The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-03-15
Vote to Increase Land Force
Follows Hays Conference
at White House
NEW TROOPS TO
HELP GUARD BORDER
veterans in the Service VIII Be Used
In Making the Invasion - Action
Taken in the House Was Practically
Unanimous.

unanimous.
WASHINGTON, March 15.-The deveI-
opments of major Importance in the Mexi-
can situation may be summarized thus:
At the request of the administration
the house adopted resolution author.
izlng the war department to recruit
l9,94I men, to put the mobile army
OF the United States on war foot
ing.
Inc request was made because the
administration has received reports
indicating that the appearance of
zen Funston's punitive expedition ON
mexican soil may be the signal for
general uprising and result in attacks
on border towns.
Secretary of War Baker announced
that no American troops have crossed
the border He added that he would
not indicate when the expedition
might be expected to move, and that
he would give no reasons for the de-
lay.
Consul Silliman at Queretaro wired
the state department that Carranzas
acting secretary for foreign affairs had
indicated to him that the action of this
government in offering to allow Mexi-
can forces to pursue bandits into the
tory. and that the first chief would
interpose no obstacle to the move
ments vi the Funston expedition.
The action of the President in asking
congress for an increase in the regular
army overshadowed every other deyeloD-
ment IN the border situation. 1t was ac-
cepted as meaning that the administration
realizes that grave situation NAV arise
and that the army shoula-b Brepared Il,
meet every eventuality.
Conhdentlal reports received by the ad-
mlnlstration have satisfied the officials
that Mexico is seething with hatred and
dlstrust of Americans and eyerythinp
American, and that the professional poli-
tlcians and military leaders may bring
about an extremely bad situation if thew
urge the armed forces to oppose the action
ot this government.
Efforts to clear the way for the consid-
Grafton OF the Hay bill, increasing the reg
uiar army and federalizing the militia,
were undertaken by majority leaders in
the house yesterday. The President sum
moned Representative Padgett. chairman
of the house naval affairs committee. to
the White House to urge haste in the
preparations of bill providing for naval
building program.
hen Representative Hay arose in the
mouse last night to submit his resolution
authorizing the increase of the army up to
maximum strength, and asked unanimous
consent tor immediate consideration. not a
voice was raised against it.
he demand from citizens along the
border for protection while the army goes
INTO Mexico is very great, he said. .sTele-
grams from mayors, chiefs of police and
other civil officials are deluging the war
department. To raise the existing organ
izatIon OF cavalry, infantry and field artil-
iery to full strength the President should
nave the authorization of congress for
io,94f above the 100000 now authorized
by law. y
1t is Immediately necessary that the
oo,aef snail have protection, and to avoid
ca.ilng out volunteers it is believed that
TINS Is the best plan to follow to avoid
conveying the impression that this govern.
ment Is intent upon any other object than
the capture of Villa and his outlaws
With the exception of one dissent;no
voice, that OF Representative London. the
New York Socialist, the vote was unani-
nous, the ayes being 236 Three MEM
oers, thompson and Davenport of Okla
homa and Bailey of Pennsylvanfa-the lat
Ter the leader of the small group of paeifst
followers of William J. Bryan. declined to
rise elthef tor or against the resolution
when the standing vote was taken.
immediate action on the house Joint res
oIutlon Tor recruiting the army to 120. 600
men was agreed upon today by the senate
military committee
Chairman Chamberlain determined To
ask unanimous consent for immediate con-
slderatlon IN the senate. 1t is planned to
get the army bill proper on the senate
calendar before the end of the week. Des
patches to the state and navy Departments
from the principal ports on both Mexican
posts today reported conditions orderly
and no apparent anti-American feeling.
The senate today approved unani-
mously the joint resolution adopted by
the house today to bring the mobile
army up to its full strength. The res
olut1on now goes to the President for
his approval. The roll call on the res
olutIon was ordered on request of SEN
ator Gallingher of New Hampshire, who
explained that he asked it for the
purpose of demonstrating that there
is no dlssension IN the senate over
measures to provide for the protection
of the country.
There was not dissenting vote ON
the roll cali. Sixty-nine senators were
IN the chamber and voted for the res
olution. When the vote was announced
Senator McCumber, Republican of
North Dakota, declared it served as
notice to the world that .sthe nation
and this congress stand as single man
in the cause of American rights