Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-03-28
MORE SOLDIERS
NECESSARY TO
PATROL BORDER
Impossible to Supply Line With
out Use of Mexican Rail.
road.
DIPLOMACY TOO SLOW
FOR ARMY PLANS
Aviation Corps Goes to Pieces;
Many Machines Out Of
Repair.

hdASA oAAoAO W
senate republicans to take an action
at conference today on the Mex
lean situation left the administration
unhampered in dealing with the prob.
lem.
The conference was called with the
purpose of considering steps to force
the dispatch of additional troops to
the border for patrol duty. In the
face of official advices denying alarm
ing reports, however, and of General
Funston's apparent confidence that
he has enough men for any present
emergency, the republicans adjourned
with some of their leaders agreeing
that there was nothing to do but sup
port the plans of the administration
a this ime.
Official advices confirmed press dis
paches telling Of the physical cOndi-
lions endured in, keeping a 20N=mfle.
line supplied without a railroad.
While there is no shortage Of food
or other supplies for the troops at
the front, cavalry mounts already ara
on short rations.
Take Steps. ~
Steps to meet the situation have
been taken by Secretary Baker, as
there is no indication Of an early
agreement on the proposed protOcol
providing for use of Mexican lines by
American troops. Secretary Baker is
sued this statement late today:
"All information the department
has from the border shows conditions
to be quiet and the excitement OF
the last few days somewhat allayed.
We have no dispatches indicating act
ual conflicts between the American
soldiers and any forces of any find
in Mexico.
Purchase Equipment.
"The expedition is, of course, NOV.
ing forward and so lengthening the
line of communication. For that rea-
son General Funston has requested
and the government has purchased
two additional auto truck equipments.
comprising 54 cars in all. In addi-
tion to that, General Funston tells
us that additional aeroplanes will be
of service, both in reconnaissance
work and in carrying messages from
the advance columns to the base at
Columbus. OF the aeroplanes already
there, two have been destroyed. 9th
ers have need of replacing parts, but
two Of them are in actual continuous
service. The department is now ne.
gotiating for the purchase Of addi.
tional aeroplanes, but neither tho
number nor type has yet been deter.
mined.
wireless communication is report
ed to be intermittent, because of
the static conditions in the field
there. For this reason additional i'm.
portance is given to the request for
larger aeroplane ficilities.
Cannot Accept Offer.
The secretary said the destruction
of two army aeroplanes had not been
explained to the department. Four Of
the remaining six machines on the
border were under repair, leaving on.
ly two of the originalseight In actual
service. The army has plenty Of skill.
ed aviators to operate machines that
will be purchased, Mr.. Baker added.
He said that while. the Aero Club Of
America had volunteered the services
of its men and machines, the law for.
bade their acceptance.
General Carranza desires to, delay
replying to the request for the use
of certain Mexican railroads until tho
protocol has been agreed to, but tina
state department will press for
prompt disposition of the request as
a separate issue. It is realized that
a week or more may pass before tho
terms of the protocol can be put in
final shape, and the necessity for hav.
ing the railroads opened to use by
General Pershing is immediate,
Diplomacy Too Slow.
The army in Mexico cannot wait for
the slow processes of diplomacy. For
this reason, General Funston will b0
supplied promptly with enough motor
transportation to establish and main.
tain fully equipped supply system.
Additional trucks will be ordered -
rapidly as use can be made OF them.
Avance supply depots wil b plac.
ed at intervals along the c0mmunica.
Continued on Pass TWo)