The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-02-14

the United States. Upon congress then
would fall not only the necessity Of
making a decision for or against GER
tain war, but also the task of provid-
ing money for carrying out its decision
in case Intervention were decided
upon. Following such action by con-
gress the responsibility would again re
turn to the president, who as comman-
der in chief of the army and navy is
charged with the direction of all mill
tary operations Of the United States.
Army and Navy Ready.
The United States army and navy
have for many months been prepared
to move against Mexico on behalf of
the lives and property Of Americans
and other foreigners in the stricken
republic. The entire Atlantic fleet,
with the exception of the ships now on
their way to Mexico and a few others
undergoing repairs and in reserve, is
now at Guantanamo bay, Cuba, en-
gagged in the annual winter practice.
Besides nearly a score of battleships
and cruisers, together with destroyers.
Golfers and other auxiliaries, the
American forces at Guantanamo in
clude nearly 1000 marines available
for landing parties on the Mexican
/ coast. These. with bluejackets who
could be spared from the fleet, would
make total force of nearly 10000
men. These forces could be landed i'm
Mexico within a few days. far in ad.
vance of the minimum of time required
for the army to get any of it's men into
Mexico.
The army now has on the Mexican
! border about 5000 men. Brigadier Gen
eral e. u. Steever is in command of all
the border forces, with headquarters at
Ell Paso. and his troops include cavalry,
infantry and artillery, cavalry being in
the preponderance. The remaining
forces within the United States, num-
bering 81, 900 men. will be called ON to
furnish the bulk of the forces neces-
sary for any armed action in Mexico
/ The militia organizations cannot be
sent out of the United States, though
/ bill is now pending in congress which
would remove this limitation upon the
federal control over the state troops.
Since the Mexican trouble began the
! War college has had in hand complete
orders to commanders throughout the
United States the filing of which on the
! telegraph wires would be all that is
necessary to bring the entire army into
action along the Mexican border or
elsewhere. Though the details of the
plans of the War college are kept a
close secret, 1t is known that Mexico
would be entered at two points-Vera
Cruz and along the Texas border.
For the movement against Vera Cruz
the navy would be called on to take the
first steps. Battleships carrying all
the available marines and bluejackets
would be sent to Vera Cruz to take over
that city and seize the railroads and
rolling stock. Thence this advance ex-
pedition would make its way as close to
the City of Mexico as might be deemed
advisable and devote itself to the task
Of seizing and maintaining all lines of
communication between Vera Cruz and
the City of Mexico. 1t is likely that an
additional force would be sent to Tam
pico, also a railroad terminus on the
gulf coast. to perform the same service.
These forces would be relied upon to
keep things clear for the coming of the
mobile forces Of the army to which
would be given the task of proceeding
to and taking the City of Mexico.
On the north the first steps would be
to seize the railroad termini and roll
ing stock of the several railroads join
ing Mexico and the United States
across the Texas, New Mexico and Ari-
zona frontiers. This done, cavalry ex-
peditions would be sent ahead to seize
communications and keep them open
just as far into Mexico as might be
practicable. Like the expeditionary
forces which would be sent to the gulf
coasts. these troops would be relied on
to maintain communication and open
the way for the coming of the army
division from the states north OF the
border.
To Seize Important Ports.
The army plans also call for the seiz,
ure of the important ports on the west
coast of Mexico. For this the ships OF
the Pacific fleet, two of which, the Col
orado and South Dakota, are already
on their way to Mexico, would be
brought into service. The task before
the United States then would be q
closing in upon the Mexican capital
and the reduction of the country as the
several divisions proceeded toward the
capital.
For Intervention in Mexico 1t is ad'
mitted that the United States is not
prepared. 1t is recognized by military
authorities that the task of actual In
tervention with exercise of supreme
control over the country would be G