The Washington herald., 1913-02-13
War College Has Mapped Out
Campaign which Needs
Only Word to Start.
PROGRAMME A SECRET
Movement Would Start with Vera
Cruz and Texas Border a
Objective Points.

in Mexico means war with Mexico. The
term which has been used so loosely by
persons outside the group of officials of
the State, War, and Navy Departments
is just beginning TO be understood in all
its consequences.
Intervention, applying the term to the
actual condition In Mexico. means one
of two things. 1t means either the In
tervening of the United States between
the two warning factions, which is i'm
possible without taking sides In favor
OF President Maderos government or
the forces led by Gen. Felix Diaz. or
else II means action by the United
States TO compel both sides to stop their
fighting. The latter kind OF interven-
ton in Mexico would inevitably result
as all other similar interventions have
always resulted. in both sides abandon
ing their quarrel with each other and
uniting in attack upon the third party.
The sending OF eXpeditionary forces to
Mexico, however for the purpose of pro-
viding a means of exit and a safeguard
for Americans and other foreigners de-
string to fee from Mexico, would not
be Intervention.
Matter Up TO Congress.
President Taft has already stated that
he will not seek 10 intervene in Mexico
upon his own responsibility alone. and
that he will place the matter before Con-
gress in case he feels that the Mexican
situation requires such action by the
United States. Upon Congress then
would fall not only the necessity of max
ing a decision for or against certain war
but also the task OF providing money for
carrying out its decision in case inter
vcntion were decided upon Following
such action by Congress, the respons bill
to hn
who. as commander-in-chief Of the army
and navy. is charged with the direction
Of all military operations of the United
States.
The United States Army and Navy have
for months been prepared TO move against
Mexico on behalf Of the lives and prop
erty OF Americans and other foreigners
in the stricken republic. The entire At
Iantic fleet, with the exception of the
ships now on their way 10 Mexico. and
a few others undergoing repairs and in
reserve. are now at Guantanamo Bay.
Cuba, engaged in the annual winter prac-
tiCe, under the command of Rear Ad-
miral Charles J. Badger. Commander-ln-
chief. Besides nearly score OF battle
ships and cruisers. together with des-
troyers. colliers and other auXiliaries, the
American forces at Guantanamo include
nearly ZOO marines. available for land
ing pdTtleS on tne MeNltdn coast neSe,
with the bluejackets who could conven-
iently be spared from the United States
fleet, would make a total available land
ing force Of nearly 1000 men. These
forces could be landed in Mexico within
few days, far in advance Of the mini
mum OF time required for the army 10
get any of its men into Mexico.
The army has on the Mexican border
about 5000 nen- Brig. Cen E. u. Steever
is in command of all the border forces
with headquarters at FL Paso, and his
troops include cavalry. infantry and ar
tillery, the cavalry being in the prepon-
deranCe. The remaining forces within the
United States. numbering 61,OO0 men. will
be called upon to furnish the bulk of
the forces necessary for any armed aC-
tion 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.
Ever since the beginning of the Mexican
trouble the War College has had in hand
complete orders to commanders through
out 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 else
where. Though the details of the plans
of the War College are kept a close Sc
cret 1t is known that Mexico would be
entered at two points. Yer Cruz and
along the Texas border.
Navy Would Act First.
For the movement against Yer Cruz the
navy would be called upon 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 expedition
would make its way as close 10 Mexico
City as might be deemed advisable, and
devote itself TO the task of seizing and
maintaining all lines of communication
between Vera Cruz and Mexico City. 1t
is likely that an additional force would
be sent to TampicO. also a railroad ter
minus 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
to and taking Mexico City.
On the north, the first steps would be
to seize the railroad termini and rolling
stock OF the several railroads joining
and the United States across the
Texas, New Mexico. and Arizona from
tiers. This done, cavalry expeditions
would be sent ahead to seize communion
tions and keep them open, just as far
into Mexico as might be practicable.
Like the eXpeditionary forces which
would be sent to the Gulf coast. these
troops would be relied upon TO maintain
and open the way for
the coming Of the army divisions from
the States north of the border. The army
plans also call for the seizure of the i'm
portant ports on the west coast OF Mex
co For this, the ships of the Pacific
feet-twO of which, the Colorado and
the South Dakota, are already on their
way to Mexico-would be brought into
service. The task before the United
States forces then would be a closing-in
upon the Mexican capital and the reduc-
tion OF the country as the several divi-
sions proceeded toward the capital.
It is believed that protective forces will !
have to be sent to Mexico in the imme-
liate present. but it is much doubted il
the movement will take on the form of
during the Taft administra-
ton. That Intervention will come by
force Of circumstances in subsequent
events in Mexico is the general convic- |
ton here, however. Army and navy Of !
icers and others interested in the Mex
can situation have been predicting il |
as the inevitable consequence of the |
trend of events in Mexico for many
months
For intervention in Mexico it is admit |
led that the United States Is not pre- |
pared. 1t is recognized by military au-