Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-03-07
Quarter OF Land Force
Is Ordered to
Texas.
CABINET DENIES PLAN
FOR INVASION OF MEXICO
War Department Prepares Maps
of Rio Grande Bridges and
Mexican Roads.


WASHINGTON, March THE war
department II preparing information
I'm regard to bridges across the Rio
Grande and roads In Mexico. IL L. be-
Heyed that the troops will be sent into
Mexico.
Major-G General Wood, chief of staff.
refused to discuss the movement OF
troops. who were today ordered to pro-
ceed to the Mexican border, until after
he had appeared at the cabinet meet
ing at the White House.
It is reported that the administration
has received advices indicating that a
crisis is near In the Mexican revolution.
No Reference to Mexico.
The explanation of the ship move
ments makes no reference to Mexican
conditions, but simply states that the
troops at Galveston will hold joint
maneuvers with the fifth division of
the Atlantic feet, which has been
ordered from New York to Southern
waters. The program contemplates an
attack upon Galveston by the navy.
1t is also said there may be joint ma
neuvers between the army and navy
at Los Angeles, vessels of the Pacific
fleet making an attack upon that
port.
The full division of troops. which will
be modified at San Antonio, Tex.
under command of Major General Car
ter, will consist of nine regiments of
infantry, two regiments of field artil-
lery, one regiment Of cavalry. one bat
talon of engineers and company OF
the signal corps. The three brigades OF
the division will be in command OF
BrigGdier-Generals Frederick A. Smith.
commander of the department of Mis-
souri,; Ralph W. Hoyt, commander ,f
the department of Dakota, and Albert
L. Mills, commander of the department
of the Gulf In addition to the division
at San Antonio, an Independent cav
airy brigade of two regiments viii be
assembled here. The commander Of
this brigade has not yet been an
nounced.
Troops at Galveston.
To Galveston the war department has
ordered three regiments of infantry
and coast artillery acting as infantry.
and a similar force to Los Angeles
Cal. These troops, 1t is announced, do
not form part of the division at San
Antonio. but will operate independent
ly. The force at Galveston will be
commanded by Brigadier General Ram
say D. Potts, oommandant of the army
service school at Fort Leayenworth
Kan, while that at Los Angeles will be
in charge of Brigadier General Tasker
H. Bliss, commanding the department
of California.
Brfgadier-Genera Joseph w. Duncan
will retain command of the department
of Texas. 1t Is said his services VIII
be needed in that connection in taking
scare of the general work of that de-
partment and furnishing the additional
troops with the needed equipment and
supplies.
OF course, II is impossible to move 20
large body of troops into the vicinity
of Mexico In the present disturbed oon-
oition of that country without giving
rise TO the very natural conjecture that
a crisis has arisen that promises -
demand the efforts of American troops
to maintain order. II is, however, inn
possible to secure any official admission
that there is any connection whatever
between the present intense military
and naval activity ana the revolution
airy movement in Mexico.
In the war department and in the
navy department the statement Is
made that the orders now being exc
cuted for the movement OF troops and
ships are in conformity with the plans
laid long ago without reference to con-
ditions across the border.
Movement Long Planned.
But even in the light of official ex-
PLANTATION of the remarkable activity
suddenly exhibited In army and navy
circles, 1t is apparent that in at least
some quarters much thought has been
given TO what has come to be regarded
as a very unsatisfactory condition of
affairs just south of the Mexican boun-
Diary. That todays movements We're
not suddenly conceived is evident from
the fact that recent changes in army
commands have been made with spe-
cial reference to the rapid mobilization
of large military force in the neigh
borhood of the boundary between the
United States and Mexico.
The State department officials assert
that they know of no present intention
to send American troops across into
Mexico, and their last advices from
that country are not materially differ
ent from those reported in the daily
press dispatches.
1t is learned that q few days ago the
British ambassador here was in COM
munication with the officials of the
State department and was anxious TO
be informed as TO what steps were to
be taken to protect the interests of
foreigners in Mexico. The British gov
ernment let ii be known that If the
United States could not extend pro-
lection 1t might feel compelled to act.
WASHINGTON March Tin an
swer TO charges that the United States
army is not prepared for actual war
fare and that il is lacking in every
essential that goes to make Up defen-