The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-03-08
By Associated Press.


Washington, March 1.-THE most
extensive movement of troops and war
vessels ever executed in this country
in time of peace is now under way by
order of the president as commander
chief sof the army and navy, the OBJ
jective point being the country north
of the Mexican boundary and the wa
ters of the two oceans at either end
of it. Twenty thousand soldiers, more
than one-fourth of the army OF the
United States, are now moving toward
the Mexican boundary and four ar
mored cruisers have been ordered from
northern waters to the naval station
at Guantanamo, Cuba. Most of the
Pacific fleet is or shortly will be On
the way to assemble at San Pedro and
San Diego, CAL, while two thousand
marines are preparing to make their
headquarters at Guantanamo station.
1t was officially announced today
that the purpose of the mobilization is
the training of officers and men under
service conditions, and to practice in
CO. operation of land and naval forces.
Unusual pains are taken by all Of.
ficially concerned to give this color to
the sudden activities, but the state
ments are accepted with increasing
reserve. The real significance of the
activities are thought to relate to con-
ditions in Mexico and there is growing
belief that the situation there is by
no means as satisfactory as the Mexi
can government would have it be-
Iieved Persistent reports of the physl-
cal couGftion of Diaz are such as TO
alarm his adnerents and momentous
developments are to be prepared for.
JOINT MANEUVERs.
The trops at Galveston will hold
Joint maneuvers with the fifth division
of the Atlantic fleet, which has been
ordered from New York to southern
waters. The programme contemplates
an attack upon Galveston by the navy.
1t is also said there may be joint
maneuvers between the army and navy
at Los Angeles, vessels of the Pacific
feet making an attack upon that port.
The number of men with the
armored cruisers which will partici
pate in the operations in Galveston Is
3,S0O This number will be augmented
by 900 marines ordered from the bar
racks at Norfolk. New York, Annapolis
and Washington to the United States
naval station at Guantanamo, Cuba.
The marines will embark shortly at
Philadelphia on the U. s. S. Dixie. The
armored cruisers of the fifth division
will go directly to Guantanamo from
New York and there its present per
sonnel and the additional marines viii
be assembled From the Cuban port
the vessels will operate against Gal
weston in the war game.
NAVY TO TAKE PART.
The navy is to play it's part and
formidable fleet of armored cruisers
supplemented by .auxiliaries necessary
for the successful maintenance Of a
naval hostile force on the coast of an
enemy will take it's place off the Texas
shore line.
These cruisers comprise the present
fifth division of the Atlantic fleet now
at Hampton Roads and which are
ready for sea. The division comprises
the flagship Tennessee, the Montana,
North Carolina and Washington, pow
erful armored cruisers Of 14,500 tons
displacement, under command Of Rear
Admiral Sydney A. Staunton.
The military force will establish its
Headquarters at San Antonio. under
command Of Major General William Fl.
Carter as the chief of staff, assisted
by several brigadier generals who will
command the brigades into which the
grand division will be divided. These
ades viii be placed at strategic
points throughout the department of
Texas, including not only the Mexican
border towns to which particular at
tention viii be given but also Calves
ton and the other seaports.
The orders 50 far issued contemplate
the assignment to General Carter's
command Of ffteen regiments OF in
fantry, FIVE OF cavalry and two or
three of field artillery. In addition
two full regiments OF coast artillery
win be transformed into infantry
which will be a novel departure IN
military practice. It is the intention
to have this entire force assembled In
Texas within i've days.
As q matter OF fact, the great body
of troops has already begun to move.
two savalry regiments having started
last night from Forts Ogfethorpe and
Mcpherson, Georgia, which is regard
ed as fine accomplishment from the
point OF preparedness.
Major General Wood. chief Of staff,
would himself have been placed in
command of the troops which are TO
engage In the naneuvers but for the
fact that It is regarded by the general
staff as necessary for the execution Of
war plans that he retain his position
at washington. Here he can have a
complete survey of the field and be