The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-11

"a Etf0 GXVeuitiDn snoutu pt tunPSoSu ~
mounted men. mountain artillery ana
& aeroplanes for scouts.
The basis for the expedition. accord
ing 10 reliable Information VIII be the
II Hrst cavalry brigade. whose head
quarters are at Fort Bliss II Is COM
poeed Of the Third. Eighth and Fourth
Regiments.
In addition TO this brigade there are
On the border the Second. Seventh.
" Tenth and Thirteenth Regiments OF
E Cavalry, with the sixth Regiment
divided between Brownsville and Har-
lfnEcn These regiments are esti-
mated to have about sac men each.
70 that the whole cavalry force with
All detachmeuts OF regiments concen-
trafed would be 6.72o men, OF these
5000 would be sent on the first ex-
petition.
infantry Forces.
y In addition to the cavalry II is ex-
pected that part OF two regiments of
infantry to be taken from the Sixth
brigade at Douglas, Ariz.. and the
Fifth brigade at San Antonio Will be
used 10 add 1900 infantry to the ex-
petition.
Two batteries of horse artillery from
Fort Douglas and two batteries from
Noeaies with the mountain batteries
AT Laredo and Needle Pass, Will be q
part of the initial command.
There are ayiiable for service also
aero squads from Company Fl. OF the
signal Corps, and Field Hospital and
Ambulance Companies 3, and z, now
In the immediate vicinity of the CON-
centration point
General Funston. chosen to COM
mand the expedition. has under him
Brigader General James Parker, COM
handing the First Cavalry Brigade;
Brigader General Robert j. Evans,
commanding the Second Brigade of
Infantry. Brigader General George
Bell. Jr., commanding tho Fifth
Brigade Cavalry and Infantry;
Brigader General Thomas s. Davis.
commanding the Sixth Brigade OF In
fantry; Brigader General John ].
Pershing. commanding the Eighth In
fantry Brigade and Colonel George
A. Dodd, temporarily commanding the
Second Cavalry brigade.
Daniels Also Alert.
Secretary OF the Navy Daniels was
in conference today with Admiral
Benson, chief OF naval operations.
Wireless messages later went TO the
commanding officers of the Atlantic
and Pacific fleets apprising them of
the days developments. The fleets
will be held in readiness to 20 into
These orders VIZ - .Nttthct& fos- tae
present Officgalg i*a~ tH 81 O. =
rama by any show OF strength. But
If anti-Amcrioa4. to.Sres rs cttrr ca
either coast the Atlantic and Pacific
fleets will be Immediately sent in force
10 Mexico
Funston Makes Plea.
When Secretary Baker reached his
Office today kilograms were waiting in
(which General Funston reported the
-return Of the small force that crossed
-tfe aes-yesterday and pleaded for
send an adequate force
Y across the Border 10 capture Villa.
There WAS "a storm In Congress over
ti,e Coiumbls massacre. Senators Fall
and McCumber offered resolutions
authorizing the President to use arm
ed forces in grytsr1rg Mexico to cap,
fure villa. Senator Ashurst in a
vitrioiic speech said 1t was time ''to
substitute grape-shot for era juice
The House Foreign Affairs Committee
held a special meeting TO discuss the
Mexican situation, Several fiery
peeches were made in the House de-
aianding action.
The cabinet spent two hours dis
cttssing the question of ordering troops
TO Mexico. At its close the President
announced the administration's de-
y eision. The White House statement
issued Immediately at the close OF the
cabinet meeting said
AN adequate force win be sent al
once in pursuit of Villa with the single
object Of capturing him ard putting a
stop To MS forays. This can and vii
be done in entirely friendly aid of the
constituted authorities in Mexico and
with scrnpulous respect for the SOY.
eTeiGnIX- tkst-saf .ss l.. i.s ..s.-------
The text OF this statement was tele-
graphed TO General Funston so thai
he might make immediate arrange.
Il ments 10 carry the plan into opera ion
General Funston Was also asked tC
submit the plan of campaign he fav-
ored.
First War Conference Held.
An hour after the cabinet meeting
= adjourned the first war conference was
held in the Office of the Secretary OF
War. Present were Secretary Baker
Major Generals Scott. Bliss and Ale
shire and hrigadicr Generals Mccain
and sharpe 1t was o'clock before
bis conference adjourned and mean.
time the SIAN officers were in con
slant communication with General
Funston discussing q plan of cam.
paisn for the expedition
General Funston. in a telegram re-
cetved bS Secretary Baker late TO.
Gay. urged that Villa must he re-
ientlessiy pursued and his forces scat
Tered II the border raids are 10 be
checked
As the troops OF the Mexican gov
eminent are accomplishing nothing, Il
General Funston's telegram said. land
~ he consequently can make his prep
4 arations and concentrations without
being disturbed, he can strike al any
81 On ta~ border. If we frittet
away the whole mand euardinp
towns, ranches and railroads 1t will
3 accomplish nothing IL he can find sa fe
refuge across The llne-a gtar-es,erp
raid
Has 5000 Men
Funston said hat Villa had 3,0QU
men The Carraaz& troops he ac-
cnsed OF apathy and gross ineffici-
eney," There was danger, not only to
citizens OF border towns, Funston
said, but danger TO Americans in the
interior stncE villa had started on a
policy OF nerciiess killing of Ameri-
cans AVA Mexico
Reports reached Washington today
hat Villa has boasted that he would
Z have the support OF Germany and
Japan in military campaign against
t1s. ITssAf. ret