The Washington times., 1913-02-13

| fantry. Plattsburg, n. Y, and Twenty
| ninth Infantry, Forts Jay Porter and
Niagara. n. Y.
will be pursued with respect to inter-
vention In Mexico than was followed re-
Gently in Nicaragua. The Mexican
proposition is much larger. 1t Is a
mans job. Nicaragua was hardly
more than a healthy, exciting diversion.
President Taft may lay before Con-
gress all facts connected with the Mexi-
can situation IL events force him to the
unwilling conclusion that Intervention
is necessary. This action will be prae-
tically the same as that required when
1t is desired 10 declare war. Marines,
an armed force, were sent into Mica
ragua without Congressional approval,
such an act being within the discretion
of the President.
Owing to the lethargic attitude of the
Administration and the fact that there
is much opposition to intervention in
Congress, one may judge accurately of
the seriousness of the situation In
Mexico. whenever the slightest aggress-
I've move Is made.
The Administration is hoping that one
faction will crush the other before so
many foreign lives are sacrificed that,
in respect to decent sentiment, some
nation, and that means the United
States, will have to intervene.
No One Strong.
But not since the iron hand of
Porfirio Diaz was lifted from the necks
of his long countrymen has a
character appeared Of sufficient force to
put down rebellion and bring about
peace Each day is awaited with
trembling by the Administration, as the
extremely serious situation in Mexico
seems pregnant with events that may
force the hand Of the Taft Administra-
ton and compel the instant movement
- 81,
service for foreigners that the allies did
at Peking during the Boxer rebellion
The last naval force has been dis
patched to Mexican ports which will be
sent up to the time transports begin to
move and intervention is on in earnest
The present disposition Of the vessels Of
the Atlantic fleet is now as follows:
Georgia, 15,000-ton battleshipe, Capt.
Marbury Johnson; due at Vera Cruz
tissSp aasssp Of ResT admra fa.
Fletcher. commanding the second di-
vision of the Atlantic: Capt. Harry
Mel. p. Huse; due at Vera Cruz Sat-
urday: Nebraska, 15,000-ton battle
Vera Cruz Saturday; Virginia. 1900
ton battleship. flagship Of Rear Ad-
miral Usher. commanding the third
division: Capt. John Mcdonald; due
at Tampico Saturday.
Colorado, 14.000-ton armored cruiser,
flagship of Rear Admiral Switzerland.
-in-chief of Pacific fleet;
Capt William L. Gilmer; due at Mazat-
Ian tomorrow; South Dakota, 14.000-
ton armored cruiser, Capt. Charles p.
Plunkett: due at Acapulco Sunday.
within call to supplement this force
are the cruiser Denver, Ell route to
Acajutla. Salvador: transport Buffalo.
at Corinto. Nicaragua: cruiser Des
Moines. en- route to Bluefields, Nicara-
qua. and due there Saturday; gunbpat
q Chx-flt to 70 nrfn
Honduras. and the gunboat Annapolis,
en- route to Amapala, Honduras.
1t became known here today that
should President Taft order fnterven-
tion, the 1900 regular troops now on
the Mexican border would be replaced
by twice as many men from the or
ganized militia. Whole companies, in
the case Of Intervention, will be draft
ed for service In Mexico, and although
Department. the military policy of the
United States includes the organized
militia in its plans, and gives toit mol
small share of the work.
Under the law, the militia, as or
ganized. can be used but for three pur-
poses-repellng invasion, supporting the
constituted Government, and subduing
local instructions or disorders. In the
militia pay bill. it was provided. how
pay from the Government can be
drafted into the volunteer army If he
passes the army physical examination.
Under this provision whole companies
may be drafted for service, IL inter-
vention is ordered.
Army officials believe that drafting
would not he necessary for already the
organized militia has shown a willing
ness to volunteer for any sort Of SER
vice in the event of trouble with Mex
leo.
. There are 9.1i2 officers and IL, 10 en-
listed men in the organized militia. In
many States, no man Is accepted un-
less he fills most of the army's phys
lea! and educational requirements.
Therefore, if these men should be
drafted into the volunteer service. but
few of the militiamen would probably
be barred.
II would not be necessary to take in
20 the Federal service the militiamen
who might be used to replace the pres
ent regular army patrol on the
border. Technically these would be
''repelling an invasion" AS many mil
itiamen as needed to augment the IN
vading army to the required strength
would either be enlisted or drafted.