The Washington times., 1913-02-12
ARMY CHIEFS HERE
HAVE PLANS READY
FOR MEXICAN WAR
Six Thousand Men Landed on
East Coast Expected to Stop
Struggle in Two Months.

The United States is fully prepared
for Intervention in Mexico. Only formal
OF ders for mobilization of troops and
of the standing army into the Southern
republic and feet of bsttleships to
her ports After working all night.
War Department chiefs had mapped
oat every detail, ready for instant
despatch of troops Major General
Wood. Chief of STAFF. did not leave his
desk until nearly daylight.
II it appears nat the Diaz revolt in
Mexico City is to spread and repetition
o. yesterdays battles in Mexico City
are likely in other cities, or IL the Mex
leo City fighting forces American nom
cembatants into the zone of actual
lighting or results in anarchy. the
United states will be ready for an
armed demonstration.
Army Is AL Ready.
The army is ready in every branch.
The moment President Taft calls his
Cabinet and says intervene" the wheels
will move like clock work.
The transports will Immediately sail
for Galveston. Tex. and there pick up
a portion Of the army for transporta-
rion to Vera Cruz and other strategic
ports on the eastern coast-probaby
Tampico and Tuxpan.. This would be
The object would be to cut off all COM
munication with Mexico City. thus shut
ting off supplies Of food and munitions
Of war.
Probably not more than 5000 troops
would be landed on the east coast
These. assisted by the lading forces OF
marines and bluejackets from the bat
tleships which would be stationed In the
harbors. according to the present plans
Of the general staff of the army, would
seize all railroads leading to the inter
ior. Then little by little the whole
country could be gone over and dis
armed. r.Hr
Two Months Campaign.
Gradually the forces would draw to.
ward the objective center-Mexico City.
1t is estimated by strategists at the
Army War College that this movement
would require nearly two months. The
field of operations would be vast. The
soldiers would have to operate trains
as well as guard them: A permanen,
guard would have to be maintained al
short distances along the track to save
it's destruction by the rebels.
With these precautions taken. Mexico
City would be at the mercy Of the in
vading army from the north. From
the east coast no attempt would be
made to enter the city, but the forces
there would effectively block escape to-
ward the Atlantic.
The main body of the army would be
modified at three points on the inter-
national border-at FL Paso and Eagle
Pass. Tex, ana Nogales, Ariz. llail.
roads run south from these three cites
A few hours after the Presidents or.
der to intervene thousands of troops.
With their horses. field artillery, small
arms and food supplies for a two
months campaign, would .e en- route
for the border. Every fort In the eoun-
try would send it's quota. The Preside
Wyoming; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas,
and Fort Sam Houston, Texas, would
probably be the first to get their de-
tachments In motion.
Last of all would come Fort Ogle-
thorpe, Georgia, with Its brigade Of
cavalry. In all. probably 5000 men
would be assembled on the border with
In a week.
The main body would move south
through the heart of the Mexican noun
tains preceded by a small army of engi-
neers who would see to 1t that the rail.
intervals strong guards would be left
especially at the bridges, to prevent de-
struction by small bands of raidinG
rebel outlaws.
Over the Mexican International rail.
road about 10000 troops would ther
Eagle Pass. Tex. From FL Paso a body
nearly as large would leave on the
Mexican railroad for Chihuahua, and
from Nogales, Arizona, about 5000 mer
would leave for Sonora province on the
Pacific coast
All this has been carefully planned
and mapped out at the Army War Col
lege. There is one room In which huge
maps Of Mexico hang on the walls
There is a drafting table where hev'
the location and marking the strength
of the rebel and federal forces. Ever
fortress is marked. The strength and
condition of its guns and supplies Is
accurately determined, and. IN fact, al
the army awaits is the order Of the
President
Navy On West Coast.
The navy would have the west coast
to look out for. Its duty would be to
land small forces to hold the seaports
and prevent filibustering.
ANY part that Mexico could play with
liz navy would be negligible. At the
appearance of the first huge battle
ships, the commander. knowing 1t futile
TO resist greater ships. would be forced
10 declare himself neutral.
Thus the first half Of the War College
plans would be fulfilled. The northern
invasion going from three separate and
distinct points closer and closer to the
national palace. in Mexico City and the
southern division establishing A line
across the country to prevent escape,
would then be the next to last step be-
fore finally declaring the job done.
With but little difficulty, the forces
embarking over each railroad to Mexi.
co City could control the territory
twenty-five miles on each side. Thi.
would give the American army con-
trol of an expanse $50 miles wide
through which no large body Of the
onemy's troops could safely pass.
The three points of embarkment o,
the North also FULFILL the same con
C.t!oEs. The almost parallel routes ol
the railroad lines give the invading
forces control of a great expanse Of
territory lying between parable
ridges Of mountains.
Expect Hot Fighting.
However, Mexico City would not be
taken without a severe battle. Every
building would be turned into an i'm
provIsed fort. Machine guns would
be erected in the windows and OF