The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-01

on the east and just forty miles south
of Columbus.
A scouting party from Columbus is
endeavoring to locate the positions of
a similar force which is said to have
slipped through the passes of the
Sierra Madre mountains from Sonora
which have been evacuated by the
American commander have been gar
risoned and strongly fortified by the
Mexicans.
The sum of this situation is Gen
eral Pershing has been forced, by the
delays in dealing with First Chief
Carranza, in a position where his lit
tie army of 5000 is likely to be at
tackled at any time from three sides
by a force of not less than $4,000. II
he moves in any direction except to
the north as Carranza has ordered, he
must fight.
Mexicans Brag of 1t.
These are not military secrets. They
are facts known to every 1ntelilgent
Mexican on the border and they brag
about the successful strategy of Cen
eral Trevino at every opportunity.
The Mexican commanders along the
border are convinced that there is go
ing to be war and are making active
that if President Wilson does not take
the initiative on the strength of what
already has happened they will make
some move that will force his hand.
Throughout the northern states
there is a disposition to publicly be-
little the efforts of the first chief to
prolong the diplomatic controversy
between Washington and Mexico City
At Nogales the Mexican command
er, Gen. NorZa Garayea, was so eager
to start the fighting that he called
upon the American commander, Col.
w. H. Sagae. to. make arrangements
for the first battle. The meeting was
held in the Mexican consulate on the
American side of the border. Colonel
Sagae advised the Mexican officer to
await instructions from his govern
ment, saying that he intended to fol-
low such a course unless fired upon
from south of the border.
Gavira on Job Again.
In Juarez the feeling has not re-
Taxed. Gen. Gabriel Gavira, once re-
ported executed by order of Minister
of War Obregon, has returned with
out his former friendly SMILE He has
announced that his instructions are to
resist with all the strength of his force
any effort to take the town or make
use of the railroads terminating there.
The cavalry horses and part of the
equipment of. the prisoners taken at
Carrizal were delivered to Gen. George
Bell, jr., during the day. The animals
twenty three in number-were ema-
ciated and in bad condition generally.
Several of them had been marked by
the Mexican bullets but none were
seriously wounded.
A pathetic scene was enacted at
Fort Bliss. Capt. Lewis Morey, of the
Inflated Troop K. held reunion with
the twenty-three troopers released yes
terday by the Mexican authorities.
The captain and soldiers will be sent
back to their regiment at Colonia
Dublan when they have recuperated
from their wounds and privations at
the base hospital here.
In anticipation of clash with Mex
leo. military authorities are rushing to
completion army hospitals all along
the border. In addition to the base
hospitals now operating at Fort Bliss
San Antonio and Douglas Ariz., other
hospitals to care for wounded soldiers
are being esta blished at Fort Crockett
near Galveston; Eagle Pass, Laredo
and Nogales. Every camp also will
have an emergency hospital