The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-26
TROOPS ORDERED TO TEXAS.
MUST BE READY FOR EMBARK
MENT TO MEXICO.
PrcSidcnt-E Elect Will Find 1000 Men
Massed at Galveston i'm Case Of
Emergencies.

Washington, Feb. 22-About 1000
soldiers were ordered to Galveston
and vicinity, the nearest seaport
adapted to the embarktion of troops
for Mexico today.
The situation in that country is re-
garded as sufficient to warrant the
dispatch Of a force strong enough to.
take possession of a seaport and ope2
the way for an invasion Of the coun-
try.
1t will be for President Wilson to
determine whether such an expedition
will be dispatched, although of
course, it is assumed he will first seek
the guidance of congress. Through
trusted agents, though not directly,
the president-elect, it is understood,
has expressed himself and is in a po-
sition to acquire specific knowledge
as to all the details Of the Mexican
situation before March 8.
Up to today the war department Of
ficials had contented themselves with,
the duties of preliminary orders to two
brigades Of troops, the First brigade,
first division, in New York State, and
the Fifth brigade, second division, in
the Middle West. In the ordinary
course it would require at least eight
days, and possibly longer to gather
these divisions at one of the gulf ports
for embarkation.
1t has been decided that little time
can be allowed to elapse for Dispatch
ing troops to Mexico if a great emer-
gency should arise, therefore, it is
with the purpose of saving this time.
chat orders were given the troops un-
der command of Brig. Gen. frederick
A. Smith and comprising the Fourth,
Seventh, Ninth and Twenty-eighth
regiments of infantry, campany D.
Second battalion of engineers, fed
hospital No 3. ambulance No and
one signal corps from Fort Leaven-
worth.
A subsequent order attached to-
this brigade, three army pack trains,
each of 60 miles, one from Fort Ogle-
thrope, Ga, one from Fort Robinson,
Neb., and one from the Preside OF
San Francisco, also to supply a suffi--
cient force of cavalry to protect the
fianks and reconnoitre for the in
fantry, and an order was dispatched
to Mai. Gen. Carter at Chicago 70.
send to Galveston the Fourth or
mountain battery of field artillery
commanded by Col Alexander Dyer,
stationed at Fort d. A. Russell, Wyo.
Meanwhile, the first brigade, first
division, comprising the Third, Fifth
and Twenty-ninth regiments of in
fantry commanded by Gen. Marion
Maus, with headquarters at Albany,
is also held under preparatory orders.
The three army transports, Kill
patrick, Summer and Mcclellan, en-
route from Newport News for CAL
weston, 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
1900 marines she embarked at Phil
adelphia early in the week for Guam
tanamo. This is believed to afford
ample transportation facilities at least
for the fifth brigade.
This represents probably all the
preparations that will be undertaken.
in the closing days of the present ad-
ministratiOn to meet any emergency
in the Mexican situation. Considera-
bic expense is involving in today's or
ders, mainly under the head Of
transportation charges, but the Off
cials believe that this is justified by