Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-21
troll Of the border will close that route.
Daniels Request

lIoi VI tHe DOTQeT Will ClOSS l0dl IOuto-
Daniels Request
Another preparatory step taken by the
navy was due to the decision of Secre-
tary Daniels to ask the Senate to add
authorization for approximately 10000
additional enlisted men to the pending
navy bill which as it passed the House
provides for an increase of 1900 over
the present strength.
Mr.. Daniels explained that the necess-
ity of putting many small ships. usually
held in reserve, into commission for
service in Mexican waters made it i'm
peratve that the navy be recruited UP
promptly. II is possible the authorize
ton for the increase will be sought in
a separate measure to aviod delay
Should war come the personnel Of the
fleet must he increased, aviation corps
and other auxiliary service must be
strengthened and an ample reserve Of
trained men must be prepared. There
was much speculation on all sides to-
night as 10 the probable course of the
President should Carranza order an at
tack on Gen. PerShings men in the face
Of the American governments solemn
warning.
1t was generally believed that the hint
contained in Secretary Lansing's note
that military occupation of northern Mex
leo has been considered as an alterna>
tive at times when the situation across
the border appeared critical, might indi-
cate the plan of action should war now
me forced on the nation. AS a prelimi-
nary step to such an occupation and
pending the organization of an army of
the size such an undertaking would re-
Qulre it was regarded as possible that a
general advance from the border to a line
paralleling the head of Gen. Pershng' s
column a Namaquipa might be under
taken. With American forces disposed
along such a line, holding important
towns and strategic points from the Pa
cifc to the Gulf coasts, there could be
no fear of serious hostilities at the Dor
der. Any advancing Mexican force would
be subject to attack from the rear should
it move north of this advanced line There
is no fear here for the safety Of Gen.
Pershing and his men. The exact dispo-
sition of the troops. even the exact num-
Der now beyond the border. constitute
military secrets. There is reason to be-
lieve. however. that between 10000 and
12.oAN regulars are posted at the advance
camps or along the line Of communica-
tons. Relief expeditions are also said
to have been organized also at various
border points. ready to dash forward in
flank attacks on any large Mexican force
which might attempt to assault Gen. Per-
shing's entrenched camps or cut him off
from his border base of supplies. One col
umn with strong artillery support is said
he he ready to cover Pulpit pass. the mr.
itarv highway through the mountains
between the states of Chihuahua and So
nora and through which the formidable
Sonora sarrisons might seek to strike at
Pershn-'s rear detachments
Plan for General Line
1t was pointed out that establishment
OF a general line across Mexico south Of
Pulpit pass would close that route to hos
tile forces. Another argument advanced
in support of the plan of action was that
the various railroads could be quickly
repaired and made use of to supply the
troops. making it possible to shift the en-
tire scene of hostnities to Mexican soil.
Some officials believe that with the
prompt repulse of any attack on Ameri-
can forces and the maintenance of a rigid
watch over the supplies that enter the
country, complete occupation could be
carried out with little fighting after the
lapse of a few weeks. While rowing bands
of outlaws would make vigilance essen
tial. it was thought organized resistance
could be quickly broken up as the ad-
vanced columns were reinforced with
volunteers and moved slowly southwark
Officers Silent
Army officers and high officials would
not discuss these suggestions. They adj
mitted privately their belief that war
was imminent since Carranza has given
every indication of determination to
force the issue at any cost, but were dis
posed TO refrain from making any state
ments that might serve further to in
fame the minds of the Mexican people
For the same reason the proposed res
olution to put into immediate effect the
National Guard draft provisions Of the
new army bill was not presented in Con-
gress. The section Of the bill referred to
contains the statement that the men
shall be called under the draft for the
duration Of the war unless sooner dis
charged Because Of this phraseology
and also because adoption Of the resolu-