The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-25
WOOD GETS ORDERS
TO co TO VERA CRUZ
With Entire Staff, Will Establish
Headquarters in Mcxi-
can Coast City.
PLANS OF WAR DEPARTMENT
Ready to Be Put Into Effect as
Soon as President Wilson
Gives Word.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.l

eral Leonard Wood has received or
ders to go To Vera Cruz with his en-
tire star and establish his hcadquar-
ters there. Brigadicr- General Hugh l.
Scott viii 70 TO Vera Cruz As second
in command
The War Department has worked
out !, plan TO send 5000 regulars To
Vera Cruz Immediately. 1t was said
carly this evening that orders prob
ably would 70 out before morning TO
concentrate the National Guard OF
New York Illinois and several other
States These are the two principal
items in a plan OF campaign mapped
out By the department. which is ready
to he put into elect as soOT as Presi-
dent Wilson gives the word 10 90
ahead.
One of General Woods personal stan
sailed to-day from Galveston 10 make
the necessary arrangements for es-
tablishing a divisional headquarters at
Vera Cruz.
The army and navy board took un-
der careful consideration to-day tho
fact that the yellow fever season be-
gins in Vera Cruz about May l. This
means that "a grave problem will con-
front tho troops In the city. This fact
alone. even If nothing else happens.
may change the whole face OF Presi-
dent Wilson's policy.
The President has said that IT is
necessary only for the American forces
TO occupy Vera Cruz. The advent az
yellow fever in Vera Cruz Will make
one of TWO things imperative. Either
the army must be entirely withdrawn
from Vera Cruz and established at
some other port, or il VIII have To he
moved into the hill country"
Unless President Wilson gives or
ders To the contrary. the army viii
move onto the mountains IN the direc-
fi..Vr
ncnt Of troops. including rs il would
infantry, cavalry ;.Td artillery, would
have all tho effect of an invasion of
the interior, and would probably he
attacked by the combined forces of
Huerta. villa and Carranza
1t is probable that the next troops
10 h.. ordered 10 Vera Cruz viii he the
sixth Cavalry.
Secretary Of War Garrison said to-
day that there are about 1000 infantry
on the way 10 Vera Cruz from CAL
weston, and this. Significantly includes
the Fourth Field Artillery. for use In
the hill country"
The Howitzcr guns of this command
arc carried on pack mules. Three
hundred mules have been ordered. hut
they have not Yet sailed
With the vanguard Of tho troops
goes Held hospital ship No. g. All Of
these preparations indicate that the
army experts arc preparing for long
campaign, and that they do not expect
TO remain ut Vera Cruz
There VIII I've perfect accord he
tween Admiral badger, in charge of
the entire American feet on the East
coast, and General Wood, in command
oi the army. although. as in the Span
ism american War. the admiral IN
command OF the i.eet VIII comply with
any suggestions made bv the pepcr,I
~ ha .i.il
ISM American War General Shattc,. 10
sued instructions 10 Rcar-Admiral
Sampson ~
The selection Of Major General Wood
70 take the Held in command was
i''rseiE influenced by the fact that
nc Is thoroughly familiar with fight
ING IN tropical countries lie has 500,
service in Cuba. and has had nIc,,,
OF experience against practically INC
Sai'e CLASS OF enemies in the Philin
PIi'ts' lie mas I'M intimate knowledge
81 the science OF sanitation. as shown
ny ms work i'll Havana, and under his
IN santiago and elsewhere in
,,'e isi'hd OF cuba. lie is regarded as
the best equipped officer in the army
ior the campaign in Mexico.
brigadicr-Gencral Hugh l.. Scott is
General Woods right hand man. lie
Knows much about Mexican lighting
rom his experience on the border in
inc las, two years. He also has had
!ohS service in the Philippines ana
especially in the mountains.
1e!e'Al wood has not yet announced
the star he viii take vim MIN W
department. officials say that his n.r.
sonar stan Will he Captain Frank y
Mccoy ana Captain Halstead por.is
"h" mas already left for Vera Cruz
on special mission.
"hiie all these preparations are bo-
ing made In the regular army the adj
u'aht-seneral Brighten. George An
u ,,, Is waiting the flash from the
Whita House instructing him Ia no
scmble the national guard AZ warren.
points
New York is expected to furnis, n ~
VISION and her troops. Ii is now snid
WIN rendezvous at Fishk.n and peeks,
XIII. Illinois Will concentrates .,
Sprinsheid' with probably Il division
'ahi"rhia VIII send her troops to sac
i"me''o City, where another division
~, =. "sSe'f,n led. The militia of sew
eFal states bordering on 'rex,s u.t,,
concentrate ut San Antonio ana MAJ, ~.
used To relieve the Federal troons on
the border. p' o'i
war Department officials said to-day
that this Will he done regardless ri
any limitations In the volunteer hill
because the concentration contemplat-
ca may be erected for the purpose of
resisting invasion" under tho consti-
tutlonai prcrogatives of the President
The Ordinance Department saystb,t
The 10000 militia, about three-ouar
tcrs OF whom are expected TO resnond
are already equipped for service with
in the United States
~ there Is rush the officers Of the |
militia viii probably go into service |
win their rank and titles M tbrv
stand, except, perhaps, the ina tor-ren
erals.