New Britain herald., 1916-03-14

Boys ill Arch Street Armory Ready to
 Jump Into Uniforms and Hasten to
 Frontier if Call Comes-Chief Topic
 of Discussion.
 It is only a question of time in the opinion of Captain Harry F. Ladbury Cf Company l. c. N. G., before the Mexican situation will develop into general warfare with all the Mexican factions united against common foe. The Mexicans one and all hate the "GringOes' as the Americans are termed. Whatever differences they rnay have among themselves it is practically a foregone conclusion that once the border is fairly crossed con- ditions will develop that will soldify the Mexicars against the invading forces from this country. Tn that event, said Captain Ladbury, there will be an immediate demand for more troops, which will result in call for state troops.
 The New Britain soldier boys are
  a war with Mexico and the majority welcome the situation While the state troops are now on peace foot ing with company enrolment of 65 men, little time would be lost in drafting them into the federal service. The regulations and equipment are the same with the militia as with the government troops and today they are in reality a government reserve. On g. war footing each company must number 150 men, but this would not delay a call for service Those now in the ranks would be mustered in at once and the government would open recruiting offices for the purpose of securing the full complement needed to place the regiments on a war foot | ing.
 Funston Great Leader. Captain Ladbury regards General l Funston as a splendid leader as well as a fine tactician. Funston did great l work in the Philippines as the leader ] of a Kansas regiment and Captain l Ladbury heard much of him while in | the islands although never serving under him. Captain Ladbury fought under the immortal Lawton and was also with the American troops in the
 
 capture of Pekin. In the captains opinion, the United States could have no finer leader for the Mexican ex- petition than General Funston, but he does not believe it will be a case of 'Hurrah boys, the enemy is fleeing.' In Villa he recognizes a skillful and daring enemy. The Mexi- can chief, bandit though he is, is a 1 born leader and has a knowledge of Northern Mexico that is not to be gainsaid. The mountain fastnesses and the trails and passes have been travelled by him time and again in the past few years. The fighting is likely to partike of the characte of the Boer war and Villa may be con- sidered on the order of the famous DeWet, who gave the British so much trouble before he was cornered.
 Big Chance of Trouble.
 The possibility of the Carranza forces uniting with the villistas in Captain Ladbury's opinion is more than chance. It will probably de- velop into a case of all Mexicans looking alike to the invaders and even If the Carranza troops at first show disposition to unite with the Americans mistakes are liable to happen. Should the United States troops in error fire upon Carranza de- tachments the affair would likely de- velop seriously.
 The Carranza and Villa forces are almost hopelessly mixed. The men have shifted from side to side as mood or opportunity influenced them. When Villa money was worth more than the coin issued by the govern ment of the First Chief, the greasers fIocked to the standard of the noun tian leader and vice versa. Fighting has become as much a business as horse stealing in peace times and the Mexicans who have become experi- creed Warriers since the revolution of 1910 care little on which side they fight and With no trouble at all would united against the hated invaders from across the Rio Grande.