Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-06-29
U. S. ARMY may
INVADE MEXICO
WITHIN A Week
Report of Expected Move Arouses
Anger in Juarez; Leader
Issues Def.
TENSION ON BORDER ACUTE
General Bell Says There Is No Founda-
tion for the Story, and That the
Militia Movements Are Only
Practice March Drills.

FL Paso, Tex, June 26.-Unless there
is a marked change for the better
in the situation very shortly, an Ameri-
can army of invasion will take Juarez
within a week. and very shortly there
after move southwark down the rail-
way lire in Mexico to villa Ahumada
and Chihuahua City. This well-found-
ed report was spread broadcast along
the border and even crossed the Rio
Grande into Juarez itself.
There it aroused the anger and def
ance of the Mexican leaders. This
formal defiance was issued by Andres
Garcia, Carranza consul in Ell Paso,
who has spent most of his time In
Juarez since the situation became
acute:
If it is the plan to attack Juarez,
the American army will find us ready.
We are not going to give up without
Hght that will give new idea Of the
ability of Mexico's soldiers. Every
one of our citizens is ready to take up
arms"
Intend to Fight.
While Garcia was thus defying the
might of the United States, Carranzis-
Ia soldiers, with rifles ready and ma
chine guns unmasked, took up their
position at the Mexican end of the In
ternational bridge. They were grim
evidence that the Mexicans intend to
fight. Indeed. there was no doubt Of
this intention ON the border after the
Mexican government assumed respon-
sibility for the attack on American SOL
diers at Carrizal. This assumption re-
moved the issue from the field of diplo-
macy.
Tension on the American side of the
border has never been so acute. Up
to the time this dispatch was written
only seven men were known to have
escaped the Mexican ambush at Carri-
zal. The continued absence Of news
from the rest of the men attacked by
the force of General Gomez lent
strength to the fear that almost all had
been destroyed. American military
officers were sitting tight, but they did
not conceal the fact that crisis was
at hand.
The move on Juarez may come any
time within a week. The advance to
the interior will take more time be-
cause of the lack of troops to support
the line of communications and main
tain patrol on the border. Upon the
rapidly with which state militia forces
reach the border depends the progress
of the American campaign.
Officers Have instructions.
The officers at Fort Bliss have al
ready received their instructions. The
high commanders deny that any adj
vance into Mexico will be made until
a Mexican military force makes hos
tile demonstration against Ell Paso, but
1t can be stated that only some sud-
den reversal of attitude on the part of
the American government can change
the plans that have been made.
The campaign has been thoroughly
mapped out, even to the dropping of
the shell that will sever the railroad
line at the point where it crosses the
first hills in back of Juarez. The mi
litia will have to take up the work
Of the regulars In safeguarding the
communicating line and protecting the
border from the back-fire Of raiding
Mexicans after hostilitles really are
opened.
First militia forces from the better
equipped states are expected in the Ell
Paso district within the next few days.
Officers are eager for the arrival of
such troops as the First cavalry Of
the Illinois National Guard, the assist
ance of which is expected to be invalu-
able. 1t is probable that the cavalry
will have the first real opportunity of
the state Guards for action. Its repu-
tation as splendidly equipped and
trained force is known in the regular
army.
Only a Military Driii7
General Bell, in command at Fort
Bliss, issued statement declaring
that the sudden calling of troops for
maneuvers was just practice march,
a sort of military fire drill. At the
same time he took occasion to deny
the story Of the intended move on
Juarez.
There Is not the slightest founda-
ton for the story that the army is 60
ing to take Juarez," he said. ''The
circulation of this story has caused
wild excitement in Juarez, and might
have cause the Mexicans to commit
some overt act. We have no orders
to occupy Juarez or make any invasion.
Nor have we orders to make any hos
tile demonstration against the Mexi-
cans.'
He was asked If it was not possible
that the practice march" might not
have inspired some overt act.
"There is no reason why 1t should
said General Bell. "The movement
was Just practice march and maneu.
yer. These may be expected again."
On the Mexican side of the Rio
Grande, they put typical Mexican