Evening star., 1914-04-25
But Secretary Garrison will
Only Say Troops Are Going
to Vera Cruz ''for Duty"
Statement BY DANIELS
CONSIDERED SIGNIFICANT
Announces Army Officer VIII Soon
Be in Command at Mexican Sea-
port-Troops for Border.


going to Vera Cruz for. Il can
not say more" the War Secretary
added, Il cannot say more"
This. coupled with the state
ment by Secretary Daniels that
an army officer will be in supreme
command at Vera Cruz and that
as soon as the army forces were
installed there and had the situa-
ton well in hand the bluejackets
and marines now holding the
Mexican city probably would be
withdrawn, is believed to portend
army invasion.
The significance of Secretary
Garrison's reticence lies in the fact
that he previously had declared
I in reference to the proposition of
I tseizing the international bridges
at Laredo that there is no inten-
ton of invading Mexico under ex-
isting conditions"
Arizona Asks for Troops.
A telegram from citizens of Arizona
to Senator Ashurst asking for the imme-
diate dispatch of regulars to the Arizona
border was today laid before Secretary
Garrison. The telegram declared that
there was evidence Of restlessness among
Mexicans across the border, and fears
were expressed for the safety of Arizona
citizens unless troops were sent.
Gov. Hunt Of Arizona is in communica-
ton with Secretary Garrison today over
the possibility of mobilizing the Arizona
militia for patrol on the Mexican border
in connection with the regular troops. No
decision has been reached.
Gov. Colquitt of Texas today tele-
graphed the War Department to ask II
the department will bear the expense
border. where 1t will cooperate with
the regular troops in patrolling the
border. Gov. Colquitt will be told that
there Is no authority to give his state
troops such financial assistance. The
cooperation of the state troops in
patrolling the border will be accepted,
however. under other conditions.
Texas Militia Ordered Out.
Gov. Colquitt notified Secretary Gar
rison that he had ordered ten COM
panies of Texas infantry. a detach-
ment of cavalry and a battery of ar
ti1lery to Brownsville to aid in pro-
tecting the state border.
He had asked the War Department
what steps were being taken to meet
what he regarded as a grave situa-
tion on the border. Secretary Garri-
son replied that a brigade of infantry
being sent to Join the command of
Brig. Gen. Bliss. who was dealing with
the problem.
The department had under considera-
militiamen to aid in patrol work by
assigning them to a particular portion
of the border
Other Troops on the Way.
Secretary Garrison has received reports
that the 9Th and 10Th Infantry. ordered
to FL Paso from San Francisco. were
under way. and other reports said the
batteries Of the 9Th Field Artillery or
dered from Fort Riley to Ell Paso, Fort
Sam Houston and Brownsville had en-
trained. With the infantry troops or
dered from Galveston to Vera Cruz also
under way and preparation well along
for the embarkation of the 4th Field
ARTILLERY from the Texas port. War De-
6artment AHcials are waiting for further
dsye.OD%ssfAo %"ya%snss es'i'ate other troop
The War Department announced today
that as many of the troops Of the 4th
Field Artillery as can be taken on the
liner San Marcos will leave Galveston
later today for Vera Cruz The troopers
will take their equipment with them. The
remainder of the regiment including the
animals. will sail later on the liner Sa-
tilla.
Explains Withholding Seizure of
Bridges.
1--WE are not prepared TO invade Mexico
under present conditions" This was Sec.
retary Garrison's explanation of the
War Departments refusal to authorize
Gen. Bliss to seize the internationa
bridges at Laredo. Ell Paso and othe,
points on the Rio Grande.
In the Secretary's opinion such an in
vasion Of Mexico would be an act Of war
though this view was strictly limited b,
the phrase. under present conditions"
An old decision Of the law officers q
the War Department holds that such ex
changes of shots as those at Laredo yes
tsrday. and first reported in a postscrip
edition Of The Star, are not acts of war
There have been a number Of such sx
changes across the Rio Grande begin
ming as far back as the Madero revolu
ton. which did not disturb the theoret
icaily peaceful relations Of the two coun
trieA
Troops Nay Have to Gross.
The danger in the present situation lie.
in the possibility that 1t might becom.
necessary for the American troops t.
cross the river to drive on the annoying
federal sharpshooters. which might re
suit In the creation at Nuevo Laredo o.
just such situation as exists at vers
Cruz
For the present. however. the Ameri
can troops win make no effort to seiz.
the international bridges. even though
n is commonly understood, several o.
them are of American ownership. Tit
troops probably will content themselve.
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