The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-03-08
1000 TROOPS TO
MEXICAN BORDER
q warships win Also Make
Demonstration Against Rebels
Who Are Fighting Diaz.


orsd cruisers--was ordered by the
United States today to be made im
msdiately ON the Mexican frontier
Though oficiais refused to discuss
the possibility of troops being SEM
7 across the international line, 1t Is
known that the state department mad
been considering the possibility I"
+ such action for several days
Az the state department openly az.
y mits its support OF the established
government of Mexico-the Diaz gov
ernment--and as American capitalists
have Investments, largely throush
N concessions from Diaz, aggregauns
more than S100,000,000 In Mexico, II
I n believed here that the daironstra.
+ lion IL against the Madero lsNoluuoh'
The action was taken following the
return of Ambassador Henry Lane
Wilson from Mexico City, and coin
\ cident with cabinet meeting at
which Gen. Wood, chief OF stan, was
present. The state OF mind OF the
h ofacials was shown by the action OF
(. Gen. Wood in leaving the white
house by way OF a French window to
4 escape newspaper men.
a combined land and naval raimic
attack upon Galveston, Texas, 10 one
OF the features Of great war
eamo.. which II In planned TO play.
The ofYicials assert that the move
+. meut of troops Is purely for tactical
practice" but the sudden dispatch OF
4 one-fourth Of the entire army TO the
Mexican border Is not accepted here
q q practice maneuver.
Major General Wood, chief OF stan
Of the army, gave an official expiana-
+ ton Of the widespread movement OF
troops by announcing that Joint
maneuvers Of the army and navy VIII
{ be held at once at San Antonio, ana
Galveston, Texas. and at San PEDRO
and San Diego, Cal.
He said the maneuvers were held at
this time for the purpose OF trying out
the military organization and equip
ment and to take advantage OF the
~open season" along the southern
border.
When pressed for a statement as to
. what the movement meant in relation
With the Mexican situation, Gen.
Wood refused to make any comment.
When asked for an explanation OF
the movement Of four armored
cruisers to Texan waters, Secretary OF
the Navy Meyer today said:
I'VE are sending ships down there
70 that the people can see what Amer
( lean fighting vessels really look like"
Orders were issued today for 700
maf1nes ct Philadelphia to prepare at
once to ship on board the Prairie for
( Guantanamo. Cuba. the governments
naval base on the southern coast OF
that island. $500 .tN
This was declared t.. be a part of
3 the general maneuverss- bat II was
3 pointed out mat y2uantanamo Is
within striking Distance OF Mexican
ports. y S.ff--s =.
Al full army division WI. be. concen-
trated ut San Antonio and Ms expect
Cd that the secretary OF war and Gen.
Wood will inspect the troops there.
Little doubt was entertained but that
the movement was q demonstration
oGainat the revolutiOnists In Mexico.
among the officials here. IL Ii thought
that the assembling of an .overwhelm-
ing force on land and sea will serve
/. 20 brighten the insurrectos so that
they viii be ready to make terms with
The Diaz government
Upon leaving the cabinet meeting.
Ma5or-Gen. Wood, chiefspf stan, rather
than brave newspapermen awaiting
him, beat hasty retreat from the
back Of the executive mansion making
his exit through French window In
private Secretary Norton's ONCE. The
"maneuver" was nearly frustrated by
= policeman who questioned the gem
erals right to leave the executive
mansion In that way, but who with
drew when he recognized the chief OF
the army. s~ "a
The immediate reason for the rush
ing OF American troops to Mexico IN
. the inability OF the Mexican govern
ment to protect the Colorado river
dam. II IL said that the dam is I'm
Immediate danger OF destruction by
A Mexicans brigands and the Mexican
government alleges that the revolu-
tionists are supporting the brigands.
Il ID not doubted here, however, that
the state department will strongly
4 urge the use of United States troops
TO protect American interests" In
Mexico and incidentally to uphold the
Diax government, as against the reyo-
= iutionists, as It Is known that Ameri-
ran Enthusiastically centering in
Wall street-in the view of Secretary
Knox are dependent upon Diaz.
The American interests In Mexico,
which are enormous, are almost en-
tirely sustained by concession from
the Diaz government. In all OF the
fouy years effort OF the insurrectos to
overthrow Diaz, the state department
has made no secret OF rendering Diaz
every possible aid for the preservation
F Of the American interests obtained
through him.
The cabinet today. with Gen. Wood,
chief OF the stan of the army, went
over the entire situation with the
president
II Is understood that the navy de.
+ Dartment today arranged to send all
war vessels now In Caribbean Sea to
& the Texas coast, to be ready to move
Immediately to Mexico ports IL so or
dorod.
Within Ave days. nearly 10000 Am
orican troops will be modified on the
Mexican border. Already orders have
ben issued for the movement OF az
1oon regiments OF infantry, four regi
monte Of coast artillery, the lattei
1rGonfHed as infantry, to proceed &c
< <1o boundary line.
Four armored cruisers, the Wash
Inx(on, Tennessee, Montana and west
Virginia, have been ordered TO pro
Innd with All possible haste to the