The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1916-06-23

| In all, So regiments OF lnfantrV, WIN
10 separate battalions and many sep
arate companies are affected, giving
total of 1,148 companies, each OF
which must have minimum strength
of 65 men when mustered into the
federal service. The total enlisted
force of infantry, therefore, will be
not less than $4,000 men.
Equipment Ample.
Less than 500 companies, scattered
throughout the country, viii not be
mustered. and the National Guard
Coast Artillery companies have not
been summoned. All Of the field ar
tiilrry, cavalry, engineer and signal
troops will be employed, as will many
CT the militia field hospitals and am
bulancp companies. The War De
partment has or hand ample equip
mpnt and clothing to outfit and main
tain this force.
The call applies to IS batteries OF
field artillery, SO troops of cavalry
and one New York cavalry machine
gun troop. Is engineer companies and
20 signal companies, all with full
equipment already issued to them.
Twenty-siX ambulance companies and
27 field hospitals also have been Or
dered made ready for entraining.
No indication was given at the
State Department with regard 10 the
reply to General CarranZa's note de-
handing the withdrawal of the
American troops now in Mexico. 1t
was prepared last week by Secretary
Lansing, and is still in President
Wilson'S hands. 1t was intended TO
dispatch ii to Mexico City by special
messenger, but recent developments
may change this plan.
Hear From carranza.
Official reports that recent raids
along the border had created alarm
among American residents in Mexico
City and elsewhere beyond the border
were reflected in a message received
at the Mexican embassy from General
Carranza. 1t was stated that excite
ment prevailed at the Mexican CAPT
tai over the ominous signs along the
border, and asked Elisco Arredondo,
ambassador designate, TO tell the first
chief what he had learned of the in
tentions of the Washington govern
ment toward Mexico. Replying, Ar.
redondo included copy of Secretary
Bakers statement announcing the
call for the militia.
Mexican Situation Worse.
When the officials here learned OF
the message to the embassy, it was
construed as a further evidence that
the de facto government is struggling
with elements in Mexico with which
it has little control. For months the
economic situation which Carranza
has been attempting to solve without
foreign financial aid has been grow
ing steadily worse. Uneasiness has
been manifested in many parts of the
republic and agitators, whose pur-
poses and affiliations are not clearly
known here, have seized the opportu-
nifty to stir the smoldering anti-Amer-
lean feeling all through northern
Mexico. The Washington govern
ment has watched with growing alarm
the spread of disorders throughout
Mexico and the evidence that Carran-
za's control over his army and his
people is waning from day to day.
Up to the time General Thevino serv-
ed notice on General Pershing last
week that any movement of his
troops except toward the border
would be treated as a hostile act,
there was no clear indication as to
Carranza's own attitude. His inten-
tons still are in doubt, although the
fact that he is said to have personally
directed Trevino's action leaves little
ground for speculation on thai score.
Policy Unchanged.
The question remaining to be set
tied is whether General Carranza will
go to the limit of ordering an attack
on General Pershing's troops. There
is no indication that President Wilson
has any intention of altering his de-
termination to keep the expedition
where it is. 1t is also evident, how
ever that the administration has no
present purpose of ordering renewed
activities after bandits by the column,
except in the limited zone in which it
has been operating with signal sue.
cess for some weeks. General Per
shing's recent reports have indicated
that he has succeeded in clearing out
all organized bands of outlaws in the
vicinity of his camps.
A Game of Bluff
Some officials here have been in
clined to look upon the Carranza note
and many of his other more or less
hostile actions as attempts to placate
the radical anti-American elements in
Mexico, without actually bringing on