The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-02
NEWICR|s|s IN MEXICO
SERIOUSLY THREATENED.
May Demand Immediate Reinforce
ment Of Troops Under Com
niand OF Funston.
WANT U. s. FORCES wITHDRAwN
Both Villa and Carranza Leaders
Irritated Over Stern Supervision of
Affairs Undertaken by This Gov
eminent
ESPECIAL % l,he Times- pispaieh.l

Especial to Tho Times Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON. November 1.-The
War Department finds itself facing n
new, crisis in Mexico.
Word conveyed to the department.
within the last twenty four hours re.
veais an acute situation that may de-
mand an immediate reinforcement of
troops under the command of General
Funston at Vera Cruz +
The leaders Of the villa and Car
rama forces who arc lighting for SUI
premacy in the Aguascalicntes con-
yention. arc insisting tina. the United
states soldiers be withdrawn from
Mexico. They are getting irritated
over the stern supervision OF Mexican
affairs undertaken by this govern
ment.
An official of the War Department
admitted secretly tonight that, with
neither Villa nor Carranza willing to
assure the United States, that its citI-
zens~wilI be protected. and the Aguas-
calien-es convention ignoring the
matter. junctuic has arisen that
may lead to serious trouble.
The United States will not withdraw
its troops unless sufficient guaran-
tee is given by the Mexican leaders or
~ VIC CoNNeution WHICH is 10 Ueclue
their supremacy. II the MeNi.ans-
as now seems likely-mnintain their
stubborn attitude, n clash OF the two
governments is anticipated within n
weeks time.
THIS GOVERNMENT
READY TO ACT PROMPTLY
While reports published in New
York by All army and navy journal
say that the United States govern
ment has already started to move
troops to reinforce General Funston
curate, 1t was frankly stated that this
government Is ready to act upon word
/ from Funston that such move Is
necessary.
The truth is, as given out to-day.
that an attack upon Funston is eX-
the government will hurry enough
troops to make 4 stout resistance.
Reports have constantly come to the
War Department from Mexico that
there is always danger that Funston
may be attacked. The War Depart
ment officials have sometimes got
them from Funston himself.
At the same time, Funston has not
said word within the past month to
intimate that he is afraid to face any
attack 1t is learned from private
source that General Funston did. when
! tha rnmors were first current here. ask
that an additional regiment be sent
TO him. and he mentioned the Porto
Rican regiment, Spanish speaking
command.
!, VESSELS NOT ORDERED
AWAY FROM VERA CRUZ
Navy officials point out to- night that,
possibly expecting n serious contin-
gency, the Navy Department has not
ordered all the vessels away from Vern
! Cruz. Nominally n division OF four
! ships is kept there. Within the past
few days It was necessary to order
| away the Kansas to Haiti In accordance
Bryan mrss one Of the p0''''es o. secretary
Should the Aguascalientes conven-
tion prove untractable and take it into
it's head seriously to try and force
Funston out of Vera Cruz. there Will
be no alternative but to send additional
ships, and in force. to Vera Cru. to
restore the ships to the west coast, and
to increase the cavalry regiments on
tho border
War Department officials admit that
| officers are going to their regiments
on the border. but they say that these
trips are only in accordance with or
ders issued year ago" that they
should return to their own regiments
but Ii has also been stated that NO
officers are to get vacations.
General Bliss. In command on the
| Mexican border. has under him about
1000 troops scattered along n 1900
mile line. and it Is obvious that In case
trouble is provoked by Mexico, he would
have to Immediately and largely re-
inforced out of the troops In the
United States. about $4,000 strong.
The State Department tonight an
pears to fear that the Mexican conven-
Iion will go so far, in order to PLAY
Mexican politics, as to demand the
Withdrawal of Funston. and that this
will bring on a clash between General
Aguilar and his 5000 troops with the
5000 troops Of General Funston.