The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-14
The Rio Grande Forces.

In the new phase OF the Rio Grande ques-
ton there is one point which should not es-
cape the attention Of Congress. II Is con-
coded by Gen. SHERIDAN and Gen. ORD that
the Mexican Government has organized a
campaign against the Indian cattle thieves
that it is now actively policing its from
tier. This fact cannot fail TO have an Inn
portant bearing on the estimate to be made
by Congress of the number of troops re-
quired henceforth for Texas, and accord
ingly Of the proper aggregate Of the army.
II we turn to the official report Of the OK
animation Of Gen. ORD before the Committee
OF Foreign Affairs, last December, we find
the following:
Nj BRiDGrs-lIow many troops have you in your com.
uand To protect that lnc'
Gen oRn-About $3.50, hut rcenforccments have been
ordered recently. which will give about 5,po men,
aud think that that number will be sufficient to preserve
Tie peace.
In further explanation, Gen. ORD said
that about three-fourths of these 5000
troops are cavalry" Proceeding to the
testimony given in January last to the same
committee by Lieut-Col. SHAFTER, we find
these questions and answers
Q-supposing that Mexico were to cooperate in good
A-Ihink ia taf hars ns'r, "seL
estate tin numbers. Al hiat draf n hoas1nd ~
tre,a hundred Eouii b, coh m guard that jt@u,r be-
know that the Mexicans could stop this Indian
raidng in twenty daysf they wanted to- II these Ind.
ians could get their and provisions in Mexico
they would have 10 make peace somewhere nj once.
Q-Then IN your Judgment there is good reason why
the Mexican Government should not protect US from
those raids A.-No reason in the world
Here we sec clearly that the heavy rein-
forcement of the army In Texas, last winter,
which in turn was held by Congress Ia bo All
obstacle TO army reduction, was based on
the theory that the Mexican Government
would not take decisive steps to stop Indian
raidng, thus throwing this duty on our
troops We also see that, in Col. SKATERS
opinion, II Mexico were 10 take those deci-
sive steps, the existing force Of 1900 troops
would be "twice as many ms we necd;' that
a THOUSAND or fifteen hundred mon would be
quite enough TO guard the frontier. Now,
this opinion of Col. SKATER can hardly be
set aside by the friends OF lIAYEss raidlng
policy, since that policy was the result OF II
suggestion made by Col. SHAFTER himself
IN his report Of March Q, 1871 This report,
toward the end of the same month, was for
warded by Mr.. EvARTs TO Mr. FOSTER, with
a notification that action might soon bc
taken pursuant to Col. SHAFrER's opin-
ION" and when the raidng order TO Gen.
ORD was issued, two months later, it began
General: The report of w, NJ. SKATER,
Lieutenant-Coloncl OF the Twenty-fourth
Infantry" &c, thus making this officers
report the basis Of the new policy.
Accordingly, it can hardly be represented
that Cob SHAFTER has not been accepted by
HAYES as an authority on the military
needs Of the Rio Grandc; and hence it be-
comes an important inquiry for Congress
whether the contingency Of Mexican CO.
operation, which was to enable the country
to cut down its military forces and expenses
on the Rio Grande line fully half, has not
now arisen.
If, again, we look Mt the report OF the
Committee Of Foreign Affairs, drawn up by
Mr. ScHLETcHER, we shall probably be con.
WINGED that the basis Of the action Of Con,
grcss last winter was an assumption that
Mexico never would do what she now ap
parently has done. Thus 1t is declared IL
that report:
hmvery evident that further reliance upon eo6pera
na on tie part Of the Mexican authorities wesd pe mil