The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-25
TRYING To BREW MISCHIEF.
UHiT THE dRMY OEETCERS SAY ABOUT
THE BORDER TROIBLES
Interesting Tesiimony OF sherman, Ord and
Others Before the House Committee on
Military Affairs Mor- Light On the Mexi-
can Plot Summing up the Whole Matter

rotary McCrary. Gen. sherman. Con. Ord Col
Mason. at the department headquarters at san
Antonio. and Col. City and Lieut.. johnson. at
the front. The testimony OF the latter witnesses
has not been given to the public. and as written
out by the stenographors makes nearly 500
pages Of legal cap. 1t contains n general ac-
count Of the region its military necessities. the
measures necessary TO suppress these raids.
and the present posture Of affairs on the bor-
der. Nearly third of the evidence taken re-
latcs to the general distribution of the army.
the needs VI the service. and the character of
colored troops on the Rio Grande.
In his testimony Gen. Sherman outlined the
general character of the defensive line which
protects the settled part Of Texas. 1t is over
1000 miles long. extending along an obtusc
angle. with It's salient at Eagle Pass, Just below
the great bend Of the Rio Grande. One side. 4i5
49, long. stretching along the Rio Grande TO
10y Brown, constitutes what sherman and Ord
call the Mexican raiding border. aud the other
t. Fort Sill, Indian Territory 500 to GOO miles
long. covering the railroad termni at Fort
Worth and the settled region to the west Of that
point from Indicn raids over the staked plains
The first line is composed Of five posts the
second OF four. and three other posts extend to-
ward New Mexico for the protection Of the stage
routes, much as the upper stem Of Y branches
on To- the lett. the settled part Of Texas and its
Ian'ntS lying 10 the Ilglt OF the \, Wnlcn would
haye the mouth Of the Rio Grande ut its foot.
To guard these three lines Gen. Ord testincs
he has "a force Of 2 81 men, as follows stan. 49,
cavalry l,723; infantry. .l25 Indian scouts, as
The force along the stage line has been "virtu-
ally Withdrawn. and the line is protected ly
special escort. Two companies are employed
i'll building stage lines. but with this exception
and the usual details. the entire force appears
10 be available for active duty. sherman says
that i.952 men are along the Rio Grande line.
and the rest on the other two lines Of defence
and acting as escort. The testimony Of Me-
Crary, sherman, Ord. and all the other officers
examined is uniform that for the defence Of this
entire frontier not more than 5000 men are
Gen. sherman has testified that i've posts
along the Rio Grande, at an average distance Of
tween Fort Brown and Ringgold Barracks. and
the other between the barracks and Fort Mcln-
t9sh. would have the effect Of reducing. If not
HE sceoad Inc s G posts SfSn ihe Rio ornndc
extending from Fort Brown 10 Fort Clark is the
ON" To- which public attention is directed. II
eNt'nls in front Of the grazing lands between
he Ngeees and the Rio Grande. within
lu.k OF these raids for the purpose of stealing
cattle and horses. and the incidental killing 81
men. which has been the subject Of 50 much
discussion. As the official report of this in
cii.ntal killing" however. Gen. sherman sub
United tue following list including all persons
ly post commanders. who are about 100 miles
apqr along hostile and unsettled line of 1000
miles;
qniiman-Iean Marugo atmail station. Oct o 1879
fDr, , Saye.imho9n5 Ard sn.srs maui carriers
Sfs'a,i has Bnuer' ensasenent with comanche In.
wort p,I.-nerotco cardinas ami John Williams.
Nrch 7. 1877 besccnto Acoia. Ma, 90, 1877 both tour
leys, Apni u and -. 1877.
1t need scarcely bee said that this list is n sur
Gen. sherman said:
s L'9 r at t ri, n ,soq s .a1.lis 'ssoi s IF me
about Fort Davis and below there.
The most southern point here is Fort Clark.
