Evening star., 1916-06-29
district of the northeast. whose head
quarters are at chihuahua City.
~ NJ, rr~:-x~:~- c.1.-.~

Gen. Bell Maintains Silence.
tom of maintaining close secrecy re-
garding all military developments. re-
| fused to say whether he had received
| the message. He saro that all an
nouncements must come from Gen.
Funston at San Antonio
On receipt of word that Gen. Funston
had given out the contents of the mes
sage, he said no escort would be sent
to meet the prisoners in the morning.
but an officer would be delegated to
, take command Of them and lead them
Mexican officials last night were
happy over the turn in events. They
said this would mean lessening of the
tension of the last few days Gen.
Francisco Gonzales. Juarez commander,
and Andres Garcia. Mexican consul at
Ell Paso, each said he regarded the in
| cident as reassuring.
This shows that we don't want war
| unless it is forced upon u.s." Mr.. Garcia
said.
Preparing Army for Offensive.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex, June 2s.-Staff
officers and departmental chiefs at Gen.
Funston's headquarters continued to-
day the work of shaping the hourly
! increasing army for possible offensive
movement Notification that Gen. Car
ranza had ordered the surrender to
American military authorities of the
negro troopers captured after the hight
at Carriza1 was received with gratin :
cation. but it did not lower in the least
the high pressure OF military prepara-
| ton.
| The opinion was widespread that the
release Of the prisoners had not altered
| the basic reasons for the mobilization
along the border Of great army ana
| that the danger OF an open preaK with
Carranza's troops that parallel the in
ternational boundary had not oeen
greatly lessened.
Trains bearing certain units of eastern
National Guardsmen were expected to
cross the state line during the day and
| by night it was believed that consid-
erable part of the newly made army
would be nearing stations along the
border.
Brownsville. Laredo. Eagle Pass and other
points where the greater concentrations
will be made, while quartermaster depart
ment officers here were piling up stores IN
San Antonio and adding to the already
large warehouse space
Army Buying Horses and Mules.
The purchasing Of horses and mules
was under way today under the first con-
tract ratified yesterday by the War De-
partment. Buyers Of horses and mules
appeared today with herds they had Sc
cured from Texas farms and ranges. and
army inspectors appeared pleased with the
condition of the mounts. declaring that
the sgrade appeared slightly better tnan
Reports from border commanders indi-
Gated no clash of any consequence with
Mexicans The slight exchange OF shots
between outposts near Brownsville was
not regarded as serious Reports that
came from the, Mexican lines indicated
that the Carranza troops had not re-
laxed their vigilance, Notwithstanding the
order to release the prisoners at Chihua-
| hua. -
| ing movements south of Matamoros and
| at other points along a line paralleling
the border although In most cases the
points of greatest concentration were
several miles in the interior.
National Guardsmen Cross Border.
COLUMBUS. N. NJ. June 2s.-For the
| first time since their mobilization on
the border National Guardsmen today
are in Mexico on military service.
| Three motor trucks were loaded with
! New Mexico guardsmen last night and
| dispatched down Gen. Pershing's line
Of communication, to help guard
| against its being cut
| This action was taken following re-
| ceipt of a report that large forces of
! Carranza cavalry had been concentrat-
| ed at or near Guzman. on the Mexico
Northwestern railway. Such troops
| would be in a position to interrupt the
| American communications. which are
1 only ten miles distant from Guzman.
| large number Of remounts. which
left here yesterday for Gen. Per-
shing's headauarters. were ordered
mander because of fear that the re-
| ports might be true.