The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-03-12
Lid Kept On All Mems
OF Troop Movements

border left to maintain the patrol. There
will be from 5000 TO 1900 men IN the adj
ditional cavalry regiments. The hcaV-
lest troops will he concentrated along
the border OF Chihuahua and eastern
Sonora. In New Mexico, eastern Arizona,
and western Texas.
This concentration OF troops on the
border will be for the purpose of pre-
venting any villa forces from making n
detour back OF the pursuing American
columns and attacking border towns.
1t will also be for the purpose of en-
abling the Administration TO carry out
its prospective agreement with Car
rama enabling him to send troops over
the American border where there are
no United States troops available, to
prevent villa from crossing again into
American territory.
Construed as Acceptance.
CaIranza's proposal for this reciprocal
arrangement Is construed as an accept
ancc on his part OF the American eX-
petition against villa.
BY proclalming to the Mexican people
that he has been given the right To send
troops into the United States. II neces-
sary. in pursuit OF bandits, Carranza
will be able TO explain the Funston
expedition as a reciprocal arrangement
agreed upon ny the heAlCull nc IdClO
government, and not as an aggressive
move by the United States against
Mexican sovereignty.
Rut there will be no Carranza troops
crossing onto American soil. or this
officials arc convinced. The borders or
tho States III which the Villa bandits
are operating will be so strongly pa
tTol'ed that The United states will not
heed CarranZa's aid TO chase the ban
IL hn pf "a no
troop movement to the border.
Approval 81 this arrangement Is cN-
pcctcd to DO announced by President
Wilson tomorrow morning after a con-
ference with Secretary Lansing. Tho
Secretary will sec the President as soon
as he returns from his Weekend trip
on tho Mnyi'owor. Acceptance If the
CarranZa plan. It IL believed. will mako
CnrranZa tho hllv Of the United states
in the Villa chase.
Confidential Reports.
Secretary Baker was at his office at
$3.50 this morning. After going over the
messages that came from Funston dur
ing the night. he said:
Nothing has come to the War De-
partment except dispatches relating to
the movements OF troops. This in
formation will be considered confiden-
tial fer the present. We may con-
tinde to hold troop movements to be
contdcntigl military Information.
Most OF tho troop movements re .
feITcd to In these dispatches received
during the niEbt referred to the
preparations to move to the border the
three cavalry regiments ordered al
General FunstOn's rcqeust last night.
The destination and time of depart
ure or these troops win not be given
out.
General Funston IL proceeding
largely under, his own discretion In
organizing the forces for the eNpedi-
tion into Mexico. Tho War Depart
ment at present has no nows con-
ccTnin" these troop movements on
tho border that it feels should be
made public"
The first significant order given out
by General Funston OF which thu
public gained any mixing was thai
directing the First Aero Squadron al
ten officers and eighty troopers &c
cntrain from San .tntCnio to Colum
| lIus n. NJ. This is taken to indicate
! that Columbus will be the concen
! trutiou point for the bulk Oc tn,
| invading; farcos.
| The aer0plane ScCdts are cVpcctet
Sc hCgin Nights At on" into McNic,
| in an effort to ,ocatc villa and dlrec
' the pursuing forces lu their chas,
after the bandit