Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-07-04
(By Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, July 3.-With more
than 10000 troops assembling along
the Mexican border. the war department
today took steps to decentralize direct
administration of the 1,SOO-mile frontier
in the interest of efficiency and proba-
bly, to pave the way for the appoint
nent of a supreme commander to- CO.
OF dinate all military activities on the
international line and in Mexico. The
border formerly in the southern de-
partment from the Gulf of Mexico to
California, now is divided into three
military departments. commanded re-
spectively by Major General Frederick
Funston, Brigadier General John ].
Pershing and Major General ]. Franklin
Bell.
War department officials said the new
order, which automatically relieves GEN
eral Funston of supreme command on
the border and the enormous RESPONSE
bilities that have crowded upon him,
had no significance as indicating prep
aration for war. There was no formal
announcement in regard to the probable
selection of a senior major general for
commander-in-chief of the border guard
and field forces. There are no indica-
tions that Major General Leonard
Wood, former chief of staff and now
commanding the department of the
east, is being considered in this con-
nection.
PROMOTION OF PERSHING.
Another probable change indicated by
the new order is the promotion of Cen
eral Pershing under the army organiza-
ton bill now effective. 1t provides for
an additional major general, ana 1t is
believed General Pershing will be given
one of these posts in recognition of his
services in his pursuit of the Columbus
bandits The statement issued by the
department follows:
The present southern department is
divided as follows with assignments of
command thereto as indicated:
"A-The southern department, to be
under command of Major General Fred
erick Funston, to embrace that part of
the present department to a line east of
Ell PasO.
"B-The department of New Mexico,
with headquarters at FL Paso, Tex, to be
established under the command of
Brigadier General John ]. Pershing, to
extend from western boundary of south
ern department to the 1O9th Meridian.
-"C-That portion of the southern de-
partment west of the 109th Meridian to
be assigned to the western department
under the command of Major General ].
f. Bell, with field headquarters for same
at Douglas, Ariz.''
General Bell is in command of the
western department with headquarters
at San Francisco. He also is a former
chief of staff of the army.
Pending the appointment of an Of
| ficer to supreme command, the func-
tions of the three departments will be
co-ordinated through the war depart
ment.
NOT TO RETURN AT ONCE.
The assignment of General Pershing
to the command of the department of
New Mexico, it was stated officially,
does not mean that the expedition into
Mexico is about to be withdrawn or that
General Pershing himself will return
to direct the affairs of the department
from FL Paso, his new headquarters. 1t
is assumed that he will remain in the
field for the present at least. If he
is promoted, a brigade commander prob
ably will be sent to relieve him in
Mexico unless developments should ne
cessitate the sending of large number
Of additional troops across the border
Brigadier General George Bell, Jr,
will remain in direct command of the
Ell Paso district where his brigade is
on duty.
Retirement of General Pershing's ex-
pedlJlOn TO the bases 1t now occupies,
probably 100 miles closer to the border
was declared by officials of the war
department today to be due to military
reasons alone. At the state department
it was said there was no change in the
policy regarding the expedition although
private advices from Mexico City assert
that Carranza officials construe the
movement as an Indication that the ex-
petition will soon be withdrawn and
that this feeling may have some bear
ing on the diplomatic situation.
Army officers explain that the prob
lem of supplying the expedition has
become more and more difficult. The
rainy season is due but there has been
no rain for weeks and the country about
General Pershing's camp has been
stripped of the last vestige of forage
for his animals
The war department is without direct
information as to present disposition
of the expedition forces, the matter
having been arranged between Generals
Funston and Pershing
NO NEWS OF REPLY TO NOTE.
The state department had no advices
today as to when a reply of General
CarranZa to the demands sent a week
ago might be expected. The Mexican
embassy also was without information.
The department has received intima-
tions that the Mexican ambassador had
received the note last week. 1t was
said today however, that the official
notification of the release of the pris-
oners taken at Carrizal was the only
message in any way bearing on the
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