Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-15
Expresses Optimistic View
of Border Situation as
Farley Result.
BACK IN WASHINGTON
General Confers With Secre
tary Baker-Makes No
Formal Report.

Washington. May 15-Majo r-General
Hugh L. Scott chief Of staff of the
army. returned today from his border
conferences with General Obregon,
hopeful for the situation, though the
conferences resulted in no formal
agreement for cooperative action. The
chief Of staff conferred with Secretary
Baker but made no formal report Sec
rotary Baker said General Scott stated
he thought a favorable situation had
been created by the conference.
General Scott Will see Secretary
Lansing tomorrow and meanwhile no
steps will be taken to reopen diplo-
matte negotiations for formal agree
ment with General Carranza- Score
tary Baker indicated however. that
General Scott thought there would be
no great delay in arriving at an I'M
derstanding and formulating a pro-
tOCol.
Pending the ratification of an
agreement, Carranza troops are being
moved forward into the bandit ridden
portions OF Mexico. The American eY-
peditonary force under General Perish
ing is being withdrawn into strong
groups on the line of communication
where II Will await the outcome of
General Obregons effort TO clean up
the territory 10 the south. General
Funston has mapped out a coordinated
scheme for border patrol with the
$4,000 men he will soon have availa-
bic for that purpose, exclusive OF the
$4,000 or so in General Pershing's
column.
On his return today from FL Paso
Major-General Scott. chief of staff, had
d detailed report OF his protracted con-
teTenCes with General Obregon, Car
ranza's war minister, to present TO
President Wilson. Secretary Bak-
er and Secretary Lansing. Offici-
ais were anxious to learn precisely
why the Mexican general declined to
sign an agreement covering operation
OF American troops in Mexico, particu-
larly in view of official notification
that General Carranza had approved
the original draft of the protocol
General SCOTS discussions with Of
fcials probably will occupy several
days Not until they are completed
VIII diplomatic conferences be arrang-
ed with EIiseo Arredondo, Mexican
ambassador designate on the DISPOSE
ton Of American troops and the vexa-
tious questions Of protecting the Amer
lean bandit raids.
Concentrating Troops.
The war department today had a
report from General Pershing saying
the new concentration OF troops or
dered by General Funston after the
Fl PasC conference, was being con-
Quoted satisfactorily. This was in
terpreted as meaning the supply lines
were being shortened. There were no
Indications today that the national
guard Of any other states would be
called out soon TO strengthen the Dor
der patrols.
Mule OutshiRes Auto.
Field Headquarters, May s, (by army
motor truck to Columbus, \. NJ, May
15D-The value Of the army mule,
which wayered momentarily when
automobile trucks in the Villa chase
demonstrated their adaptability for
mountain transportation, has been
v11dicated by the result of this cam
palgn-
In Transporting supplies overland
TO the main bases, through country
without railroads, the automobile
trucks have proven much superior to
the oid-fashiOned mule wagon teams,
the reliance when Geronimo was pur-
sued through this same country. Mean
while the mules as pack animals have
gone beyond the new truck lines into