New Britain herald., 1916-03-24
DOUGLAS IN FEAR
 IF MEXICAN TROOPS MASSED ON BORDER
Cavalry, Infantry and Artillery Reported in Close Proximity
 to City on Arizona Line
COULD EASILY REPEAT
 MASSACRE AT COLUMBUS

Despite DcniaIS of United States Con-
 diers Are Said to Have Entrenched
 Against American Side Behind Wire
 FIntangIenaents-CG Dcny Re-
 volt of General Herrera
 Washington, March 24.-Conflicting reports oI the massing of Cacranza <. troops on the border continued to reach here today.
 American consuls in northern Mex leo under orders of the state depart nlent to investigate the troop move ments, reported that they found no ' massing of troops in the northern sec lions.
 Senator Ashurst of Arizona. how ever, received today from D. A. Rich Er<ison nf Douglas telegram saying l. Mexican general with 5000 cavalry und forty pieces of artillery had ar rived at a point over the border not more than a mile from the center of the city and that 1000 additional Carranza cavalry were six miles south of the border. Richardson telegraphed that the American troops stationed two miles from Douglas were made quate to meet the situation and that there were fears of attack.
 Could Repeat Columbus Massacre.
 Richardson's telegram sent last night, follows: Mexican general has forty pieces of artillery and three thousand cavalry stationed ten blocks from center of Douglas. Seven thou sand cavalry six miles south Of Doug las. We have only eighteen hundred infantry, three hundred cavalry and four pieces of artillery. Our troops stationed two miles east of Douglas. Am reliably informed that it would take one hour for our troops to reach Douglas in case of night attack. Our army forbidden by administration from making any active defense prep, arations for fear Mexicans might mis-. construe such preparation. Mex leans have entrenched against Amer ican side and have barbed wire en- tang1ements. We have no entrench- ment. Mexican troops could easily repeat Columbus massacre in Douglas
 
 Mexico with small loss. All of these statements can be verified by our army officers here. Help us if you can before it is too late.'
 Senator Ashurst said he knew Rich ardson and regarded his informa tion as authoritative.
 T am giving this telegram for pub lication," said Senator Ashurst, "and swill not even submit it to the senate because it would be useless. I am tired of trying to get anything done"
 Consul Denies Herrera Revolt.
 American Consul Letcher at Chi huahua today reported there was no truth in the reported revolt of Gen. Herrera and the Carranza garrison at Chihuahua.
 Although Gen. Funston and Gen. Bell on the border have received re- ports confirming the story of the re- volt, which they believe to be true, the despatch from Consul Letcher, who is on the ground and has head quarters at the place where the re- volt was said to have occurred, is taken by officials here as confirming >the statements of Carranza officials that no such revolt has occurred.
 Consul Letcher's despatch reported that Gen. Herrera was in command of the de facto troops there and was '1oyal to Gen. Carranza.
 His report is regarded as remov- ing one of the most menacing fea- lures Of the Mexican situation.
 May Call Out National Guard.
 The problem of meeting any re- <fGest Gen. Funston might make for reinforcenn in event of a rebellion Of Carranza's army was under con- sideration here today. If the Amer lean forces were seriously attacked, 1t was regarded as likely that all available troops from the border would be rushed to the support of .ffc advancing columns, and that these troops would be replaced as quickly as possible by national guards1nen In order not to leave the border towns unguarded.
 Reply from Carranza to the request that American troops be permitted to use the Mexican Northwestern rail- way was expected momentariiy to- day. Border reports said Gen. PerGh- < ing already vas using a portion of the line, and department officials pointed out that it was possible he 5 had reached Q limited agreement with local Mexican railway officials.
 Direct word from the Tampico dis trict where anti-American demon gtrations have been unofficially re- ported, were awaited at the navy de- partment today from the battleshir Kentucky. on her way to Mexican w2tera. and the gunboat Machias off