Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-07-09
PROGRESS IN
PENDING CRISIS
IS VERY SLOW
Army Officials Learning Military
Lessons on the Mexican
Border
REsERv1sTs PROMPT
IN ANSWERING CALL
Attention Directed to Effect Of
Recent Order of War De-
partment

Washington, July Spending new
developments in the diplomatic situ-
alton between the United States and
the de facto government of Mexico,
army officials are learning military
lessons by watching the mobilization
of the national guard and summoning
of regular army reservists to the col
ors. Today brought no further indi-
cations as to the course Of procedure
Gen. Carranza will suggest to settle
border questions. Officials at the
state department are hopeful that
definite progress toward framing a
satisfactory agreement will be made
next week. At the Mexican embassy,
however, it is believed General Car
ranza's suggestion may not be receiv'
ed for several days. Then there PROB
ably will be some loss OF time, as
the authorities doubtless will desire
to give Elisio Arredondo specific in
structions before authorizing him to
open formal negotiations with Secre-
tary Polk.
At the war department the belief Is
expressed that more than 80 per- cent
of the 1000 or 5000 regular army re-
servists called for active duty will re-
port promptly. Publications nf n the
fact that a call has been made, It is
thought, will bring most of the men
to the front without the, delay neces-
sary for each to receive formal .noti-
fication. To make certain that other
men passing into the reserve at a
later time realize the seriousness OF
their obligation to return to the col
ors when called, prompt military tri-
ais will await any who fail to present
themselves. -, ~. - = I
Effect Not Easy to Estimate. n
The exact effect of the call for re-
serves is not easy to estimate In the
number of men it will produce. 1t is
much more far-reaching than the re-
serve list would indicate, however.
because in addition to summoning
back to duty the men who have been
out of the active service, for, some
time, it probably will operate to sus-
pend all discharged into the reserve
for the time being, except for specific
causes, which unfit soldiers for duty.
Army officers believe that with The
Increases. of the regular army author
lied by the Hay-Chamberlain bill COM
pleted, more than $4,000 men will
pass into the reserve annually. Since
the period of reserve service is four
years, they estimate minimum re-
serve strength of nearly 25,OOO men
will be maintained when the system
is in full working order.
Much attention is being given just
now to the effect of the order direct
ing that members of the national
guard who have dependent families
be discharged. Under the terms OF
the order it is optiona: whether the
department commanders issue a re-
lease from the service or national
guard discharge, which nullifes the
enlistment from the state, as we'll as
strikes him off the national guard
rolls altogether. No statement has
been issued by the war department
Many believe absolute discharge
should be granted, and that states
should not enlist men in the guard IN
the future who are not in every way
available for active service.