The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-03-14
NO MORE TROOPS FOR TEXAS
PATROL or MEXICOS (OAsrS
ALSO cur SHORT.


with the state department Again.
the Activity Of our war Vessels In He
waters a. Unnecessary and harmful
WASHINGTON. March ls-The diplc-
matte situation growing out of the massing
OF 10000 troops near the Mexican border
is becoming more complicated. The
Mexican Government has lodged a pro-
test with the State Department against
the proposed activity of American naval
vessels in Mexican waters and the United
States has modified it's plans. which con-
templated the patrolling Of the Pacific
and Gulf coasts OF Mexico by American
war vessels
This action. following Immediately
upon representations by the Mexican
Government. is accepted as evidence that
the Taft administration is inclined to
receds somewhat from the impressive
military demonstrations so suddenly
planned last week. Other evidences Of
recently developed desire for caution
"aSo "ViV upI'ui Cb' 'p-udy
For instance. Maior-Gen Leonari
Wood. Chief Of Staff. wac very particular
to-day to declare that none OF the troops
now at San Antonio. Tex. will 60 to the
Mexican border. He also denied that
second manpuvre division would be
created. and in fact asserted that the
present force of about 5000 men now
patrolling the border would not be in
creased.
In view OF the Administration con-
tention that the chief purpose Of the
movement Of troops to Texas is to pre-.
serve the neutrality laws Major-Gcn
Woods statement is puzzling. to say tho
least. The confusion is still further in
creased by the fact that just about the tim"
Gen. Wood was making his statemen.
Secretary OF War Dick inson, his superior.
was declaring over in New York that the
troops we're being sent ito the border" to
maintain the neutrality laws.
Neither the State Department nor tho
Navy Department made any Announce.
ment OF the modification in the plans for
the activity Of American war vessels in
Mexican waters until Senior de la Barra
the Mexican Ambassador. had given oat
his statement in New York city. 1t wa
acknowledged then that instructions had
been sent by the Navy Department to tho
commanding officers Of naval vessels in
Mexican waters directing them to cut
short their visits and to leave Immediately
The gunboat Yorktown. which WA
ordered two or three days ago TO pro-
ceed from San Diego down the west coast
OF Mexico. will make only short stop AZ
San Bias and will then proceed to the wcsi
coast OF Nicaragua. Tho Yorktown il
now on her way southwark along the Mev.
ican coast. The gunboat Princeton. which
has sailed for Panama from Salina Cruz,
on the west coast Of Mexico. will proce,3
to San Francisco. She also is at sea. hui
her stop at Salina Cruz will be very brici.
On the Gulf coast Of Mexico also this
American war vessels will leave the Meyi.
can ports without delay. The Tacoma.
which was ordered north from Puerto
Cortes. Honduras. with instructions N
stop at Puerto Mexico. will remain at tho
latter place only long enough to rep lenish
her coal and other supplies and will then
proceed to Galveston. The Chester.
which was ordered from Pensacola to
Vera Cruz. Tampico and Tuspan. will also
head north for Galveston.
Niexico's ground of protest was un-
doubtedly the fact that the presence OF
American war vessels lent color to tn
statements that the chief purpose of the
cruisers was for the protection OF Amer
ican and other foreign property in Mexico.
The Mexican Government has deeply
resented the insinuation that 1t is unabls
to cope with the present situation. and
the ordering Of American vessels TO cor
tain Mexican ports which had not beon
visited for many years has attracted ths
GA rnest attention OF European Govera-
ments. Apparently the Mexican Co.
srnment feels that the movements o,
these naval vessels. when taken in con-
nection with the mobilization OF the
troops. are creating "A false impression o.
its own ability to handle the situation
The Mexican Government therefore TOOK
the position that the patrol Of American
war vessels along the Mexican coists
was not only unnecessary but harmful
to the lost interestsSf Mexico.
This is the second time that the Meyi-
can Government has found it necessg.'y
within the last two or three weeks to
make a formal diplomatic protest to tn
United States in connection with the
border difficulties The first complaint
was lodged with the State Department
because Mexico felt that this Government
was not doing its full duty to prevent
violations OF the neutrality laws, This
protest on the part of Mexico he'd good
deal to do with the determination Of
President Taft and his advisers 10 hu-.y
10000 troops to Texas and to send
war vessels along the Mexican coasts
The Mexican Government now obviously
believes that the United States has
overshot the mark in responding to the
former protest and is now eagerly de-
sirous of an abatement in the activity
of the United States army and navy do
partments.
Major-Gen. Wood was very positive
to-day in his statement that none of the
troops at San Antonio would be sent to
the Mexican border. He was equally
emphatic in declaring that the force now
on the border would not be increased,
In the statement which Secretary ~
War Dickinson is quoted as having made
in New York to-day he said: