Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-20
MEXICAN ARMIES
T0TAL1250OOM men
U. S. Would Have to Fight This
Force If Federals AMI
Rebels Combined.
NO CHANCE FOR UNION
Capital Will Be Goal Of American
Troops, as in Former War, II
There Is Invasion.

Washington. d. c.. April! 2O-In case
I the United States army invades Next
CO it will have to cope with approx
mately $4,000 men under the direc-
/ ton of Huerta and Carranza
Huerta and Carranza both will op-
pose invasion by an American army.
1t is doubted, however, that such in
vasion would force them into concert
ed action against the common foe.
Huerta forces are estimated by the
war department at $4,000 men and 200
pieces of artillery. He now has 60, 900
men in the field.
Carranza has about 10000 men I'M
der various generals. Obregon on the
Pacific coast has 10000 men with 20
pieces; Villa has 10000 men with so
pieces; the younger Carranza and
Gonzales have 5000 men and 20 guns,
and scattering commands probably
will swell the force TO 10000 men.
In addition to the federalists and
constitutionalists, Zapata, south of
Mexico City, has force of about TO-
900 men armed with rifles. He has no
field guns.
Huerta Army Well Trained.
Huerta's army is we'll trained, well
equipped, and ready for stubborn
fighting. Huerta has experienced gen.
erals in Velasco, who is now campaign
ing against Villa, the two Masses,
Mature and Banquet. The last named
is minister of war and has immediate
charge of the defense of Mexico City.
Huerta has an abundance of both
arms and ammunition for his men and !
plenty of ammunition for his 200 field |
guns.
OF the constitutionalists, Obregon is /
the only one with really efficient /
fee. He has sufficient ammunition 1
for his men and plenty for his field |
pieces to operate for a number of
months without further supply. Also
his men are well drilled.
Villa has only limited supply for
his men and practically none for his
6O-field pieces. The latter are of
many calibres, and he has found it
to assemble ammunition
enough to keep them in action.
The younger Carranza and Gonzales
have practically no ammunition,
either for men or field pieces.
There are many bandit commanders
with small forces of men operating in
every state in Mexico. These bands
would harass an invading
army to some extent, but there is lit
lie likelihood of their merging, as their
principal aim is loot.
Mexico City the Goal.
II invasion should be ordered, fol.
owing the proposed blockade of the
ports. it is believed Mexico City again
will be the goal of the American
roops. as in the former war with
Mexico.
Vera Cruz undoubtedly would be the
tarting point. The Atlantic feet
would be able to make a landing there
possible. Also it could give sufficient
to the army until the latter
S ready to move on.
There are two routes from Vera
'ruz to Mexico City. One is the jail
pa route, taken by General Scott in
lis advance in the former war. The
Their is the Orizba route. used by the !
'rench when Macmillan invaded
iexico.
The Jalapa route has a narrow
,auge railroad from Vera Cruz to =
iexico City The distance is approx
lately 300 miles. The Orizba route
as a standard gauge railroad and is J
so miles long.
There is only small force of fed T
rails in Vera Cruz under General
iaas.