The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-25
TEXAS MILITIA
IS ORDERED OUT
-Four Companies Arc Proceeding
to Brownsville With
All Speed.
AMERICANS ARE THREATENED
Reported Arrested and Held for
Ransom at Town OF
MatanoraS.
AMERICANS ARE THREATENED

Washington, February ia scrfous
clash may result between Federal
troops and the Texas Nntionnl Guard
mt brownsville, Tex. should the latter
attempt to CROSS the Rio Grnndc to the
relief of Americans alleged to DC Inn
pcrilcd mt AIatnmorus, Mexico.
when the War Department mt mid
night learned that Governor COlquitt
hnd issued orders for four companies
of Texas miiitinmcD to proceed to
brownsville, orders were tcicgrsphcd
at once to BriGadicr-Gcncrnl IL. T..
Stccver. in charge Of tho Federal troOpn
on the border, to send To brownsville
Immediately such n force ns he .'decncd
necessary" mud ''updcr circum-
stances 10 permit the crossing of the
river except under the spccihc orders
of the Secretary of War"
When word Of Governor Colquitt's
action was received. Major General
Leonard Wood. chief of staff of the
army. recognized tho danger in the
situation and Immediately took per-
sonal charge. over the military tcic-
graph line from Fort Myer he sent I'M
perativc orders to General Steevcr to
utilize his forces to prevent invasion
Of Mexican territory. These he supple
mcntcd by further orders through the
regular channels Of tho War Depart
ment.
At late hour the State Department.
declared It had received no informa
ton of Governor Colquitt's activity, and
In the absence OF advices declined to
comment on it.
Austin. Tex, February 24.-Govcr-
nor q. ~. Coiquitt, ut midnight,
dercd four companies of Texas State
militia to proceed to Brownsville with
NIL haste, when II w8s reported to him
that Americans had been arrested md
held for ransom ut the Mexican town
a N hC Inn lar
from brownsville. when they refused
to contribute money to the officials
In charge of aintamOrns.
The Governor also sent this mes
snEc to Captain Head. TN command of
the brownsville Company of the Tex
National Guard;
"NOtIfy Mexican commander mt Mn
tumorns, who is dcmnnding money,
TINT II he hnrn,s single Texan his
life will he demanded MS forfeit"
Governor Colquitt tonight received
the following telegram from Captain
Head. of the company OF National
Guard, which has been on duty at
Brownsville for several days at the
request OF the sheriff OF Cameron
County:
Have just received message from
Consul Johnson at MataInoras Can
you authorize me to cross river at
order of the consul to protect the con-
sulatc and American interests? De
mand made upon Americans for
money tonight. Answer"
The Governor tclegraphcd Captain
Head as follows:
Telegram received Do not cross
river until YOU receive orders to do
TO. Request American consul and
Americans to come to BrownsvilIc"
Governor Colquitt has repeated the
telegram from Captain Head to the
officer in command of the United
states troops at Fort Sam Houston
The Texas Legislature and Governor
Colquitt to-day took up the Mexican
situation Senator Collins introduced
a resolution that Texas go on record
as demanding intervention.
Another resolution insists that tho
United States terminate Outrageous
conditions existing in Mexico" but
does not name the method for so doing.
Neither has been acted upon
y third resolution, signed already by
thirty members of the House, Is under
preparation for Introduction In that
body demanding that the United States
take some action.
The Governor is planning TO send n
special message to the Legislature on
the Mexican situation. He will ask
for appropriations 10 protect any cx-
pensc he may incur in policing the boz
der