Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1895-02-02
WAR iS IMMINEN E.

Nothing Else Being Talked OF In the cts
OF fMexicO-Guatcmala Declines to Bach
Down, but Demands indemnity from
Mexico FOR Her Wrongful Occupation oi
Disputed Territory-AvaiIable Forces OF
the Opposing Powers.
New York, Jan. 26.-A dispatch from
the City of Mexico says: Guatemala's
answer to Mcxico's ultimatum was re.
ceived last night. 1t will be presented
to the cabinet and president at 10
o'clock this morning.
1t is stated that Guatemala's answer
is to the effect that the territory dis
pute1 belongs to her, and II any in.
demnity is to be paid Mexico owes it to
Guatemala.
The prospects are that war will be
declared at once.
While not showing any heat over the
reply of Guatemala, the Mexican au-
thorities hold as firm as ever to their
position, and it is very generally un-
derstood that early next week an ult.-
matum will be sent to Guatemala by
the corvette Iaragoza, which will at
once declare war on that republic un-
less it accepts the demands of Mexico
in every particular. In any event.
the Zaragoza, it is expected,
will bear note to Minister
Godoy instructing him to request
his passports from Guatemala. Should
its answer be negative, he will be pro-
tnl ,.l L..
the corvette, which will then be de-
tailed for the transportation of troops
and munitions of war
The war department in this capital
is all activity. The entire Office forces
are working over hours, and an un-
usual spirit of life and general anima-
tion is seen on every hand. The mum.
Der of troops already on the from
tier is $4,000, and several brigades are
in readiness to be pushed to the front
at days notice. Throughout the re-
public the same activities are noted
and there is no doubt that Mexico
could put $4,000 mcu on the Guatema-
Ian frontier within IL week or ten days,
should occasion demand, The general
health and equipment of the Mexican
troops now in the south are very good,
and reports from the probable seat of
war are that the soldiers and officers
are in high spirits and anxious to push
forward at the command from head
quarters.
NEVIrn'l IT n n A II
The army of Mexico is divided into
three sections-thc active army, the
reserve and the general reServe. The
active army consists of Infantry, H.,
3O7; engineers, G55; artillery, 1,O04;
cavalry, 5,4si; rural guards, 1850;
gendarmes, 2l4. Total, 27,2t4. There
IRE over 5000 officers.
A military school is mail tanned by
the federal government at Chapultepec,
on the outskirts of the City of Mexico,
The number attending the school is
about 300. According to Gen.
Sostenes Rocha, general of division
of the Mexican army, the total
fighting strength thereof, including
the standing and actiTe army and
both reserves, is: Infantry, 13l, ,523
Dragons, 25,790; artillery, $500. The
infantry use the Remington rifle, cali.
Der 43, and bayonet. The cavalry us,
o musllet of the same make and caliber
and the artillery carry Remington cal
bincs, caliber so, which are manufac
tured in the country. Rihed stee
breech-loading guns are well used by
the artillery, as well as other new anc
improved guns. In the organization
of the army the French system, with
slight notifications, is followed.
The republic can hardly be said tc
have n navy. Its interests on the
water are protected by a fleet of two
unarmored vessels of $50 tons and 60C
horsepower, armed with two twenty
Founders, and three small gun-boats
There are two naval arsenals-ont
each at Campeche and Acapulco. A
the former place and at Mazatlan ther,
are naval schools. The government
also maintains large floating dock.
GUATEMALA's STRENGTH.
The army of Guatemala, the cost o.
which is about one-tenth of the tota
public expenditure, consists of ais of
ficers and men. There is, besides, ;
reserve militia of 67, 300.
In war between Mexico and Guate
mala, however, it must be borne il
mind that the other four Contra
American states would most probably
for self-protecton, enter into an ALI
ance with their most important sister
The com bined forces which these foul
could throw into the field must, as
consequence, be taken into considera
tion. These would give a total of 6, ,3O
regulars and Si,273 in the reserve anc
militia.
Costa Rica has an army of 600 men
and, on war footing, can comman,
34,273 militia, as by the laws of the re
public. every male between is and s.
may be required to serve.
The active army of Honduras con
sists of 500 men, while the militia nun
bers 20,0
Salvador has much stronger regu
lar army than either of these, the OIL
cial figures giving her 1900 men, Will
the militia numbers Is, 1000. She has
also, one customhouse cruiser.
And lastly comes Nicaragua, with
regular army of l,200 men, reserve o
10000, and militia or national guar,
of 5000.
The five states of Central America
therefore, can put into the field at an
time, l0,0lS regular soldiers and Isl,
573 militia or reserve, every man O
whom has received thorough mill
tary training. So far as numbers ar
concerned, Mexico and the five Contra
states appear to be about on an equa
footing.
Acted TILE DEWApn