The Osceola times., 1886-08-14
MEXICAN STRENGTH.

wAsHISGroN, Aug. Slow long
would 1t take US to whip MeXicof' Ie-
peated a well informed army officer, when
questioned to-day. "Well, that's a pref
ty difficult question to answer" he con-
tlnued, and then went on 10 say 1t would
all depend upon Europe. He thought
there was fair chance Germany would
take a hand in the fray as an ally of Mex.
leo, for the sake of getting foo thold on
American soil. II Germany came in, the
officer said, few of her famous IRON
clads could sail right up TO New York
and levy millions of tribute or lay
the city in ashes. Against any
firSt-class naval power he was sure the
United States would be powerless, but
with Mexico alone 1t would be n very dli-
ferent matter. He was then shown the
following list of vessels in the Mexican
navy, obtained at the Navy Department
from the bureau of intelligence; Two
iron gunboats, the Mexico and the DEM
ocratica, each of $50 tons, two twenty
Founders, six officers and eighty men,
eleven knots speed and COO horse-poweri
two 300-ton vessels, the Libertad and In
dependencia, each armed with two twen-
ty-pounders and manned by six officers
and eighty men, and one small gunboat,
.he name of which is unknown.
"Yes, that constitutes the Mexican
navy said the army officer, looking over
the list; "one of those vessels was lying
at San Francisco for several years. She
was out of repair, but the Mexican credit
was so bad that no one wOuld do any
work on her. She was originally the
yacht of an English gentleman. The
owner brought her over and sold her to
the Mexican Government, and she was
changed into a gunboat. We would have
no difficulty with Mexico at sea as she is
now, but I'm afraid there would be some
iron-clads secured from some place"
GLOW about the strength of Mexico Oh
landi"
"I don't know definitely, but have
seen 1t stated that Mexico's army con
sists of 22,5O0 men of all army, just
about the size OF our army. Some OF
the soldiers are very fine, while others
are the worst ever saw. In the western
part OF Mexico there are some admirably
drilled and equipped soldiers, but in the
region of chihuahua the troops are COM
posed of the scum Of the earth. They are
mostly conyicts, who are given the choice
of working in the prisons or joining the
army. The troops are marched in open
column, with the officers In the center so
that they can watch the soldiers on either
side and check any attempt at desertiOn,
which they know from experience will
be made If the slightest opportunity IS
Afforded. Mexico has really a fine body
Of men In what is known as the rural
guard, about five thousand strong, form
ing very good nucleus for an army"
What troops would we have available
in the event of war;" -.
"About half of the army is regularly
employed on the frontier as guard to
the Indians, and 1t would be manifestly
inadvisable TO withdraw these troops, for
the Indians would overrun the country.
! of course company could be withdrawn
here and there, leaving a sufficient garrl-
son at the posts, but most of the troops
would come from Kansas and Nebras-
ka. The entire garrisons at Fort Oma.
ha, Fort Leavenworth, Fort Hayes
and Fort Riley could be sent to the front
without any danger, and the Atchison,
| Topeka and Santa Fe railroad being very
| accessible, they could DC shipped direct to
! the border in iorty-eght hours. These
/ troops, together with companies picked
| up here and there where they could he
/ ten thousand men. Stll the number
would not be so large If all the com.
/ panies are like one | saw start out
| from Fort Leayenworth to put down a
/ threatened outbreak Of the In.
| dans. IT consisted of Just nineteen
men, with lame lieutenant in command.
| Most of these ! refer to would show up
/ little better than that, though. war
| between the United States and Mexico
| alone would probably be over in com.
/ paratively short time, for Mexico Is no
| match for us. She couldn't raise such
an army as we could and she has no
credit. As said, though, there is the
| danger of assistance being rendered to
| Mexico, and there is no telling where the
/ trouble would end"
AMERICAN CITIZENS HANGING THEIR
HEADS IN SHAME.
LAREDO, Tex, Aug. S.-The receipt OF
/ the news of Cuttings sentence of one
| years Imprisonment and six hundred
dollars fine has caused general disgust at
the dilatory policy of the Government.
| The average American is now hanging
| his head in shame, especially II he be
/ Democrat. The Republicans greet you
/ at every corner with the expression, "If
] jim Blame was JTeSlucnl llht sentence
would never have been promulgated"
Faith in the ability of the United States
/ Government, under the present Admin.
istration, to protect its citizens has near.
| ly departed, and Americans in New
| Laredo, Mex, are contemplating taking
the oath of allegiance to Great Britain.
| Americans along the line of the Mexican
/ National railway are filled with uneaSi.
/ ness and many are thinking of throwing
/ up their positions, as no protection Will
/ be offered them in case of trouble.
EXCITED AND READY FOR WAR.
ATLANTA, Ga, Aug. 9.-Gcorgia is
ablaze with the Mexican excitement, and
/ in every considerable town in the State
| volunteers are ready to 20 South. 1t
was not until yesterday that the excite
ment became so jubilant that it could not
longer be suppressed. During the even.
/ ing two new companies were placed in
commission. This gave rise to rumors
| that they were wanted for immediate
] service, and il was not many minutes un.
| til Captain Bailie, Of Augusta, an old
veteran, who happened TO be in the city,
was going around taking names for a
company. Others joined in the same
| business, and names for three full com
| panles were enrolled TO the number of
| 267. In Rome a company is ready for en-.
rollment, and in Augusta names for two
companies were secured