Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-04

WASHINGTON, July 3.-While the
diplomatic aspects of the Mexican diffi-
Guilty showed no change to-day, War
Department measures for Il new dis
tribution OF the border patrol clearly
indicated that months OF active service
along the frontier await tho thousands
OF national Eunrdsmcn gathering there
from all parts of the country. Only
the appointment of a general officer to
supreme command is lacking now to
complete adequate administrative ma
chincry not only for border operations.
but for Il campaign Of any desired pro-
portions in Mexico should general hos
tilitics come.
Under the new plan. tho 1900 milo
frontier will be divided that tho
Southern and Western Military De-
partmcnts will take care of tho eastern
and western eXtrcmities OF tho line,
respectively. General Funston, relieved
Of responsibility of the entire border.
at his own recommendation, will con-
time in command of the Southern De-
partmcnt. while Major Franklin BelI,
commanding the Western Department.,
will transfer his headquarters from
san Francisco to Douglas, !Ariz., to bo
in direct touch with his share of tho
border work.
The mid-scction of the border line.
embracing all territory between III
raso and n point near Douglas, and
reaching northwArd to the Colorado
State line. will be known hereafter as
the Department. of New Mexico. Under
its jurisdiction VIII fall the expedition
into Mexico, based at Columbus N NJ.
and General PershinG has been offered
the post OF department comma nder.
MESSAGE TO PERSHING
ASKS HIS WISHES
\ message went to General PershinS
to-day asking II he desired to assume
the duties OF department chief, in adj
dition to those which now fall to him
as commander in the field. Tho en-
pedition is believed to have about COM
pleted tho movement begun ten days or
more ago. when General Pershing. for
strategic reasons, ordered the lines
drawn in closer to the border Tie
War Dcpartr ent has no definite in
forma tion as % the exact whereabouts
of the various camps, hut it is thought
that tho most advanced patrols now
are within $50 miles OF the border.
No reply had been received from
General Pershing at late hour to-
night IT is possible that he will see
difficulties in the way OF combining
command OF the nev department and
OF the eNpeditionary force under one
head. II that case there are indica-
tions that he would be expected to re-
linquish direct command OF the expedi-
tion and establish his headquarters at
some point the border. The War
Department has suggested Ell Paso for
department headquarters, but left the
oh tp
the line of communications greatly
shortened. the general still could CO.
ordinate the operations OF the various
regiments now beyond the line prob
ably with ti.e senior colonel assigned
TO direct command of the expedition.
OFFICIALS CONSIDERING
EFFECT OF COURSE
Officials here are known TO be con-
siderns the effect this course might
have on General Carranza's suspicious
as TO the real purposes OF the Amer
lean government. The expedition, with
ont general officer in command, would
lose something Il its Significance In
military eyes, anu could be viewed az
nothing more than the policing force
II was designed TO be Some officials
believe this would tend to bear out
the assertions OF the ashington gov
ernment that its Il oops would be with
drawn from Mexico as soon as the
danger OF bandit raids across the bor-
der had been ended
submission of the dual command pro.
pcsai q General I'ershinS, however,
was viewed here as confirming tho
oftcn-rcitcratcd statement taat PRESS
dent Wilson is not now considc,inc
withdrawal OF the expedition from