The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-23
Captain Mandy of Troop D Gives Impressions of
 San Antonio
GOSSIP IN FIELD
 ABOUT THE FUTURE
Manner of Handling Troops Has Won Universal mmendation-Fine
 Sanitation Is the Great,
 9 est Fature
Rv C H. MANLY

Captain Troop D, First Cavalry, A. N. q.
 Whatever may have been the purpose of President Taft and the war department in mobilzng the regular troops at San l, Antonio and other points in Texas, there can be no question but that the movement has already proven of great benefit to our fighting forces not only from the drill and camp experience they are getting, but from the war" maneuvers that are talk | ing place daily.
 While the force is small in comparison to the vast conscripted armies of Europe. | 1t is the expressed opinion of those in a position to judge that it is large enough | to answer the present situation and tho practice and experience that army Is get ting at this time will prove of vast benefit to them whether their services be re- | quired not.
 There is just as much difference of opin-
 ion in San Antonio a sthere is in Ala hama regarding the inside" purpose of | the government in assembling the troops near the Mexican border and many l harsh criticism are directed at President Taft for what, is sometimes termed an unwararnted interference in the affairs of a sister republic. Be that as 1t may. there are many who contend it is too early to judge justly and who stoutly assert that the future will fully vindicate the policy of the government in sending troops to the borders.
 Those in charge of the situation are ob- serving a sphynxslike" silence and when it is recalled that the Japanese main | tained the most profound secrecy until after it was over and obtained such | splendid results therefrom, the plan of the war department in paying no atten- tion to the cries and clamor of those who as a rule are not in touch with the true situation is much commended.
 l At the present writing the stuationsbe- tween the warning factions in Mexico Is getting acute, and apparently the insur- rectos have the whip hand. However, the usual bluff and bluster that are charac- teristic of the Latin American revolutions are much In evidence. and the ultimatums of both sides are not seriously regarded. The next few days will doubtless lead to a show of fighting forces, and an idea may then be formed of the true situation as to the strength and resources of the | combatants.
 1 Confidence of Rebels | From the statements of those who had 1 crossed the border it might be deducted l that the rebels are bound to win in the end. it being asserted that the people gen. orally, with the possible exception of the extreme wealthy classes, are in sympathy with the fight for more freedom and less dictatorship rule, and only the fear of the merciless iron hand of Diaz in the event of defeat keeps them out of the | rebel ranks.
 The writer met one of the leading mem- bers of the junta maintained in Texas, a Mexican of high birth and distinguished lineage. He had been educated in one of our southern universities and gave evil dence of great intellectuality. He pro- fessed the greatest regard for the United States, but bitterly resented the assem- bling of the troops on the border He contonded it was demonstration in favor of the Mexican government and that it had discouraged to a large extent those who he claimed were fighting for political freedom.
 In an impassioned manner he spoke of the many past attempts to throw off the rule of Diaz and recalledshow cruelty the movement had been crushed and the in- | creased harshness toward the people | He compared the act and attitude of tho rebel forces with those of the govern ment, and stated they were conducting their warfare on high plane. He recalled that the women and children had always been protected; that no wanton destruction of property had taken place. that pris-
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