Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-24
FUNSTON PREPARES
HIS ARMY FOR NEW
CRISIS IN MEXICO
CONTINUED from Page one.)


Mexicans in FL Paso of any arms they
might have concealed in their homes
and enforce what would be practically
martial law in little Chihuahua" the
heart of FL Paso's Mexican section.
All night Ell Paso waited for the
warning whistles, which would tell that
the expected outbreak has occur
red. Three hundred soldiers with ma
chine gun detachments waited under
arms for any emergency and the police
reserves, equipped with rifles, were also
held ready. Again and again rumors
ran through the town that shooting had
been heard in Juarez, but each time
they proved baseless.
TIME HAS ARRIVED FOR ACTION.
1t Is understood that government Of
ficials here have sent to Washington a
recommendation couched in the strong
est terms, urging that steps be taken to
disarm all Mexicans along the border,
taking the right of forciblse entry ana
search IL necessary.
The Washington authorities hereto
fore have opposed such step on the
gorund that it would be misinterpreted
by the Mexicans as discrimination
against them and in violation of their
rights.
II is now insisted by the local au-
thorities that the time has passed for
any deIicacy in handling the situation.
It is pointed out that no American is
permitted to enter Mexico armed and
that there mas; been far greater laXlty
on this side of the border than was de-
sirable.
The situation in Juarez remains most
ly a subject of conjecture with such IN
formation as Is obtainable bearing
decidedly sinister aspect. IL Is known
that a bitter feud exists between the
mayor, Manuel Prieto, and the military
commander, General GaoIlel daVira
Prieto is a staunch Carranza sup
norter while Gavira is devoted to the
interests of General Obregon, Carran-
za's minister of war. who Is known to be
bitterly hostile to the first CHEERS pro-
gram. especially as it relates TO CO.
oneration with Americans. Gavira
troops are Obregonistas and FORMER
Vinistas.
Whatever may happen in Juarez,
there is no superstition here that any
attack would be made on FL Paso from
the other side of the river. but there
Is the greatest apprehension that an
outbreak on one side would be Followed
nv an outbreak on the other.
There are about $4,000 MeXicans IN
this civ out of a total population or
II 600. The military and civil author
tiles have made vigorous EFFORTS 10 Iore-
stall trouble by arresting every MeXl-
can who was suspected Of incitlng thelr
fellow countrymen against Americans
That such a system apparently organ
lied. has been carried on for some time
has been we'll known. Numerous arrests
nave been made, especially among the
Villista colony, which is quite large.
The police last night renewed their
efforts, and detectives were sent INTO
every section of the city, who arrested
between fifteen and twenty Mexicans
suspected of being engaged in anti
American plotting.
The most important arrest was that
of Melchor Herrera, brother of General
Luis Herrera. Herrera was arrested as he
cossed the international bridge after n
conference with General Gavira at
Juarez. According to the police, they
have proof that a plot had actually been
perfected by Herrera and his associates
to start rioting in Eel Paso.
Two hundred men were said to have
bee nenlisted as a nucleus. According
to the police, plans of Herrera antici-
pated that as soon as the rioting started
large numbers of Mexicans would join
them.
The precautions adopted by the mil
itary and civil authorities were not re-
Taxed today. They were in part the re-
suit of General Funston's orders that
especial steps should be taken at all
points along the border to safeguard
American lives and property in view of
| the disaffection of General Luis Her
rera and other Carranza chieftains in
northern Chihuahua.
The belief of Americans who are IA
miliar with Mexican affairs was that if
the reported revolts in chihuahua seri-
ously shook the power of the first chief
it would not be long before there was
| trouble in Sonora. This state is the
headquarters of the Obregon adherents
and has never been more than lukewarm
TO the Carranza authority. 1t is the
native state of General Obregon and its
people are said to be devoted to his in
terests. General Gales, the military
governor of Sonora, is known to be an
| Obregon supporter and his recent at
lacks upon the cientificos and clericals
combined with his proposals to confis-
cate all concessions granted by Huerta
and villa, have given ominous force to
| the persistent rumors that he is not only
anti-American, but sympathizes with
Villa 1t is certain that number of
his most trusted officers were impli-
Gated with the bandit chief in some of
his notorious exploits.
The nervous tension along the border
| mas lnCFedSeQ 10 SuCn an eAleiI lHdl
many Americans frankly admit that
they would prefer a definite sundering
OF relations between Washington and
the de facto government to a continu-
ance of the existing situation.
Funston Prepares Army for
New Crisis in Mexico
SAN ANTONIO. Tex, March 23.-Or-
ders going from Fort Sam Houston pro-
vide for rapid action at points along
the border should nav rebellions in
Mexico make ii necessary.
| General unston was not altogether
convinced of the truth of the report
that General Luis Herrera, the deposed
military leader at Chihuahua, had en-
tered the field with Villa against the
United States. but the repetition of the
report, and the absence of acceptable
evidence to the contrary, caused the
general and his staff to regard it as
probably true.
staff officers of General Funston stud
led a more extended area of northern
Mexico today. The probable moves of