The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-03-19
|.olute Readiness for War is Ad-
ritted as the Reason for the
sudden scurry Of
the Soldiers
FOR JAPAN
N AN IMPORTANT ITEM
neither il be an Invasion Of Mexico
or Defending Y. s., the Army
and Navy Are
Ready.

TGate City Leased Wire Service
WASHINGTON, March 1SAbso-
lite readiness for war, such as this
buntry has never known, was admit
I'd tonight to be the immediate OBJ
kct Of the work OF the general staff
j the army, which today was shown
extend to the strengthening of the
bland forces in the Pacific and an
Fder which would make possible the
Evasion Of Mexico at a moments
otice.
Tremendous orders were placed to-
hy for food supplies and ammuni
on to be transported as quickly as
ossible in the Philippines. Similar
torres were ordered for the Hawaiian
arrisons which are to be greatly
krengthened also.
All movements pointed toward pre-
aredness to face a possible attack
rom Japan which cumulative evi-
ence this week has indicated, despite
ffcial denials, may follow as a swift
evelopment Of the apparently i'm
lending invasion of Mexico.
BY tomorrow two battalions, or
light companies. of the Second in
antry will have arrived at San Fran
isco to take ship for Honolulu. The
hire battalion, that now at Fort D. A
anssell, will follow later This regi-
eent will more than double the in
Rntry force nov in Hawaii, which to-
Jay consists or only four companies
u the Twentieth infantry. They will
|emain at Honolulu, and 1t is the in.
ention Of the war department to
lend more infantry as soon as other
regiments are available. AT San
antonio Major Carter is proceeding
with his plans to produce a highly eff
icient fighting machine. AS the
1000 troops assembled have never
been gathered into an army division
before, it is General Carter's task t.
weld them into harmonious force
Rnd make of his army a mobile force
ready to strike in any direction whel
the word is given.
One of the problems submitted t
MIN today is that of reducing the i'm
pedimenta. AT the first opportunit
General Carter will march the divis
ion out of San Antonio. It is estimat
ed 1t will make a column twelve mile
IN length, ii all the baggage supple
and ammunition trains called for i
the regulations, are included. The a
Tempt will be made to reduce thi
great length, and every unnecessar
mule and wagon will be eliminated.
The men may be ordered to di
pense with their tentage, bivouac
the open and depend upon the coul
Try for their food. In other word
the army will be conducted as If
'he enemy's country and will be pr
pared to move instantly into an o
ponents territory. if it be necessar
The cavalry regiments are being r
cruited to the war strength of 1,2l
men each. AS soon as possible tbs
VIII be forced into the field The
.ne regiments will be cut In half, ma
ing two of one. This is for the pu
pose say the officers of General Cal
efs staff, of increasing the mobili
oi the cavalry units. In view Of Il
rough character of the country and Il
conditions the invading army wou
encounter, this move is especially 81
hlhcant. Army officers now talk ope
" OF keeping the army in the field {
Simmer, though still speaking of t
troops as the .maneuver" divisio
ibey do not conceal their satisfactio
however, in the fact the San Anton
iorce is daily becoming more At
war.