South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-04-21

Mexican National railway. The army
experts find that Mexico has modern
guns only at the fortress Of san Juan,
Vera Cruz.
There are understood to be ten six
inch guns Of modern make at the fort.
At Tampico the only resistance TO the
Americans would be by a dozen or
more three and tVo-tenths field pieces
Of old make.
Secy. Daniels said at midnight that
all naval plans in connection with
Mexico are complete and no further
conferences with his officers will be
necessary following the action of con-
gress. The naval orders are all pre-
pared and will De sent Immediately
when congress acts
Secy Daniels declined to give any
details of the general plans. but it Is
known that Vera Cruz will now be
the main objective of the naval and
land forces and that there the first
engagements will take place if there
is to be war with Mexico. The army
transports are awaiting at Galveston
to take on 10000 troops at least TO-
600 of which Will be sent directly TO
Vera cruz. The remaining 1000 are
expected to cooperate with the ma
rines at Tampico.
Orders for the movement Of the
action by congress.
The first official TO leave the white
house conference was Secy. of War
Garrison. He said there would be no
further announcements made unless
congress had acted upon the war
resolution.
Secy. Daniels then came out and
said no further instructions would be
issued TO the navy until the navy had
heard from congress.
Secy. of State Bryan followed and
said ne had only heard from the
newspapers that O'Shaugnessy and
Shanklin were coming home from
Mexico. He had received no word TO
that effect from O'Shaughnessy.
A conference was held at the war
department Monday night between
Gen. Wood and all his staff including
quartermaster generals and commits
sary generals. All plans were gone
over in detail. special reports being
submitted by each officer.
HAS 10000 MEN.
Officers Of the general army and
navy board estimate the whole force
of Huerta about 5000 as a max
imum. Notwithstanding his claim Of
$4,000.
These officers say there are $500 at
Guayamas. 5000 at Tampico. 5000
scattered in the southwest between
Tampico and Vera Cruz. but who also
are being pressed by villa 1000 i'm
Mexico City. 1900 at Vera Cruz and
5000 at Guadalajara.
At Guadalajara there are three
inch guns and l 8 rapid-fire guns. The
rest of Huerta's forces are unwisely
scattered at unimpOrtant places in the
center. west and northwest of Mexico
where they are OF not the slightest
value TO prevent action by the United
States at TampiCO and Vera Cruz or
the advance OF the American army in
any direction across the Rio Grande.
After the reading Of the presidents
message SeCy. Bryan, SeCy. Daniels
and SeCy. Garrison united in deClar-
ing that they had no intimation from
villa or Carranza as TO their attitude
toward the United states al the pres
ent time.
The cOnstitutionalists appear 10 be
in strategic control Of the whole of
northern Mexico and would have to
be reckoned with if Secy. OF War
Garrison should order troops across
the Rio Grande
Troops On Frontier.
\ war department memorandum
shows that there are United States
troops on the Mexican frontier at the
following places:
Beginning I'm Arizona and running
10 the Texas coaSt-Yuma. NOgales
Fort Huaachua, NacO, Forest Doug
las. Long Ranch. Culberson's Ranch.
Alhambra, Huaachita. Hernandez
Columbus, Fort Bliss FL PasO. Jual-
alta. Clint. Foiens. Fort Hancock.
Huaca. Maria. Alpha. Sandema. Long
Tree. Del Rio. Fort Clark Eagle Pass.
Minnera. Laredo. Fort Macintosh. Rio
Grande City and Brownsville.