noiretblanc

The caption says "Aspirantes". I believe that term is used in Spanish to describe officer cadets (i.e., they are "aspiring" to officer status). The Prussian style uniforms - not the norm for run of the mill soldiers - are also an indicator that these folks may be a bit more special than the term "recruit" conveys.

There's a photo in the Getty Research Institute Digital Collections, called: Arcos de Belem (Avenue), aspirantes de Tlalpan archives.getty.edu/view/action/nmets.do?DOCCHOICE=5480437... taken by the Ten Tragic Days, between 9-18, February 1913. Where you can see the collumns arround the trees, and they seem to be the same style. If they are the same, then these aspirants, which by the Prussian style uniforms, could be officers that were photographed for the occasion of the centennial on Septembern, 1910 [for example, call nr. aproximates to ficture call number of this collection 2223-6 which was taken to Porfirio Díaz in september 1910 during the festivities for the centenial) standing in the south or north sides of the arsenal (Fabrica Nacional de Armas) or Ciudadela. Although, there's a picture printed in The Sun, issue February 23, 1913 (The Library of Congress, Chronicling America) chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1913-02-23/ed-... where the cadets appear on Prussian style uniform, entitled TLALPAN CADETS WHO STARTED THE REVOLUTION. And seems that the picture was taken at the same spot. Dr. Roberto Duarte Plastic Surgeon

In the left lower corner the date scratched is 3/9/29 (mirror view), March 9th, 1929. Several pictures were dated the same day, 18 (eighteen) years later the real events took place, for example the photo entitled Federal Troops at Torreón; pending to tell you wich other photos of your collection have scratched 1929 date. Dr. Roberto Duarte

La caballería era el arma más temible del ejército mexicano.

A estas tropas por el color de sus camisas y quepíes se les llamaba "amarillos", eran fieles al ejército federal de Don Porfirio. Dr. Roberto Duarte

The stream of men from left to right flows from south to north, El Paso is behint the bull ring. The pipes and smoke plume should be El Paso smelter.

Found in El Paso Herald issue February 22, 1911 (The Library of Congress, Chronicling America) an article that mentions the soldiers where moved from Juárez bullring to another quarter behind the customs house. Is it possible the Call Nr. locates this picture on February 1911? Dr. Roberto Duarte

Dr. Duarte: While it is quite possible this photograph does date from February 1911, we cannot be positive, as the Bain News Service did not always number their negatives chronologically. Often that is the case in the collection, but not all the time. This is a very interesting piece of information you have found, though, and may be an explanation for the activity shown. We can add more details than are currently present in the record. Thank you!