Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-06-21

every point where the threat of the
dc iacto soldiers exists. every prepa-
ration has been made for the pro-
lection of American lives and prop
erty
Defensive Offensive Planned.
In military circles il is agreed that
/ the American defense against the
/ slghtest Mexican aggression will be Il
swift and sharply executed offensive.
inc only way 10 protect the border
I VIII be to drive the Carrancistas away
+ from it.
Indications which piled up today
from various Mexican towns along the
I border point to the probability that
the first dash of American regulars
over the international boundary will
meet with slight resistance. Men
women and children in these centers
are being ordered southwark, while
merchants have been INSTRUCTED to
move their goods to interior points
There has been no preparation OF
trenches or other Notifications.
Retrcating Fight of Ii.
1t is believed here that whatever
fight the Mexicans might make would
be staged some distance to the south
American military men do not ex-
pect pitched battle. They say that
/ the Mexican officers who crossed over
into lei Paso when the Scott Obregon
conference was on and witnessed tho
display of United States regulars, re-
alze well that the poorly equipped
and ill-drilled poems under the Mex
lean banner would have no chance in
a genuine engagement with the Amer
leans. They predict the Mexicans will
make retreating fight of 1t.
Five 10 One.
While the carrancistas undoubtedly
outnumber the Americans at any given
point they are not feared by the
Americans, VINO figure one of their
men is worth five of the Mexicans.
This Is about the ratio of the troops
engaged in the first Mexican war
The Mexicans are not rated as highly
now as they We're then.
Strategists here point out the splen.
did military position of General Perish
ing's forces at Namiquipa. South
east of this point is the Santa Clara
canyon which cuts through spur
of the Sierra Madres, and provides a |
comparatively short route to Laguna
on the Mexican Central railroad. La
guna is about 140 miles from Juarez
and 80 miles from Chihuahua. By /
using the Mexico Northwestern to !
send another column into Chihuahua |
City, General Pershing could speedi- !
ly control both the Mexican Central !
and the Mexico Northwestern from
Juarez to Chihuahua, and be in a po-
sition to dominate the situation south |
of chihuahua City.
No Defenses at Juarez.
A trip through Juarez today showed
no attempt there at fortification.
There have been numerous reports
Of trenches dug and defenses thrown
up but these were shown to be
groundlss, few rows of stones.
piled up in fields, irrigation bitches
bereft of any flow of water and heapt
Of dirt here and there, apparently
gave ground for the rumors. Mill !.
Iary men say they are valueless against
American artillery
The large irrigation bitches through
he town could be utilized if the water
we're cut off. However, they might
also make good traps in event of a
,leverly executed flank attack.
While the situation develops the ex-
1dus of Americans from Chihuahua
and Sonora continues. Men making
heir way to Eel Paso say that prac-
ically only galvanized" Mexicans-
Americans who have married Mexican
and raised families--remain In
he interior and these will make no
attempt to leave.