The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1916-06-23
100000 MORE MEN
FOR MEXICAN DUTY
THEY WILL BE Modified lmME.
OiATsLY FOR SERVICE ON
THE BORDER.
MORE WARSHlPS SENT OUT
At the War, Navy and State Depart
nents, It Was Stated That NO New
Advices as 70 the Situation
In Mexico Had Core.


Washingt0n.-Vir Virtually the entire
mobile strength of the National Guard
OF the United States was ordered mus
tered into the federal service -
President Wilson. About 100000 men
are expected to respond to the caN
They will be modified Immediately
for such service on the Mexican Dor
der as later may be assigp4t to them.
Gen. Frederick FUNSTON, command
ing the border forces, will designate
the time and place for movements OF
guardsmen to the international line as
the occasion shall require.
In announcing the orders. Secretary
Baker said the state forces will be EN-.
ployed only to guard the border and
that no additional troop movements in
to Mexico are contemplated except in
pursuit Of raiders.
Navy Also Busy.
simultaneously with the National
Guard call, Secretary Daniels of the
Navy Department, ordered additional
war vessels to Mexican waters on both
coasts to safeguard American lives.
At the War. Navy and State Depart
ments, 1t was stated that no new ad-
vices as to the situation in Mexico had
come to precipitate the new orders.
Within the last two weeks, however,
tension has been increasing steadily
The crisis presented by General Car
ranza's note demanding the recall Of
General Pershing's expeditionary force
has been followed by virtual ultima
tum served on the American officer by
General Trevino, the Mexican COM
mander in Chihuahua. To this was
added the possibility that American
and Mexican troops had clashed across
the border from San Benit0. Tex
Officials Relieved.
Administration officials made no at
tempt to conceal their relief for the
safe return of Major Anderson's caval-
ry squadron to Brownsville after its
successful bandit chase. The troop
ers crossed in the face OF intlmatlons
that they would be attacked II they
did so. General Funston himself re-
ported that he anticipated fighting,
presumably with Carranza troops.
Mobilization of the National Guards
men to support General Funston's line
will pave the way for releasing some
10000 regulars for immediate service
IN Mexico in the event Of open hostili-
ties with the Carranza government.
The guardsmen themselves could not
be used beyond the line without au-
thority of Congress and until they had
volunteered for that duty as they are
called out under the old militia law.
The new law, which would make them
available for any duty under the red
era government, goes into effect
July l.
$1,000 Troops In Service.
The entire mobile regular army in
the United States, several provision
Al regiments of regular coast artillery
serving as infantry, and the National
Guard of Texas, New Mexico and Ar
iona now are on the border or In
Mexico. Definite figures never have
been made public, but it is understood
General Funston has about 10000 reg
ulars and probably 5000 or more
guardsmen, of whom 10000 regulars
are with General Pershing or scatter
ed along his line of communications
from NamiQuipa, Mexico, to Column
bus. N. NJ.
Teieurams to Governors. go.
kilograms calling for the militia
were sent to the governors of all
states except the three whose guards
men already have been mustered in,
after an all-day conference at the
War Department, attended by Secre-
tarv Baker, Major General Scott, chief
OF staff; Major General Bliss, chief of
the mobile army, and Brigadier Gen.
eral Mills, chief of the militia divis-
ion general staff Brigadier General
McCombs, president of the Army War
College, also were consulted. Since
Mr.. Baker did not find it necessary
again to confer with President Will
son after his visit to the White House,
it was apparent the decision to bring
ont the militia was reached then.
At Least $4,000 Guards.
By the new orders there will be
placed at General Funston's disposal
two major generals and u brigadier
generals of militia, with their COM
plete infantry commands. The en-
tire infantry divisions from New York
and Pennsylvania are called cut, as