The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-12
FUNSTON IS READY
Warm Reception Waiting for
the Villa Raiders.
Precautions Taken to Guard
the Big Bend Country.
GUARDSMEN PUT TO WORK
Maine Companies Stationed on
Rio Grande at Laredo.
Massachusetts Troops Relieve
Cavalry Detachment.
GUARDSMEN PUT TO WORK
BY JOSEPH TrMMoNs.

San Antonio, Tex, July 12.-"We'n
be ready when they come said Gen
era1 Funston today, referring to the
reported movement north towards the
Big Bend country of Villas men of
the command that captured Jiminez.
By way of being ready, General
Funston ordered into the Big Bend
country two battalions of Pennsyl-
vania troops from separate regiments
stationed at FL Paso and the squadron
of Texas cavalry, which has been sta
toned at Del Rio.
The infantry will be used of neces-
sity mainly to garrison towns along
the Big Bend of the Rio Grande that
gives its name to the country and to
garrison the cavalry bases. The ac-
tual patrol that will be depended upon
to report the approach of the bandits
and to keep them from crossing the
river or to pursue them if they get
across, must be done by cavalry
Needing Warning.
General Funston and his subordi-
mates are not neglecting the warning
given them by the Carranza govern
ment, but no separate information
has been obtained that the Villistas
are moving northward from Corral
itos, below Jiminez.
1t is expected that if this reported
movement northward for an American
raid is not abandoned, the bandit
forces will follow the course of the
Rio Concho and approach the Rio
Grande somewhere near Ojinaga, op-
posite Preside. Once there, they
might make the attempt to cross up
the river or down it from that point.
1t is more than likely that the bandits
would move down the river toward
BoquillaS, as that country is more in
viting to raiders.
Order More Trucks.
Ten more motor truck companies of
33 trucks have been ordered This
will bring the total number of these
trucks in the army transport service
up to 1855.
or equal significance with the mo-
bhfzattoh of the national guard regi-
ments on the border, is the rapid or
ganization of new regular army regi-
mentS, under the new army bill in this
department Officers and men as
signed from old organizations to form
the nucleus of new regiments are ar
irving at the places designated for the
new units. Here at Fort Sam Hous-
ton this mobilization will soon pro-
duce the Sixteenth cavalry with 790
men, the Thirty-seventh infantry with
$40 men and the Seventh field artil-
lery with 585 men. Five other regi-
ments of the three arms of the service
will be organized at Brownsville, El
Paso and Douglas. Both the old regi-
ments will be rapidly filled up with re-
cruits and reserves called back to the
colOrS.
Guardsmen on Guard.
Laredo, Tex, July 12.-State troops
began regular service as border patrols
here today when several detachments
of the Maine National Guard were dis
patched to garrison small stations on
the Rio Grande both north and south
| of Laredo.
Cavalrymen Relieved.
Ell Paso, Tex, July 12.-Five COM
panies of the Fifth Massachusetts in
! fantry were transferred today by mo-
tor trucks from Camp Cotton here to
| patrol stations along the New Mexico
| border as far as Anapra, relieving de-
| tachments of the Eighth United States
| cavalry.