Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-15
Outlines to His Staff Redis-
tribution of Ameri-
can Forces.
HAS ALMOST $4,000 MEN
UNDER DIRECT CONTROL
Changes. He Believes, Will Guar
antee Protection of U. S. Citi-
zens From Raiders.
MENICANs PURSUING BANDITS
Funston Orders Investigation OF Sus-
picious Fires at Fort
Bliss.

SAN ANTONIO. TEXAs May IA
or-Cieneral Funston began to-day
the consideration OF n plan for the
border patrol. Having under his direct
control almost $4,000 men, he outlined
TO his staff a redistribution of forces
that he believed would guarantee the
protection OF American residents from
Mexican raiders.
Already forces at border stations have
been strengthened. and 1t was Indicated
to-day that before the end of the week
the greater part OF the regular troops
and militia that have been sent into
three border States would he prepared
and In position for quick service along
the intcrna tional line.
Each Of the patrol districts will be in
charge of a general officer. The dis
trict comma ndcrs will include Briga-
dier-Gencral James Parker, command
ing the First Cavalry Brigade: Briga-
hier- General William ~. Mann, com
manding the Second Brigade. at La
redo, Texas, and Brigadier-Genernl H.
A. Greene. who has been ordered to
report at headquarters here from Fort
Leavcnworth.
NJ ADDITIONAL TROOPS
TO RE SENT TO SIBLEY
II is improbable that more troops will
! he sent to Colonel Sihley. In charge OF
the little expedition that crossed into
| Mexico near Boquillas as n result of
the raid at Glenn Springs and Boquillas
a week ago. Four troops OF cavalry
ard n machine gun detachment are now
| operating close to the line. scouting
| through Il limited territory south of
the border, but there has not been any
intention OF sending forward at that
point n punitive expedition that would
compare In sizS to that Of General Per-
shng in the state of Chihuahua. If
the cavalry that is operating south OF
| BoGuillas fails to locate any bandits
within a few days. It's return to sta
tions north OF the line Is probable
| Army officials here are deeply in
| tcrestcd in the efforts the Mexican
troops were reported to he making to
| run down the bandits who raided the
| Big Bend district, and who held as a
prisoner Jesse Deemer. IN American
storekeeper IT Is regarded here as
not impossible that the Mexican
troops may cut off the retreat Of the
bandits towards the interior and force
| them hack within reach OF Colonel Sib-
| ley's cavalry.
Reports from General Pershing to-
day were said to deal with routine
matters only. His entire column OF
more tiran 1900 men is now almost
! Il compact unit.
With the exception of the attempt to
| destroy part of the buildings at Fort
Bliss last night, no unusual incidents
were reported to general headquarters
to-day. General Bell in his report
expressed the opinion that the fires
were of incendiary origin.
MILITIA MOBILIZATION
PRACTICALLY COMPLETED
With the exception OF the Thirtieth
and Third Infantry. one battalion OF
the Third Field Artillery and one COM
pany OF Coast Artillery. all the addi-
tional troops ordered to report to Cen
eral Funston have arrived. Four OF
the eleven companies of Coast Artil-
lery brought here have been sent to
border stations. The remainder have
been mohiiized at Fort Sam Houston.
The militia mobilization at Douglas.
Columbus and here was completed to-
day.
The mastering into the regular army
he begun on Tuesday. Medical Of
tcers who have been examining the
men. estimated to-day that the per-
centage of those who would be re-
jectsd almost was negligible. a
slightly greater percentage Of those
who do not care to be sworn in "for
the term of their enlistment" is ex-
pected. but Major General Stevenson,
adtutant OF the brigade, said that in
vestigation indicated that at least SIS
per cent OF the guardsmen would take
the oath without hesitation.
1T is not expected that any OF the
militia Will be placed i'll stations Of
great responsibility for some time. pos
sibly for weeks. In the meantime, the
work of drilling them and hardening
them will be conscientiously looked
after Light work was commenced to-
day.