The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-03-20
Trains Ready at San Antonio
Troops Alert for a
Sudden Start.
LIcHTEST MARCHING ORDER
Work for Cavalry Squadron No.
blllzation Puzzles Dr.
Pearson.

SAN ANTONIO, March l8--The first
troops Of the army OF 5000 men OF all
branches of the service, mobilized here
under command of Gen. William H. Car
ter. will start for the border tomorrow
morning.
They will be followed very shortly, by
every detachment Of every branch of the
service now In the divisional camp at
Fort Sam Houston. II became positively
known to-day that the commander of
the army does not expect to be here him
self or that his troops will be here. four
days hence.
| IL IL known where those who leave
San Antonio in the morning are going.
They are the men OF one squadron of
cavalry said yesterday to be the Eleventh.
who are going over the Southern Pacific
lines to the west in the direction Of Ell Paso.
Where the rest Of the army ia to be sent
is not known to-day except to tho ANAL
group OF officers constituting Gen. Car
ter's personal staff.
There is a strong belief. however. among
the Colonels Of regiments and their re-
spective .stafYs that the divisional army
il bound for the border along the Rio
Grande and west along the Arizona line,
where the chief streams OF insurrecto
support arc carrying munitions of war
across the line.
It may be stated positively that tho
cavalry squadron is to be rushed out to
the westward to meet a remarkable con-
tingenoy. The officers of the Southern
Pacific Railroad have urged the War
Department in Washington to give pro-
lection to their great and expensive
bridge over the PecoA River near the town
OF viaduct in southwestern Texas and
less than ten miles from the boundary Of
the Mexican State Of Coahuila.
Within the past week the insurgent
bands that have been operating along
tho American border east Of the Mexican
town Of Presidio del Norte have been
known to cross into Texas more than
once. A week ago sibrush between ins,ir-
rsctos and Federals. which occurred
partly on American soil. was reported
from EhPaso.
The railroad people have notified the
War Department in Washington that they
fear some contingency whether the pass
ing of American troops over their lines
or an attempt of the insurrectos to en-
barrass the Diaz Government by COM
mitting depredations on American prop
erty--will lead to the destruction of the
great steel bridge which springs 225 feet
above the Pecos They could not replace
the structure within year. the Southern
Pacific people have told the Department
in Washington.
II was in answer to an imperative order
from the War Department to supply
a guard for the Pecos bridge that Gen
Carter called late yesterday upon the
Southern Pacific and the representative
of the Pullman Company here to get
together a train Of eleven tourist and two
standard Pullmans. man IL and have il in
readiness for instant departure. That
train was ready and standing on a track
in the big switch yards near the camp
at midnight last night. Viaduct is about
2l5 miles west of San Antonio or about
half way TO FL Paso.
There is another reason for the sending
of the Eleventh Cavalry squadron out
ahead of the army. Recent reports have
said that the insurrectos have established
base at Preside del Norte. just across
the Rio Grande from the American town
of FL Orc. and that through this point
they have been receiving their largest
shipments of arms and munitions Maria.
Tex. on the Southern Pacific line about
fifty miles north of Presidio del Norte,
has been one OF the chief depots for the
receiving OF contraband for secret ship
ment across the border to the insurrecto
base over the river, and Del Rio. 10 miles
west of San Antonio. has been another
distributing point.
All the cavalry squadron that leaves
here tomorrow morning will not stop
at the Pecos Bridge, so it was learned from
a reliable source this afternoon. A por-
ton will continue on to Del Rio and prob
ably down to the Rio Grande to take n
position TO intercept the traffic in for
bidden goods. The four carloads of arms
and ammunition mentioned in these de-
spatches few days ago as having left
Galveston bound for the west passed
San Antonio last night Their
is Del Rio,
As to the general movement of all the
troops at the division camp at Fort Sam
Houston the utmost secrecy is maintained
and little besides the indubtable fact
that Gen, Carter expects his command TO
move some time within the next four
days can he learned. Something that the
General said to-day in con-
versation with a visitor at the camp is
the best proof Of his preparedness to
move, This was his remark
Il will get all my men out Of here on
an hour and a halls notice when the
order comes. We will simply move out
Of camp Immediately. leaving all tents
standing and with handful Of beans and
some hard tack in our pockets.
Nothing will go but what every nan
carries on his back Heavy mpedmehia
can be left behind and with one dnvs