Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-25
Mai. Gen. Carter Given Or
ders to Hold Self and Of
icers in Readiness for
Service Any Time.
PREPAREDNESS PLAN
OF, ADMINISTRATION
The Mobilization Of a Con-
plete Army Division at
Galveston Equips u. s..
for Any Emergency.

Washington, D. c., Feb. 24.-More
orders for, moving troops to Calves
ton, with the purpose Of concentrating
a full army division there, in accord
ance with the policy of preparedness
as outlined by President Taft In a pub
lie speech In New York last Saturday
were issued by the war department
early today.
Major General William II. Carter,
the department and the divisional COM
mander at Chicago will be placed IN
supreme command.
Complete orders were issued late to-
day by Secretary Stimson to Major
General Carter to mobilize the second
army division at Galveston. Prepara-
tory orders had been issued earlier In
the day.
In addition to the fourth brigade OF
the second division, consisting Of the
23rd, 26th and 9th infantry now in the
middle west orders were issued today
for the preparation for entrainment Of
the entire sixth brigade. comprising
the 10th infantry, Col. Arthur Will
liams at Fort D. A.. Russell, Wyo.::
the 18th infantry, Col. Thos. F. David
at Fort Mckenzie, Wyo.; and Fort
Bliss, Texas, the 22nd' infantry, Col
Daniel A. Frederick at Fort Bliss. Tex.
+ The fourth field artillery, the second
battalion of engineers and signal corps
Company D comprising part of the
sixth brigade, already have been or
dered to Galveston.
Fourth Brigade Ordered.
The fourth brigade Of the second
army division and the entire sixth
brigade were ordered today to prepare
to entrain to join other troops being
modified. This Is part of the plan to
assemble complete military organiza-.
ton for any untoward events In
Mexico.
A feeling of anxiety over the situa-
tion in Mexico continued in official
circles during the early part of the
day but there we're no additional dis
patches made public to throw further
light on the condition existing. 1t was
felt that Ambassador Wilson's dis
patch last night stating that the diplo-
matte corps would not attend the
luncheon to be given this noon to dis
cuss the situation would prove suf-
flcient indication to the Mexican auth
critics of the purpose OF this and other
governments to await definite assur-
ances that the bloody tragedies just
enacted had not occurred through any
connivance of the Mexican administra-
ton.
While this has been asserted In the
statements made by Provisional Presi-
dent Huerta and Minister de la Barra,
yet assurances were at the same time
given of a searching investigation
which would officially determine the
exact circumstances under which the
tragedies occurred.
Chief activity was manifested at the
war department where additional plans
for the mobilization of more troops
were being made, the expectation be-
ing that the orders would be issued
during the morning.
Wilson Made No Request.
Publication of statement that
President-elect Wilson had requested
Secretaries Knox and Stimson and
Major General Wood to meet him at
Burlington, NJ j., next Thursday to
confer upon the Mexican situation,
led Secretary Stimson to issue this
statement:
"I have no information of any such
appointment. / believe, however. that
all members Of Mr.. Taft's administra-
ton should stand ready to give Gov.
Wilson and the members of his cabinet
all information possible as to the situa-
ton in their respective departments"
Fl. Crockett Too Small.
1t will not be possible to accommo-
date all the second division troops on
the Fort Crockett reservation and a
number must be encamped at Texas
City seven miles distant, and at
Houston.
The regiments Of the brigades are
not up to war strength. The entire
second division as it exists today will
aggregate less than 5000 fighting men
with perhaps thousand auxiliaries.
Originally this division should be 49,
900 strong.
The extent to which recognition may
be extended by the United States to
the Huerta government has not been
From present indications
this will depend largely upon the
Of Ambassador Will
son who has been given large discre-
tionary authority In the matter. The
question is likely to be brought to an
issue very soon through some applica-
CONTINUED on Page ~
N. u = "