Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-08-12
TROOPS BEING
CONCENTRATED TO.
PROTECT TEXAS.
Believed the Mexican Population
May Start Racial Strife in
That State.
CITIZENS ARE ARMED TO
GUARD THEIR PROPERTY
War Department Says the Move
ments of Army Merely Local
in Significance.
QUIZ SUPPLY FIRMS.

quiz SUPPLY FIRMS.
Washington, Aug. 11.-Ameri-
can manufacturers Of war sup
plies have been asked by the
war department for information
concerning their facilities, with
particular reference to what SER
vice the United States govern
ment can expect from them In
case of emergency. Measures to
strengthen the national defense
during the coming session of con-
gress are expected to result In
vastly increased demand tor sup
plies aside from any emergency
that may arise.
Consequently the war depart
ment has Instituted a general in
qury to take stock Of resources.
Brownsville, Texas, Aug. 11.-Prac-
tically every American citizen in the
three southernmost counties Of Texas
Cameron, Hadalgo and Starts
resting on arms tonight in fear that
the overwhelming Mexican population
of the section may break out in o
racial fight
Seek to Annex Territory.
: The Mexican disturbance spread
rapidly westward today, until rumors
of trouble developed at Laredo, 200
miles along the border from here, The
disturbance today is reported to have
been part of an attempt to turn part
of Texas back to Mexican control, q
scheme said to be backed partly by
ignorant classes of Mexicans, helped
by escaped convicts and fllgitives
from justice on the American side,
and assisted by fairly large influx
Of irresponsible Mexicans from the
other side, including some Mexican
soldiers.
The disturbance has been famed by
some of the bitter disputes of border
political conditions, which in some in
stances kept the American residents
Of this section from realizing how
strong the under current of Mexican
feeling was growing.
Urge Mexicans to Revolt.
Rangers in Hidalgo county, pursu.
ing some Of the gang which killed an
American trooper near Mercedes last
night, today captured flag bearing
words in Spanish, Army of liberation
for Mexicans in Texas" They also
took some literature urging MeXicanS
to revolt.
Army and federal investigators de.
clared the organizers of the trouble
are working under the so-called plan
of San Diego, which calls for the
death of every American male over
sixteen years Of age, in communities
along the Rio Grande, and also along
the border of New Mexico, Arizona
land California. 1t has been reported
to Major General Frederick Funston
that more than 5000 Mexicans are
pledged to this organization already.
Ready to Cross River.
Authorities here tonight are watch-
ing the river at a point about ten
miles below Brwnsville, where it was
reported several hundred armed Mexi-
cans had gathered on th Mexican side
of the Rio Grande waiting to cross the
river under darkness.
A Mexican ranger in Hidalgo coun-
ty, about SO miles up the river from
Brownsville, this afternoon appealed
for aid, asserting that so armed Mexi-
cans were in hiding on his ranch. He
said they had threatened to kill him.
if he told of their presence.
Carranza Men In Plot.
Officials here have reports that 100
former Carranza soldiers have cross
ed the river along a zone 120 miles
wide, from a point below Brownsville
to Rio Grande City, up the river. At
least 80 different parties are said to
have crossed
The arrival of troops in force from
Laredo appears to nave caused the
bandits today to shift rapidly west
ward into the less pop..lous sections
between here and Laredo. Telephone
messages tonight from tn portions OF
Cameron county, north of here, where
the main fighting has been going on
for two weeks, indicated that the oft
laws had either left or were In hid.
ing.
About Mercedes, a few miles north
west of here, rangers and cavalrymen
pressed the bandits so hard today that
some Of them fed across the river.
PREPARE FOR DEFENSE.
Washington, Aug. 11.Raiding and
guerilla fighting In Texas along the
Mexican border will be met by
Strengthening the United States forc-
|es there. This has been requested BY
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