The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-30
Capital Hears That In
tervention in Mexico
Is Imminent.
OFFICIALS DENY
ALL SUCH STORIES
They Point to Fact That Army
Is in No Condition for Mexican
Campaign, While Atlantic
Fleet Has Sailed From
Southern Waters for
Drill Grounds.

| Washington. March ga scries oil
rumors concerning the Mexican situa-
ton. covering every possible phase oc
activity on thu part of the America II
government, from actual intervention
and the assemblage OF great military
! forces on the border down 10 the dis
| patch of an embassy guard TO the Mex
lean capital. surscd through official
Washington to-day
All of the alarmist stories app "a rcd
| TO have had their inception at poin s
| that would be naturally little informed
OF the plans Of the two governments
1t is quite certain that they did nc.
originate in Washing ton, and as the
Mexican capital has bsen Gu, of from
telegraphic communication with the
outside world since { o'clock last night.
{ they were attributed to the iusuigent
press agents. Officials were kept busy
| to-day denying stories or tempering
them with additions Of fact that de-
prived them wholly of sensational fca-
lures.
II was declared by one government
/ OFFICIAL and denied by another, however.
that tha United States had permitted
/
| so through to the Madero government
No Ground for Intervention.
| President Taft believes there is no
ground for intervention in Mexico, and
has not changed that b.lief as the re-
suit of any of the military engage
ments In Mexico within The last few
days. Consequently IL can DC staten
positively that no steps have been
| taken within that time TO strengthen
: mr. no
| border nor to prepare any expeditions
airy force Tor operations In Mexican tc--
| ritory. The superstition that anything
| of Importance could he done in that
| direction without soma knowledge IN
the part OF the country al large and a
direct appeal to Congress is declared
by the military authorities to be alb
surd upon a mere inspection of .he
conditions OF the army within the
| United States at this time.
Admitting that the brunt OF n cam
| paign would be borne by the infantry,
| II is apparent that very little of that
arm of the service is available for 4
Mexican campaign. There are in the
East only four full regiments oil N
fantry and two hattalons. In the Cen
! trail Division there are three infantry
| regiments. and on the Pacific coas =
after the sailing the next troop ship
for Honolulu on April ,. but one in
! fantry regiment will r,main. The total
| infantry force that could now he gath
cred for Mexican service without n re-:
! sort to Congress and n call for the Ma
/ ttonal Guard would be actually smaileS
| than the manocuvrc division which was
/ assembled in Texas under General Car
/ ter last year. The general STAFF as n
matter OF course, long ago made in
quirics of what could be done in an
emergency. The Acknowledgement of
F., soma of the States with strong militia
| forces were called upon to inform Cit:n-
eral Evans. chief OF tine militia division,
what proportion OF their men could be
mons of the national government.
officers at the large supply depots were
| ordered TO report what military stores
were on hand, their condition and til,
| number OF cars that would be required
for their transportation. Some of the
| coastwise steamship stations wcTc
asked how many troops they could
| convey by water TO n Gulf port from
| til. North.
Only Precautionary Measures.
| 1t was such an inquiry AS this, though
| made several weeks ago that appears
| to just have leaked out to-day. Tram
managers OF railroads were consulted
as to the number OF cars they could
assemble at certain specified points.
! y
| sregate, hut II is solemnly declared
| ny the military officials. and even by
higher authorities. shat these were
nothing more than purely precautions
airy measures. and were not to he re-
| garded in any sense as indicating the
! purpose on the part Of TIM administra-
ton to become involved In the strug-
| gle in Mexico
Confrmatory Of those declarations
= 81 to-, ,.i. to-, sc, ri.
| powerful Atlantic fleet. which would
play an important part in any Inter-
vcntion campaign, WIS allowed to
| steam north from Cuba. from where
| the Mexican coast would have been
! of convenient access. There were left
| in the Gulf and the Caribbean Sea
| only eight vessels all told, nothing
more than little Eunboats aud Golfers
, with the exception OF the cruiser
! Washington. and all incapable OF safe
! ~ confronting in hostile attitude even
! such ancient fortifcations as guard
| the Mexican ports.
In fact, the only action on the part
| OF the government which might be
| regarded az in any way connect ed
. with the Mexican situation was ths
! dispatch Of 1000 standard KraE rifles
from New York to arm the American
| colony in the City Of Mexico. Even
this was done upon the recommends
+! ton of Ambassador Wilson. With the
! full consent OF the Mexican govern
ment, and with dhe assurance that tho
, American residents were to act sim
! ply as a police force and arc not 10
| support either side IN the present
| struggle.
In outside circles there vas ta,lz
| Of the establishment of small. Amer
T, lean military force as an errhassy
guard in Mexico. like that now main
tanned in Pekins hy the American
marines. hut Ambassador Wilson has