suddenly he threw the shovel and looked up. Say! he said, don't you know that the United States has more trained soldiers than any other nation? How do you make that out, I asked Because, said he, every man in the United States knows how to dig with a pick and shovel. - Each man's equipment consists of one horse (not a Beaver Bottoms cayuse, a real cavalry horse) bed mess-kit. curry comb and brush, thirty United States rifle, Colts six-shooter six-shooter and sabre, also tooth brush, and if the hike lasts longer than one day, an extra suit of underwear and socks and extra shoes, one takes along. Keeping clean is one of the strictest rules of the army. The horse carries, including man and saddle, about 250 pounds. That is. of course, if the man's feet arc not too large. On our last patrol I saw the place where Carranza and Villa fought a three days' battle. (Greek meeting Greek). They picked away at each other for about three days, and got out of shooting material. Carranza went home, and Villa fell back into Nogales. The land looks natural, except ex-cept for a few trenches that still remain, re-main, and the tropical sun has bleached the sand-bag breast-works to a dazzling whiteness. We are now preparing to take an unusualy long hike, and with the aid of a bronkie I expect to get some good material. Inclosed find picture of Troop G. on border patrol. Also one of myself. my-self. Tell the Milford boys that their Uncle Sammy, with whom I'm stop- I ping is sure there. j Your sincerely. i MARION SMITHSON". I |
