The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-07-04
Movement Made By Pershlng To
Meet and Solve Supply Prob
lens Wins Approval From Of
ficials IN City Of Mexico
WASHINGTON SCOUTS IDEA ~
a. IT MEANS U. s. WITHDRAWAL
Has Significant Political Effect In
Southern Republic, Where, Il
: Is Said, It Has Already Pro-
duced An Excellent impression
tAssOoIatsd Press BY Federal wirsiss.3

w AsHINGToN, July 4. - The
wv american lines Iof communica.
tion in Mexico are being steadily
shortened, as General Pershing concen-
trates his forces southrof the border,
according to reports from the front re.
eeived here last night
The movement, II is declared in Off.
cial circles here does not in any way
presage the withdrawal of the Ameri.
cans from Mexico, and is not being
done under orders from Washington,
but entirely. on the initiative of Gen.
ernl Funston and. General Pershing, and
to meet the requirements of the trans.
port and supply problems. ~. -.
HAS Eject In Mexico .
Nevertheless the movement IL having
n political effect In Mexico itself and
the reports from that country Indicate
n great deal Of real satisfaction over
the shifting 81 the y Amerieatg lines
northward., Senor Arredondo, the spec.
iaI representative of the de faeto gov
ernment In Washington, issued state.
ment last night commenting upon the
action of the American comma nders
and declaring that impression created
by the action Of the United States
troops throughout Mexico is good.''
Senior Arredondo adds that as fast
as the American troops are moved
northward Mexican troops are being
sent in TO take their places and are
maintaining the good police work that
has been done, and keeping perfect
control of the entire situation"
Reorganising Patrol
Secretary Of War Baker yesterday
announced that he has taken import
ant steps in the reorganization of the
border patrol with the hope of securing
great efficiency in guarding the line
and protecting American residents from
raids by the border bandits from the
south.
One Of the results of the move will
be to split the present Southern De
partment into three new Departmental
with General Funston at the head OF
the new Southern Department, Gen
Franklin Bell, in command Of the west
ern department. which includes the Dor
der line OF Arizona, and westward tC
the Coast, and central or New Mex
ieo department, which is to be under
the command Of General Pershing, pro
vided his duties in the field will per
nit him. TO assume the additional dut
les of department. head.
8 Suggestion Of Funston
The plan is said to be the sugges
tion Of General Funston, in the inter
est of efficiency, aud probably pavei
the way for the apDOinfment of a su
preme commander. The Indications ar'
that General Wood Is being considered
for this position, I , =. =, 's1
1t is probable that General Pershing
now brgadiergeaerals win be pro
Noted 10 Ne maior-general
a. Secretary Baker also announced thai
the order creating the New Mexico de
paTtment, commanded by Genera
Pershing, has been temporarily sus
pended, pending the adjustment of de
tails of the. arrangement. Genera
Pershing has not yet reported as y
whether his present activities will per
init him TO assume the duties of com
mander. E# II .,r
These measures and others regarding
the new distribution of the patrol ol
the border line, are taken in officia
circles here to indicate that the mill
tia troops undet orders for boundar!
duty are in. for a protracted period o
active patrol duty. They win be Civ
en- u most thorough training under tn,
direction df regular army officers, il
patrol work, husketry practise, targe
range work,fand the many other dutie
of the soldier. .. se. fE