Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-09
TAFT ENDS THE
FEARS OF MEXICO

IHf1S VI NENlSO
CONTINUED <ro-- Page One.N
infantry is being entrained in three
sections today and will leave as
fast as the sections of the trains are
loaded. The baggage, horses and
equipment are being loaded on a train
on a spur track at Fort Smelling. Part
of the regiment will entrain at the
union station here and another part
will board the train at Minneapolis
TORPEDO BOATS READY.
San Diego, Cal. March 9.-Twelvc
torpedo boats and destroyers finished
coaling last night and are ready TO sail
as soon as orders are received.
MARINES TO GUANTANAMO.
Philadelphia. March 9.-Fully equip
( ped for big military movement. more
than 700 marines sailed this morning
/ for Guantanamo. Cuba. Besides gen
eral stores, the Prairie is carrying 3G5
600 rounds of ball cartridges.
FRANCE HAS SAID NOTHING.
Paris, March 9.-Oncials OF the for
eign Office today Informed the Associ
ated Press the French government
had made no representations to
the United States regarding the pro-
lection Of French interests in Mexico.
I AN OBJECT LESSON.
I Washington, March 9.-In admins
tratiCn circles the explanation of the
mobilization of troops in Texas given
out at the White house is adhered TO.
Outside those circles, however, the
I assembling of 10000 soldiers near the
Mexican border has far greater sig
nificance
/ The present army movement may
! be compared TO the recent cruise of
. the battleship fleet-an object lesson of
/ the unpreParedness of the United States
for war. The battle ship fleet took
to the doo.s of European countries a
picture showing the naval. strength of
the government The maneuvers of a
/ division, or approximately one-fourth
Of the present strength OF the stand
ing army. may also have a salutary
effect in showing the world what our
fighting men can do. and in this par
/ ticular case, perhaps, actually doing
! it"
NO UMPIRES SELECTED.
/ Prominent army officers we're
stumped today when questioned re-
garding the failure to appoint umpires
| to witness the maneuvers. 1t is Gus
tomary when the army or navy makes
any test of efficiency to have umplres
selected III advance TO report upon the
! lessons taught by the test. No UNI
/ pires have been appointed to receive
! the troops in Texas or otherwise re
/ port upon the maneuyers.
| JAPS N,sMEXICO.
/ For some time Japan has been en-
. deavoring to obtain a foOthOld upon
the Pacific coast of Mexico or one
! of the Central American republics.
Thousands of Japanese have gone into
Mexico as immigrants
The United States has watched with
keen interest these recent develop
ments, and il is known by the officials
Of Mexico that this country would
look with displeasure upon the grant
ing of naval base to Japan by that
government.
Army officers admit that with thou
sands of japanese in Mexico, the Mi
kado's government, should an inva-
sion of the United States be attempt
ed would approach through our south
west, an open country where the
climate permits war operations at all
seasons
OBJECT LESSON IN VIEW.
While there is no foundation for
any suggestion that the Texas man
euvers are caused by a Japanese war
scare, one of the effects OF the oper-
atoms will be to carry an object les
son to quarters where ii may have
great influence of the mobility of the
army and the rapidity with which it
could be thrown as protection along
our southwestern border to TNpel any
hostile attacks that might come from
that direction.
In wellinformed circles the opinion
entertained of the maneuvers is that
the situation in Mexico is more
critical than admitted and that the
troops are to be held on hand, avail
able should the emergency arise and
this government find an army neces-
sarv to protect foreign interests il