~ miles from the mouth of the Rio Grande.
below that line no murders from Indians are
reported. and above il they are as likely To- be
committed by Indians, from our own territory
n not. As for the cndeaVur 10 create the I'M
preston that the lower part of the Rio Grande
Is in state Of turmoil which just ilcs the most
extreme measures known 10 International law,
ms extract from ten. sherman : testimony has
liz own signillcanre:
NJ Nsr.h--, 'r.caly is tho mum ,r " people kl.l
q Guar Western MINING territories during Tie 81 ACE
g.. 81. maa-No, think not,
There ar, more men Killed on the uppcr ella dn A
A' between there and the RE "rande, than any ~Aese
vt only have these murders been unusually
low hut the raids seem TO be decreasing n num-
iUr. and the attentive reader of the following
excerpts Will be driven TO the conclusiou that
extreme measures have been taken boy our Gov
.fnment 10 the very time when there was the !
t"st reason Tor them. Lieut.. johnson testified
II follows:
How docs the frequency Of these ncursions CORE
.nei 90 The a.t ''a.on VIII, previous years. A-Dur
VIC tttit revolution IN Mexico there SEEMED To- be
been before
And turning 20 an extract from the Adjutant-
found;
f'9 80 Con sheridan forwards report OF Col De.
road In tr District Of he Ro rsnl .,nee Nav '
10 IN winch he states mat the heaviest sufferers from
Al oailc breeders nom starr llda.o. ant cameron
eolnu, leSas and that Tor many years The country has
nt and tat & iyo ia4' h a1 ,nu'is a. Az ptes
trl al II
It Is a,cnrious fact that while this report is
th.ors"d. Copy furnished State Department." |
~ reference 70 II appears IN the carefully COM
piled papers Just published by that department. |
!. WI y sept. ], seven raids are mentioned IN |
tne minutes submitted by Gen. sherman as
record Of the troubles on the Rio Grande. The |
ayerase IN previous years is reported Gy all the
md when Mr.. Hayes in his message said. - |
cannot but look with sQmo solicltude upon n
: or NJ n OF border dlsoriers ne had be-
OF san Antonio Oct. l. 1917, which Gen. Ord |
read 10 the committees:
Icfd Below The noun OF b"viIs vcr sueH H perod
Of nmumN has not occurred tor years and believe 1t
a have been ea' S S enoreeG " all pi"'u'"O
OF the fact Gen. Ord testified:
| nt about three months ago We had an Indian raid
tihrr ami sometimes two three Taids IN moon and
@ T sS S Sys 6ou nS sy Sra r ""ns S
about" year ago IN about ths latitude Vi
- Such being the present condition Of affairs, |
Ton, ORD : testimony as 10 the Intentions Of the |
M"Nlcan Government becomes Of exceptional |
interest Ms indicating continuance" OF this |
Iei.od OF immunity:
ihe ,hairman-Iioye You any objection to giving the
committee cur own opinion as 10 the object VI the MeN
1911 Cove nmcnt m sending ue>e additional troops 10 the
a. 'fyAds iuo reehilrcem' nt- OF regular toOpslf
, H.n 'ii-NN opinion j. very much what has Already
r stated thai the safest Milan Is L. lie =. ADV for any
lru a. affairs may take would pretend to say
wa tNtt MAY be Ms Impression A. that Gen DiaI Is
J. It's ihr A. he can 10 be good nelghhor, and 10 do
Nti j. i.li. Ny mpre s,iOn i that he tDlaN de-
: i.' 1" MAINTAIN lcactatlc relations with the United
> -i', DO not regard the Mexican nation or
+! Dad NfernWcut ~ eiiher encouraging or fomenung
lNf-" fuis Ms lupre ssion Is that he ulaL Is a
. goo irtt ana straightforward man Ia his policy than
a., .fItu Go natr lad ia Mexico ton years
Al. Ih-Ani Sill, wish tnat condition Of affairs
, '.ht tunf Nr danger ui collision b, aycrtedf
, '"N "fl-N0, SIR stated that that depends upon
~ .i-iN'ilnh ~ COMMANDING ntlgcr- who should nap
J. . meet 'ach other, anu upon the good viii which
At' AAte been cultivated.
AZ % the actual danger Of collision under
h- present orders, Gen. ord said elsewhere;
j. "i n.y. in for me 10 follow these narues into Mexico
-'l'NiN- ul'irlnrccs, Ani their orders erc 90
"N. etossins by our troops All u Tepe force wilh
ana his In spite Of tho fact that Gen. Shcr-
man 'lu.d testify.
, .r't N|At tc Mexican officials anxious To pro.
i Alta f.f ffskf l.tkt Oh. tr.lf CAT