The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-14
INCREASING BORDER ARMY.
WAR DEPARTMENT DISPATCHES
TWO ADDITIONAL REGIMENTS
TO MEXICAN FRONTIER.
Diaz Offers Plan to Solve Problem
Ills Suggestion, With Military Move
Feature Of Day, is Not Vet Definite.
But Will be Made so Later.

Of two additional regiments Of Amer
lean infantry to Eagle Pass and Lare-
do, Texas, to allay fears of Mexican
raids, and the appearance here of
Gen. Felix Dial and friends with q
new plan to solve the Mexican prob
lem, were the chief Developments to-
day in the Mexican situation.
The troops-the Ninth and Seven
teenth regiments-were ordered to the
border at the request of Senator Shep-
pard and Representative Garner. Tn
latter told the president there was ::
good deal Of cash in border banks ;
Americans wanted to be prot .
against any sudden raid or inv @
Mr.. Garner also said much cat > d
disappeared recently and resiC oe-
| lieved MeXicans were respons. The
request for additional troops was
made Monday, was discussed at the
| today by the president, who communi-
Gated his approval to the secretary Of
war.
Gen. Diaz and his friends here said
they were not yet prepared to an
nounce their definite purposes, but
would do SO tomorrow. One Of the
party was Pedro Del Vilar, who be-
fore the senate foreign relations com
mitee last week was reported to have
asked support of counter revolu-
tionary movement. The Mexicans
denied today that they sought sup
port or sanction for any revolutionary
movement, saying their idea was a
campaign of information about Mexico
and to acquaint Washington with the
personality of Gen. Diaz so his part in
subsequent events in Mexico might be
F-judgedefroni a study at close range.
! 1t was learned they are seeking the
elimination of Gen. Huerta and are
not allied in any way with the consti-
tutionalists.
Today's orders for the dispatch of
/ two more regiments to Texas will re-
suit in the assembly in that State Of
nearly 49, troops, more by 5000
than the entire force of the regular
army that Gen. Shafter led into Cuba,
Nearly 1900 soldiers are in camp at
Texas City, under command of Brig
Gen tunston of Philippine fame. me
, others are scattered along the border
, from Brownsville. Texas, to Nogales,
Ariz., under command of Brig Gen.
| Tasker II. Bliss, the largest garri-
sons being maintained at FL Paso, No.
gales, Douglas, Laredo, Eagle Pass
ed Brownsville; where railroads en-
ter Mexico.
OF the regiments ordered out today
the Ninth, two battalions Of which are
at Fort Thomas, Ky, and one at Fort
Logan H. Roots, Ark, is commanded
by Col. Charles Y. Crane. The Seven
teenth, commanded by Col. John r.
Van Orsdale, is stationed at Fort Nc
Pherson, Atlanta. Col. Van Orsdale
will be deprived of the privilege of
accompanying his regiment to the
border, as he will be placed on the
retired list tomorrow on account of
age. AS Lieut. Col. Henry B. Styer OF
the Seventeenth is on duty at the war
college, the command Of the regi-
ment temporarily at least will fall to
the senior major, George w. Martin.
Although the two regiments will
proceed to Eagle Pass and Laredo,
Gen. Bliss viii designate their exact
location. The present strength of
each regiment is S32 men. At Laredo
and Eagle Pass the two regiments
will relieve six troops of cavalry,
which will be distributed along 9TH
er points on the western border in
Gen. Bliss discretion. This will place
under that generals command about
1920 cavalry troops and 2,40O in
fantry.
Although large in the aggregate
this force is regarded as small in
many quarters here for 4 rigid and
efficient patrol OF the 1900 miles of
border Secretary Garrison, how
ever. feels that il Will be sufficient
He insists that there is no proof that
this border patrol has broken down
at any point Sincc its establishment
three years ago.
Gen. Bliss late today telegraphcd
that he was sending photographs Of
the body Of NcrSara by mail. and be-
yOnd that message there was no word
from the border today