Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 215, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1916 — FIRING ON TROOPS NOT BY MEXICANS [ARTICLE]

FIRING ON TROOPS NOT BY MEXICANS

Secret Service Men Believe Mercedes and Progress© Shooting Was By U. S. Soldiers. Mercedes, Tex., Sept. 5. —Under instructions from Washington, secret service men have investigated the reported firing on American troops at the Mercedes pump station and at Progreso, where detachments of the First Minnesota are doing guard duty. The reports have not been made public, but enough has leaked out to show that the Minnesota troops were not fired on from Mexican soil. The secret service men are of the opinion that the shots were fired by the Minnesota soldiers, that no one shot at them, and that they emptied several volleys into the underbrush as the result of overheated imagination, and for the purpose of causing some excitement. The report to Washington is that as far as any attack by Mexicans is concerned, there is nothing to it. Mercedes was invaded by another army Monday. It was commanded by General Beauty and consisted of 250 Texas school ma’ams. The Third Cavalry Band met them at the railway and Captain Bob Foy, the only bachelor in the Third, did the honors in a new uniform that was certainly a glorious one. The teachers held their meeting in the park and spent the evening listening to the music of the different bands. There has not been so many passes from Llano Grande issued for the Indiana troops in three days as were issued Monday d afternoon, and I saw more white collars and white shirts md more polished shoes in the Indiana outfit than I saw at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, and the Indiana troops were the favorites, too. Of course, I mean it was the unmarried soldiers from Indiana who were so prominent at the school teachers’ dinner beneath the palms, and for once they outshone the regulars, all except Captain Foy. Lieutenant-Colonel Frcyermuth was acting field officer of the day, a position of great importance and not a little responsibility. He had a good many experiences, but one that was unlike any in his iong military service. He ordered a picket to call the corporal of the guard and the picket bawled for the corpora? until his throat was raw and no corporal came. Colonel Freyermuth dismounted and went on a hunt for the corporal; as he turned a' corner his ears were saluted with “Come along there, babe,” “new shoes for Mandy,” “Oh, you naughty seven,” and a few more expressions that can be heard when a real interesting dice game is on. The colenel found the corporal and the guard engaged in an exciting game of craps, but they won’t shoot craps for thirty days to come.