Evening star., 1915-06-14
ACTION CAUSES HINT
OF u. S. USING FORCE
War Department Officials Meet and
Discuss What Program Would
Be Necessary.
APPEAL TO NORTHERN CHIEF
Decision on Whether Relief Shall
Enter Now in His Hands-Stop-
ped on Way From Eagle Pass,
Tex, to Piedras Negras.

1iSSs dispatches toQdE say
that Gen. Rosalio Hernandez,
Villa commander of the district
OF Monclova and the Rio Grande,
had denied entrance to Mexico of
carloads of foodstuff placarded
with Red Cross emblems, saving
that the Red Cross supplies mot
only are not needed, but will not
be allowed to enter" The action
caused grave concern at Red
Cross headquarters here.
Latest advices to the Red Cross officials
were that famine conditions prevail about
Monclova and that there was a spirit Of
unrest The Red Cross administration
board here will take no action in the mat
ter. as authority for settlement OF such
cases is intrusted to the Red Cross Of
ficials along the border.
1t is reported that Gen. Hernandez, ax
Pfedras Negras. opposite Eagle Pass, re-
fused permission to ship a car OF corn
and car of beans to Monclova. Three
days ago Hernandez had agreed to allow
Car Stopped at Piedras Negras.
Mr.. Weller. the Red Cross agent,
placarded his cars with Red Cross en-
blems in conformity with instructions
from the State Department, and pre-
pared to shunt his cars over the bridge
from Eagle Pass to Piedras Negras
He was stopped by Gen. Hernandez,
~
were not in want.
Hernandez is said to have consented
at last to appoint a commission to wire
Gen. Villa and to leave the matter in
his commanders hands.
1t is reported in press dispatches that
the offers Of the Red Cross have
aroused sentiment on the part of the
Mexican leaders. who feel that the
American action constitutes an in
fringement on the dignity of the Mexi-
can people. For this reason the situa-
tion is said to be quite delicate.
War Officials Confer.
Rumors of threatened Mexican in
reference with the Red Cross expedi-
tion for the relief of the starving popu-
lace in the country south Of the Rio
Grande have caused the War Depart
ment to consider the problem that
would confront it should aggressive
action be necessary by the United
States to restore order in Mexico. While
War Department officials refuse to dis
cuss their plans. frequent conferences
are held among officers with a view to
determining what steps would be neces-
sary should the United States be forced
to send forces across the Mexican boun-
darieS.
According to the best information in
the hands of officials here about 100, 900
Mexicans of all persuasions are under
arms, well seasoned with the expert
ence that comes from long training in
the country where the campaign would
occur should an American expedition
be dispatched southwark
The general war plans of the War
Department call for the raising and
equipment of a force of 500, 900 men. in
the event of hostiliteS with any for
eiEn power. and that number is con-
sidered to be none too many should a
clash with Mexico be precipitated.
Congressional Action Necessary,
The regular army could furnish az q
nucleus for that force only about 10000
men. 1t is estimated that 100 900 volun-
teers could be organized from the militia
Of the several states, leaving more than
10000 additional volunteers to be re-
cruited outside of the National Guard
OF course. congressional action would
into being. but it is already organized on
paper. and much of the equipment neces-
sary is already secure in the storehouses
and arsenals throughout the country. Ao-
cording to departmental estimates. It
would cost not less than $500, 900 to
equip and keep in the field for one year
the necessary force of 500, 900 men.
To Direct Red Cross Work.
c. J. OConnor. Pacific coast director
Of the red cross has been directed to
proceed from San Francisco to Mexico
City to personally direct the red cross
work there of relieving the starving
populationA
Mr. O'Connor. who has had charge
of relief work on the Pacific coast of
Mexico and at El paso, will probably
sail from Galveston tomorrow for Vera
Cruz, He will be accompanied from
Vera Cruz to Mexico City by Consul
General Arnold Shanklin.