Evening star., 1916-07-04
July 4QU|ET DAY
ALONG THE BORDER
Gen. Funston Continues Push
ing Mobilization of the Ma
tionaI Guardsmen.

SAN ANTONIO, Tex, July 4-Gen.
Funston continued today the direction
of the mobilization of national guards
men from the Gulf of Mexico to Lower
California.
Early morning information reaching
Gen. Funston indicated another quiet
night along the border. Army officers
were frank in the expression of their
skept1cism concerning the reports that
the administration is planning an early
Withdrawal of Gen. Pershing's troops.
In view of the declaration by Gen.
Funston that his chief object in rec
ommending the division of authority
along the border was to enable three
high ranking field officers to organize
tactical units, surround themselves
with competent staffs and otherwise
prepare for possible general operations
in Mexico. army officers regard the ac-
ceptance of the suggestion by the
War Department as more indicative OF
preparation for war than of Welding to
demands for withdra wal
To Prepare for Work in Mexico.
On receipt of orders to turn over to
the selected commanders that portion
If the army west of Ell Paso and at Ell
Paso Gen. Funston will give his full
ittention to the organization of the
.Iexico. Similar activity it is expect
I'd, will be displayed by Mai Gen. Bell
md by Gen. Pershing or such other
deld officers as the department may Sc
tect to command the new Department
ii New Mexico.
Reports from border stations early
today were that the National Guards
men were continuing to arrive without
5reat delay and army officers and rail-
way officials were gratified that the
mobilization has been unattended by
my serious hitch.
Border Asperities Softened.
Ell PASO. Tex, July 4.-Uncertainty
enveloped the border today after op-
portunity had been given thoroughly
to digest the significance of the latest
developments in the Mexican situation
While the uninterrupted stream of Ma
tional Guardsmen that Is being rushed
TO border points encouraged those who
believe a break with the Carranza
government near to hold to their the
ory, rumors of the imminent abandon
ment of Gen. J. ]. Pershing's punitive
expedition did much to soften their as
sertions
The latest withdrawal rumor came
from Columbus and, although uncon-
flrmed, was given serious consideration
as it is said to have come from the
expedition itself According to the
will be withdrawn as soon as the dis
position of National Guards along the
line is completed
To offset these rumors intervention
lists purported to see in the division of
border authority among Gen. Funston,
Pershing and Bell and the possibility
that a commanding officer would be
named to direct operations both on the
border and in Mexico an indication
that the government had no intention
of abandoning the Pershing expedition
In this connection 1t was pointed out
at departmental headquarters that 1t
would be impossible for Gen. Pershing
to move further north without aban-
doning his water supply unless he came
to the border
With regard to Ell Paso, anticipation
of trouble here from across the river
began to lessen with the first National
Guard arrivals and disappeared en-
tirely with the announcement that a
brigade of field artillery would be
formed here.
Across the Rio Grande in Juarez
everything is reported quiet with Mex
lean officials hopeful that the first chief
will find a way to placate the United
States.
Interest was manifester in the state
ment given out in Chihuahua city last
night by Gen. Trevino. commander of
the north, who cited instances Of the
de facto governments campaign
against banditry and the disposal of