The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-01
Vanguard of State Troops Are
Arriving on Border.
900 Encamped at Ell Past
Within Another Week.
REGULARS TO PERsHIRG'S AID
May Rush 5000 Soldiers From
Ell PasO Into Mexico.
This Reinforcement Would
Give Pershing 1900 Men.

FL Paso, Tex, July To-day
tented city of several thousand nation
al guardsmen is springing into exist
ence on the cactus decked plain near
Fort Bliss. Before the end of the
coming week there will be an army of
$4,000 stretching from Ell Paso to
Columbus, N NJ
They will gradually assume the pa
troll duties of 5000 regulars who can
be rushed into Mexico to join General
Pershing's column Local authori-
ties feared that Carranza's statement
from Mexico City yesterday might
lead to the punitive expedition being
reinforced While the state troops
advance on the border is screened by
an Official silence, 10000 from Penn
sylvania and New Jersey are the van
guard expected here during the day
Regulars at Fort Bliss are hard al
work this morning clearing the new
camp site of cactus and mesquite
Can't Give Out Information.
II can give no information regard
| ing troop movements" General Bel
stated 7 have received instructions
from Washington to this effect But
we expect the advance guard OF the
| state troops some time today and 9TH
/ erS are en- route.
The regulars relieved by the arrival
of the national guard will be held il
momentary readiness for a dash into
Mexico should war eventuate- With
the 5000 regulars from the Ell PaSt
zone, General Pershing would have {
punitive force of about 1900 men
The latest estimate of the American
army now in Mexico is about 11.o0i
Even thus reinforced, Pershing viii
have only a third of the number tbs
Carranza government has concen
trated in a horse shoe around tbs
American expedition The Mexicani
are believed to have laid their plan
for a quick blow with superior mum
bers in case of war.
Illinois Guards in Camp.
San Antonio, Tex, July 1.-The mel
of the First Illinois infantry tumble,
out at reveille today and began Il
scan the country to the south for thei
I first glimpse Of Mexico. None of then
had eyesight equal to the task. Tn
Sam Houston
The Illinois contingent arrived las
night and was Immediately assigne'
to Camp a at the head of the lin
provided for the Illinois and Wiscon
sin brigade Colonel Sanborne. com
handing. was handed a blueprint b,
an attache of the quartermaster's de
partment- The map enabled him Z
assign his men to their tent sites with
out the aid of the regular army off
GERS.
The entire Illinois contingent is ex
pected here early next week. Tn
Second regiment will be located a
Camp B and the Third ar Camp c
The Seventh New York regimen
reached mere late last night and wa
transferred to the San Antonio an
Aranzas Pass railway without detrain
ing
1t was expected to reach Browns
Vile about noon today.
ATTACK Mexicans Vigorously.
The Illinois guardsmen had thei
first clash with Mexicans late yester
day-and won an overwhelming vic
tory One of the troop trains halted
few minutes in Waxahachie. the sprin
training camp of the Detroit Tiger
Half a dozen Mexicans were standin
near the track. Some of the guards
men wanted to know il they were In
dams When assured they were Mex
cans the soldiers opened up on ther
with salvo of hard tack package.
The ''spigS" sought shelter behind DO
cars until the train pulled out