Evening star., 1914-04-20
Gen. Wood, Chief of Staff, to
Command the Land
Campaign.
TRANSPORTS IN WAITING
TO TRANSFER THE TROOPS
Congress Authorizes Organization Of
Volunteer Forces-Militia of
States to See Service.

What part IS to be played by the army
in the Mexican campaign has not been an
nounced, though there is every indication
that campaign of action has been map
ped out This was emphasized this. morn
Ing in the announcement by Secretary
Garrison that in the event of hostilities
with Mexico Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood.
chief of staff of the army, will command
the American forces.
Since the Russian-Japanese war the
theory of war has been revolutionized
and the advantage of quick, snappy ag-
gressivenesS has been taught in the war
colleges. Army strategists say that this
will undoubtedly be the course followed
if it comes to a pass where shots arg,
fired in Mexico, and that the. War Der
partment is quietly preparing to act
quickly when the time for strife comes.
Secretary Garrison has telesraphed to
division commanders throughout the
country resume of Huertas refusal to
accede to President Wilson's demands, in
order that his officers may be prepared
for any situation which may arise.
Gen. Wood Highest Ranking officer.
Gen. Wood is the highest ranking Of
f1cer on the active list of the army.
His detail as chief of staff expires
Wednesday and he has been assigned
Il.
1t has been known. however. that he
would not assume his new duties for
some time, and unofficial reports had
said he would go to Mexico. He prob
ably would leave Immediately for
Texas City. where the second army di-
vision has been modified for the last
fourteen months.
Secretaries Garrison and Daniels and
Assistant Secretary breckenridge of the
War Department conferred until after
| midnight over plans for cooperation be-
tween the land and naval forces in any
movement move; % that may be undertaken
| son had long talk with Gen. Wood
| An official stated that the plans pro-
| vide for calling the army. which al
ready has thousands of troops strung
along the Mexican border, into action
soon. 1t was stated that one column
probably will be sent in toward Mexico
city from Vera Cruz. and that two
columns will be started south from the
Texan border. Army engineers. 1T is
| understood. will be sent out in advance
| to repair and operate any railroads that
may be wrecked.
| The attitude of the constitutionalists
who hold practically all Of the northern
part of Mexico will have an important
bearing on this plan of campaign.
Militia to See Service.
| 1t Is understood that the War DEPART
| ment is planning to call into service
the entire strength of the state militia
| 1t IS said that there will be no grounds
| left for any shirking of duty in this re-
gard. and that all of the state troops
will see service.
The House bill providing for the or
| ganization OF volunteer forces of the
United States in time of actual or threat
ened war was passed by the Senate to-
day without opposition. and practically
without debate. Senator Chamberlain.
chairman Of the military affairs COM
m1ttee. called up the measure A letter
from the Secretary Of War recommend
ing the passage of the bill was read The
| bill provides for compact organization
| of volunteers. which it is said will bring
the number of men in the military or
ganization Of the United States to a num-
| ber many hundreds of thousands greater
than at present.
| 1t is believed an effort will be made to
rush through Congress the military pay
| bill. which has thus far been fought by
| the War Department.
Disagreement on Army Bill.
| Disagreement of conferees on the army
appropriation bill was reported to the
Senate today by Senator Chamberlain,
| chairman of the military affairs COM
mittec.
| Senate conferees insisted upon adher-
| ence to amendments to the House bill in
| creasing by several millions the appro-
| pration for munitions of war for the
militia and other increases. Action on
the report was deferred until tomorrow,
when further conferences will be de-
| manded
| If this military pay bill becomes a law
| the families of those who are enlisted in
| the state militia Will be assured of proper
| maintenance, and the men will not have
an excuse to shirk duty on this excuse.
/ h 80
The present strength of militia organ
izatons in the United States is 12o. ga
and the number of men available for
militia duty, as reported by adjutant gen.
| erals from the various states, is IL. .127:s55T7
The plan is to give every citizen soldier
an opportunity to volunteer for service.
| Those who volunteer will he sent into
| Mexico. Those who do not volunteer will
be sent to the border and kept there
| There are now about 10000 troops on
the Mexican border ready to move at
moments notice. More than 1000 are at
| Texas City, where they have been gath
cred for more than a year In anticipa-
ton of Mexican trouble. AT Texas City
are companies q. II and NJ Of Engineers,
| the 9Th Cavalry, the 4th Field Artillery
and the 11th, 18th, I'D, 3d. 26th and 9th
Infantry.
Besides these. there is Company E Of
| the engineer troops at Galveston. two
| II
| Cavalry at Fort Sam Houston, the 7th
| Infantry at Galveston. the 9th Infantry
| at Laredo, the 18th Infantry at Eagle
| Pass, Tex: the 10Th Infantry at Calves
| ton, the 10Th Infantry at El Paso, and
the 2Sth Infantry at Galveston.
The total strength of the regular army
| is now about $4,000 men. of whom 4. .665
are officers 1t is estimated that of the
total about 10000 are available at present
for war with Mexico
Transports Ready for Action.
| With four large army transports, the
largest in the service. tugging at their
anchors, with full steam up. in the harbor
of Galveston. it would take but two or
three hours to load them with Il part of
the provisional division now encamped
near Galveston and but three days to
rush them to Vera Cruz, the probable
ident and Congress decide upon war mea-
sures
These four transports the only ones on
the Atlantic coast. are the Mcclellan
Kirkpatrick, Sumner and Meade But
these vessels would only be sufficient to
take a part of this large force probably
only a brigade of infantry. However.
the Quartermaster Corps has Il number
of commercial vessels just where it can
put its finger on them at moment
notice and these without doubt couiu
be at Galveston by the time the four
regular transports were loaded.
Officers of the general staff of the
army were not in a speculative mood