The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1916-07-03
Funston Relieved Of Supreme
Charge Of American Troops
AT Border.
CARRANZA EXPECTS u. S.
TO WITHDRAW ITS ARMY
Believe Retirement 10 Base Is
Preliminary TO Return
From Foreign Soil.

WASHINGTON, July with more
than $4,000 troops assembling along
the Mexican border the war depart
ment today took steps to decentraliie
direct administration of the .SD mile
frontier in the interest " efficiency,
probably to pave the way for the ap
polniment OF supreme commander 90
coordinate all military activities on
the international line
Divided Into Three
The southern department, from the
Gulf oi Mexico 10 California was or
defcd divided into three military de
partments commanded by MAJOR Gen
eral Frederick Funston. Brigadier Gen
eral John J. Pershlng and MAJOR zen
eral J. Franklin Bell Later the order
creating the New Mexico department
10 be commanded by General Pcrshing
was temporarily suspended pending
the adjustment OF MINOR administration
details OF the arrangement
II wa. stated at the war department
that suspension OF the order was de
termined upon 50 that General Per
shing nigh, repor on whether his &C
tivi,ics in the field will permit him 10
assume the duties pt IT., new depart
mrnt
No Significance as War Move.
War department. official, said the
new order whi,h automatically re
lieycS General Funston ~ supreme
command on the border and the cnotm-
ous feSponsibili,cs that have crowded
up on him, hal NO significance as
indicating preparation ior war.
There was ~ announcement IN re-
gard TO the probable selection oi a
f~s'or general iol commander IN. chief
OF the border guard and iicld force,
There are indications that Major Gen.
eral Leonard Wood. former chiei OF
staff. now commanding the depart.
men, Of the east, IS being considered
in this connection
Changes Departments.
The s,a,emen, issued by the depart
ment follows;
The present southern apartment
Is divided as fellows with assign
men, OF commands thereto as indi-
Gated.
A-The Southern department 10
be under command Of MAJOR Gen
erai Frederick Funston to em-
brace tha, part Of the present de
partment 10 a line cast " VI paSn
p.-The department, ni New
Mexico with headquarters a, ~
raso to he established under the
command Of Stieadiei General J
I pershing. 20 extend from west
ern boundary " southern depart
mcnt tn the lOlth mcridi7r
Cha, portion ~ the southern
drnat,nent west ~ the lON,h
meridian 10 hc assigned 10 The
western department under The
command oi MAJOR General ! !.
Bell with field headquarters for
same At Douglas, Afs
General Bell is now in charge ~ III
~es, department with heatpuar'et, a
San Francisco. hc i' also a former chic
oi staff o' the army
Pending the appointment, Of an Off
Ger 20 supreme command the junction
oi the three department will be eo.of
dina,ed through the war department
Espee, Retirement
Retirement ~ Gen.tal petshing'
expedition 10 the bases now occupied
probably 100 miles closer to the horde
wa, declared by officers a, the war De
par,m,n, today 10 he due 20 mili,at
seasons alone. A. the state department
II was said there had been NO change !
policy regarding the expedition al
though private advice, from Mesic
Ci,y assert ,ha, Caftania officials con
strue the mo, ement as indicating Nh
expedition will Soon he withdrawn an
,ha, hi, feeling may have some beai
ing on the diplomatic situation
Supply Problem Difficulty
Army officials explain ,ha, the prob
lem Of supplying III. expedition has b,
come more difficult The rainy sea,u
is due. bu, there ha, been No rain ic
weeks and the country about Ueneti
Pershing's camp has been stripped ,
p the last vestist oi forage Tot h, an