Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-08-12
MEXICAN STRENGTH.

M6%IOAN - nENot
The Armv and Navy of Our Sister Republic
Not Very Formidable Unless Reinforced
by European Allies-Americans Feeling
Shamefaced Over the Governments In
Observation-Disclosures Excited and Ready
for War.
WASHINGTON, Aug. s.-"How long
would it take US to whip Mexico?" re-
peated well informed army officer, when
questioned to-day. "Well, that's pref
| ty difficult question to answer" he con-
tinued, and then went on to say it would
all depend upon Europe. He thought
there was fair chance Germany would
take hand in the fray as an ally OF Mex
leo, for the sake of getting foo thold on
American soil. If 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 it would be a very diff
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
eleven knots speed and 600 horsepower;
two 3OO-ton vessels the Libertad and In
dependencia, each armed with two twen-
tv.pounders and manned by six officers
and eighty men, and one small gunboat,
The name of which is unknown.
eyes, that constitutes the Mexican
navy," said the army officer, looking over
the list; some 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 Pm afraid there would be some
iron-clads secured from some place."
GLOW about the strength of Mexico on
land?'
81 don't know definitely, but have
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
regionof chihuahua the troops are COM
posed of the scum of the earth. They are
mostly COnVlCIS, WHO are given Tue CHOICc
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 WARP" #z# s
"About half of the army is regularly
employed on the frontier as a guard to
the Indians, and it would be manifestly
inadvisable to withdraw these troops, for
the Indians would overrun the country.
OF course a company could be withdrawn
here and there, leaving a sufficient garri-
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 Atchson,
Topeka and Santa Fe railroad being very
accessible, they could be shipped direct to
the border in forty-eight hours. These
troops, together with companies picked
up here and there where they could be
spared, would, think, number about
would not be so large If all the COM
panies are like one 1 saw start out
from Fort Leavenworth to put down a
threatened outbreak of the In
dians. 1t consisted off just nineteen
men, with lame lieutenant in command.
Most of these 1 refer to would show up
little better than that, though A war
between the United States and Mexico
alone would probably be over in a COM
nl1
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. 8.-The receipt of
the news of Cuttings sentence of one
years imprisonment and six hundred
dollars fine has caused general disa ust at
the diatory policy of the Government.
The average American is now hanging
his head in shames especially if he be a
Democrat. The Republicans greet you
at every corner with the expression, eff
Jim Blaine was President that sentence
would never have been promulgated"
Faith in the ability of the United States
Government, under the present Admin
istration, to protect it's citizens has near
ly departed, and Americans in New
Laredo, Mex, are contemplating taking
tfD oath of allegiance to Great Britain.
Americans along the line of the Mexican
National railway are filed 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, Ca, Aug. Georgia is
ablaze with the Mexican excitement, and
in every considerable town in the State
volunteers are ready to 90 South 1t
was not until yesterday that the excite
nent 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 it was not many minutes I'M
til Captain Bailie, of Augusta, an old
veteran, who happened to be in the city,
was going around taking names for
company. Others joined in the same
business, and names for three full com.
panies were enrolled to the number of
267. In Rome company is ready for en-.
rollment, and in Augusta names for two
companies were secured. !kf
A Mexican Menace.