Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1914 — VISITED THE CAMPS OF MEXICAN REBELS [ARTICLE]

VISITED THE CAMPS OF MEXICAN REBELS

L. A. Harmon and Oscar Banter Brought Many Pictures Home From the Seat of War. DL A. Harmon and Oscar Hauter returned home Wednesday from an 11-day trip to the Rio Grande valley of Texas. Mr. Harmon Is the local agent for a company that Is selling lands there Their trip at this time proved of unusual interest owing to the fact that the United States has several regiments of soldiers distributed all along the border, posts being maintained at intervals of seven miles all along the American side of the river.

They crossed over into Old Mexico and visited the camps of the rebel soldiers and Mr. Harmon brought home a large collection of photographs, which tell a story of conditions there which can not be related in type.

There is much more fighting going on all of the time, says Mr. Harmon, than would be judged by the accounts published from day to day in the American newspapers. The rebels under Carranza and Villa are in undisputed possession of the north part of Mexico and are pushing toward the south. Since the embargo op arms was raised and the rebels can now get arms and ammunition from the United States they are well pleased and cheerful and confident that the constitutionalist cause will prevail. They think President Wilson i« a great man because he raised the embargo on arms and they like the rifles that are coming across, the border.

The federal troops who fled across the river during the battle of Ojinaga, are still being fed by the United States and their rifles and ammunition belts are piled in great lreaps upon the ground. Wounded soldiers are treated in open camps. The dead are piled in heaps and burned. Some times a dead federal officer is buried with one arm protruding from the top of the grave, there to decay exposed to the elements. The arm is called his monument.

The Mexican peons are not very far above the animals In intellect or mode of living. The women follow their roving husbands who are in the army and put up uttth all of the hardships of camp life. Many babies are bom in the open camps and Mr. Hannon was told that about 100 babies are born each day to the wives of the soldiers. Many of the women wore scarcely nothing, while 'the children are frequently stark naked.

The belief that the United States will some time have to Intervene exists In Texas, tout it was probably deferred by the action of President Wilson in admitting the shipment of arms and ammunition to Mexico. The fighting* will assume a more active turn when the munitions of war are acquired toy the rebels.

United States soldiers on the border land have become wearied with their long stay there, but they are getting along nicely and there Is practically no sickness. Many of the discharged soldiers from theUnited States anny have joined the rebel forces and are used mostly as instructors In the u% of the rifles and cannon. They receive big money, about $25 per day Mexican, which is about $12.50 in American currency.

Mr. Harmon reports that the Rio Grande valley of Texas is a fertile section with a fine climate and great possibilities which are beng rapidly developed as occupied by Industrious northerners. The total expense of his trip was only about $56, the round trip homeseekers rate being about $42.75.