Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-01-31
WAR IS IMMINENT.


Nothing Else Being Talked Of In tho City
of Observation-Disclosures Declines to Back
Down, but Demands Indemnity from
Mexico for Her Wrongful Occupation of
Disputed NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Forces of
the Opposing Powers.
New YORK, Jan. 26.-Adispatch from
the City OF Mexico says: Guatemala's
answer to Mexico'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
puted belongs to her, and if 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 ulti-
matum will be sent to Guatemala by
the corvette Zaragoza, 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-
tected and landed on Mexican soil by
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-
ton is seen on every hand. The num-
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
Ian frontier within a 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 proba BILE seat of
war are that the soldiers and officers
are in high spirits and anxious to push
forward at the command from head
quarters.
MEXICO'S MILITARY EsTABi- IsHMENT.
The army of Mexico is divided into
three sections-the active army, the
reserve and the general reserve. The
active army consists of infantry, IT,
3O7; engineers, 655: artillery, 1,O04;
cavalry, 5,4S4; rural guards, 1850;
gendarmes, 244. Total, a7,s44. There
are over 5000 officers
A military school is maintained 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 active army and
both reserves, is: Infantry, 131, 523;
dragons, 25,79O; artillery, 1850. The
infantry use the Remington rifle. cali
Der 43, and bayonet. The cavalry use
a musket of the same make and caliber,
and the artillery carry Remington car
bines. caliber so, which are manufac-
tured in the country. Rified steel
breech-loading guns are well used by
the artillery as we'll as other new and
improved guns. In the organization
of the army, the French system, with
slight modifica tions, is followed.
The republic can hardly be said to
have navy. It's interests on the
water are protected by fleet of two
unarmored vessels of $50 tons and 600
horsepower, armed with two twenty
Founders, and three small gun-boats.
There are two naval arsenals-one
each at Campeche and Acapulco. At
the former place and at Mazatlan there
are naval schools. The government
also maintains large floating dock.
GUATEMALA's STRENGTH.
The army of Guatemala, the cost of
which is about one-tenth of the total
ficers and men. There is, besides, a
reserve militia of 81, 300.
In war between Mexico and Guate-
mala, however, it must be borne in
mind that the other four Central
American states would most probably,
for self-protection, enter into an alli-
ance with their most important sister.
The com bined forces which these four
could throw into the field must, as a
consequence, be taken into considera-
ton. These would give a total of 6, 300
regulars and S4,273 in the reserve and
militia.
Costa Rica has an army of 600 men,
and. on war footing, can command
34,273 militia, as by the laws of the re-
public. every male between IS and so
may be required to serve.
The active army of Honduras con-
sists of 500 men, while the militia num-
bers 10000.
Salvador has much stronger regu-
lar army than either of these, the Off
cial figures giving her 4,0C0 men, while
the militia numbers 5000. She has,
also, one customhouse cruiser.
And lastly comes Nicaragua, with a
regular army of 1.200 men. a reserve OF
10 900, and militia or national guard
of 5000.
The five states of Central America,
therefore, can put into the field at any
time, 1O.O1S regular soldiers and Isl,
573 militia or reserve, every man of
whom has received thorough mill
tary training. So far as numbers are
concerned, Mexico and the five Central
states appear to be about on an equal
footing.
AFTER THE REWARD.