New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-12
Possible Federal Attack
and Rebels Presence
Annoy Garrison.
FUNSTON FEARS FOR
HIS WATER AND FOOD
State Department Insists That
Present Positions Must
Be Maintained.
From Tho Tribune Bureau.1

From Tho Tribune Bureau
washington, June 1.-THE apprehension
a, G.nsraI Funston over rumors OK a
possible Federal advance upon the Amer'-
can outposts at Vera Cruz has become a
matter Of grave concern to War Depart
ment onicials here. and the general an1-
,.tv Of the ofYicials is increased by knowl-
edge that q strong rebel force is operat-
in Vera Cruz State.
In fact, there is a disposition among
some officials to be particularly anxious
over the presence Of Constitutionaiist
forces. for the latters campaign plans
are known to include destruction OF the
railway between Vera Cruz and Mexico
CITY. so as to prevent the flight OF GEN
eral Huerta and his Cabinet from t"e
capital city should the rebels expected
occupancy of the capital become reant''
General Funston's repeated recon-
mendations for moving the American lines
further inland from Vera Cruz to better
protect the city and the water and 1000
supplies arc being considered ane" oS
officials here, who ara confronted, now
ever. with the insistence OF the State De-
partment that the present positions Dc
maintained during the Niagara mediation
conference.
No decision has been reached ana Oh
ficials feel the responsibility put upon
them by Funston's recommendations ana
recurring reports of possibilities OK Fed
erals cutting tho long unprotected water
supply limo between the city and the FAR
thest marine outpost at TEAR. nine miles
out
ANY plan for the extension Of the Ameri-
can lines to strengthen General Funstons
position must be considered in the light
of the State Departments acceptance or
mediation, and tho reiterated assumption
that there would be no advance movement
during the period Of investigation by the
mediators at Niagara Falls.
Apart from possible danger from Mexi-
can bullets Is the increasing menace or
an outbreak Of disease in the low, pest
ridden deserts comprising the Vera Cruz
district. The sanitary officers OF the War
Department would breathe more easily
were tH0 SOlulGTS anu chSduiPcN
further within tho interior, on higher
ground and away from the malaria and
more malignant diseases bred in tho
wastes around Vera Cruz. At present the
sick rate is 223 per cent in the army and
3S per cent in the marine corps, with one
death from natural causes. Grave fears
are felt that the sick rate will mount
higher and higher as the tropical summer
advances.
General Funston has at present under
his command, in addition to the soldiers
Of his brigade, some ESQ marines. Should
more soldiers be needed in event his lines
were extended. there are 800 additional
marines on the battleships at Vera Cruz,
in addition to the thousands of blue
jackets who could hold the base awaiting
army reinforcements il General Funston
went further into the interior.
The quartermaster corps of the army 10
hard at work devising plans to send food
stuffs to Vera Cruz, IL the present food
stringency continues, and this difficulty
quickly would be obviated should the
American forces be permitted to move
further inland.