Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1916-06-24
EE.IIEENaT!oi!AL GUARD
IS ORDERED 70 MUSTLR
ABOUT 10000 MEN ARE EXPECT
ED TO RESPOND TO MOBILE
ING ORDER FOR SERVICE.
War VESSELS Patrol COAST
Ult;matun of Mexican General Not to
Move American Forces crd General
Carranza's Demand to Leave Mex
leo Brought on Crisis.

Extraordinarily the entire
mobile strength of the national guard
of all states and the District of Column
bia was ordered mustered into the
federal service Sunday by President
Wilson. About 100000 men are ex-
peCred to respond to the call. They
will be modified Immediately for such
service on the Mexican border as later
may be assigned to them.
Major General Frederick Funston,
commanding tie border forces, will
OBSTINATE the time and place for move
ments Of guardsmen to the interna-
tioral line as the occasion shall re-
cure.
II announcing the orders Secret2r-
O. War Baker said the state forces
woGid be employed only to guard the
border and that 10 additional troop
movements into Mexico were contem-
plated, except in pursuit o. raiders.
Secretary Daniels ordered seven de-
stroyers and nine other small war yes
sells to Mexican waters to join units
ready stationed on the eat and west
Mexican coasts. The secretary de-
scribed the movement as ''precaution-
airy"
The vessels probably will be used TO
bring home American refugees should
an emergency develop.
On the east cost orders were is
sued to the transport Dixie, which
sailed from Philade phia for Key West
early Sunday; the scout cruiser
Salem, at Guantanamo, Cuba; the gun
boat Dolphin, en- route TO Guantanamo
from Santo Domingo, and the trans
port Hancock, at Santo Domingo. !
Vessels stationed on the east coast
of Mexico now are the battleship Ne
braska, at Vera Cruz; the gunbOats
Machias and Marietta, at Tampico, and
the gunboat Wheeling, at FL Carmen.
On the west coast are the protected
cruiser Cleveland, at Guaymas; the
supply ship Glacier, cruising between
ports; the gunboat Yorktown, at Topo-
lobampo; the protected cruiser Al
bany, at Manzanillo, and the gunboat
Annapolis and the transport Buffalo,
at Mazatlan. The cruiser Raleigh is
stationed at Corinto, Nicaragua.
At the war, navy and state depart
ments 1t was stated that no new ad-
vices as to the situation in Mexico
had come to precipitate the new or
ders.
Wire service into Mexico has been
cut on the Mexican side at number
of border points.
Within the last two weeks, however,
tension has been increasing steadily.
The crisis presented by General Car
ranza's note demanding the recall OF
Brigadier General Pershing's expedi-
tionary force has been followed by a
virtual ultimatum served on the Amer
lean officer by General Trevino, the
Mexican commander in Chihuahua.
To this was added the possibility that
American and Mexican troops had
clashed across the border from San
Benito, Texas.
Administration officials made no at
tempt to conceal their relief for the
safe return OF Major Anderson's cav
airy squadron TO Brownsville, after
their successful bandit chase. The
troopers crossed In pursuit Of bandits
In the face of intimation- that they
would be attacked II they DID SO. Cen
eral Funston himself reported that he
anticipated fighting, presumably with
Carranza troops.
Mobilization of the national guards
men to support General Funstons line
will pave the way for releasing some
30. 900 regulars for immediate service
In Mexico in the event of open hostii-
ties with the Carranza government
The guardsmen themselves could not
be used beyond the line without au-
thority of congress and until they had
volunteered for that duty, as they are
called out under the old militia law
The new law which would make them
available for any duty under the fed
eral government goes into effect
July /.
The entire mobile regular army in
the United States, several provisional
regiments of regular coast artillery
serving as infantry and the national
guard OF Texas, New Mexico and Ari-
Eo:ga, now ere on the border or in
Mexico. Definite figures have never
been mad7 public, but it is understood
General Funston has about 10000 reg.
ulsrs aud prohably 5000 or more
guardsmen, Of whom 10000 regulars
are with General Pershing or scattered
along his line Of communications from
Namiquipa, Mexico, to Columbus.
\. II.