The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-23
Yrl4her Preparation Made
Tor Dossible Interven-
in in Mexico
NlG So STUDIES
THE SITUATION
ffssiTss5-ac Ct viii Probably Have
81 Decide { Expedition Is to Be
0sspal i .d-The Situation in
co Is Quieter


Easnins -. February 22-About
4e 7lss were ordered today to
salsssion. q. and vicinity, the near
~ aea7s dapted to the embarka
A - f5oas for Mexico.
8tg sfa sot under orders to pro-
oeeu % 49, o, and it Is the expecta-
tion and the hope of the administra-
tlon that it win not be necessary to
issue orders for such movement.
The. situation in that country, how
ever, is regarded as sufficient TO war
rant a force strong enough to take
possession of seaport and open the
way for an irvaslon OF the country. IL
will be for President Woodrow Wilson
to determine whether such an expe-
dition shall be dispatched, although,
OF course. it is assumed that he first
will seek the guidance of Congress
Though not directly the President
elect is understood TO have vested his
interests in the situation to his friends
and has placed himself in a position
TO acquire knowledge as to the details
before he comes to Washington, March
3. Up TO today the war department
officials had contented themselves with
the issue of preliminary orders to two
brigades of troops, the First brigade,
First division in New York state and
the Fifth brigades. Second division in
the middle west. In the ordinary
course 1t would require at least eight
days and perhaps longer TO gather
these divisions at one of the gulf
ports ready for embarkation 1t has
been decided that this is greater
period of time than properly can be al
lowed to elapse before dispatching
troops to Mexico il great emergency
should arise.
Order Saves Time
Therefore, it was with the purpose
OF saving this time that the orders
were issued today for the entrainment
al tho entire Fifth brigade, Second di-
vision, for Galveston, the troops being
under command of Brig. Gen. Frederick
A. Smith and comprising the Fourth.
seventh. Nipeteenth and Twenty eighth
regiments of infantry, Company ID. Sec
ond battalion of engineers; field nos
pital Company No. 8; ambulance corps
No 3, and one signal corps company
from Fort Leavenworth. A subsequent
order attached to this brigade three
army pack trains each of go mules, one
from Fort Oglethorpe, Ga, one from
Fort Robinson, Neb, and one from
the Preside at San Francisco. Also
20 supply a sufficient force of cav
airy to protect the flanks and recon-
noiter for the infantry an order was
dispatched to Major General Carter at
Chicago to send to Galveston the
Fourth or mountain field artillery,
commanded by Col. Alexander b. Dyer,
stationed at Fort d. A. Russell, Wyom.
orders were issued also to General
Charter to prepare the Fourth bri-
Sade. Second division, for transporta-
tion to Galveston, but not to dispatch
them.
This comprises the Twenty third,
Twenty sixth and Twenty seventh reg
iments of infantry, commanded by
Brig. Gen. Ramsey D. Potts.
Preparatory Orders
Meanwhile the First brigade, First di-
vision. comprising the Third. Fourth and
Twenty-ninth regiments of infantry, COM
manded by Brig. Gen. Marion p. Maus,
with headquarters at Albany, N Y, is also
held under preparatory orders. The three
army transports fitzpatrick, Sumner. Me-
Ciellan, en- route from Newport News for
Galveston, where they are due about
Tuesday next, will be Joined at that port
by the army transport Meade as soon as
that vessel has discharged the 100 ma
rines she embarked at Philadelphia early
in the week at Guantanamo. This is be-
lieved to afford ample transportation Ia
cilities at least for the Fifth brigade.
This represents probably all the prepara-
tions that will be undertaken in the clos
ing days of the present administration to
meet any emergency in the Mexican stu-
alton.
Considerable expense Is involved in to-
days orders. mainly under the head OF
Transportation charges. but the officials
believe that this Is justified by existing
conditions. 1t Is believed also that the
moral effect probably to be produced upon
the ultra elements in Mexico by a DEM
onstration of q disposition of the United
States to deal firmly with any relapse into
semi-barbarism in the treatment of cx-
President Madero and his adherents will
prove economical in the end as obviating
4 the necessity for an actual invasion of the
4 country.
Less Resistance Felt
Consular reports indicate more general
acceptance of the new order of things in
Mexico. At Vera Cruz where, serious re-
sstance was threatened, Consul Canada
reports the military authorities have ac-
uuiesced and will work with the new adj
ministration. The consul at Mazatlan re-
ports recognizance of the provisional gov
ernn erit and General Huerta by the state
of Sinalaloa. which also had shown signs
OF resistance.
The same is true of the state of Nuevo
leon
Most important of all. however, is the re-
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