Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-03-25
Citizens Of Douglas in Need
less Alarm, Army Officers
Say; Demand That Streets
of Town Be PatroIIed,
CARRANZA FORCES
REPORTED LOYAL
National Guard Company Or
dered Recruited to War
Footing of 150 Men, for Use
Should Emergency Arise,
Isv MOANING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wlssi

tsy MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wlRel
Douglas, Ariz.. March 24.-Reports
circulated here last night to the eff
feet that large numbers of Mexican
troops were being concentrated with
in striking distance of Douglas, al
though proven to be groundless to-
day. resulted in steps being taken by
residents here to request that patrols
of United States troops be placed on
guard throughout the city each night
to guard against any possible up
rising.
Aside from the troops guarding the
two smelters, to the west of the
town, the Mexican settlement at Pr
tleville, to the north and the United
States customs house, on the border,
Douglas has not been patrolled at
night by soldiers, with the exception
OF a squad of from ten to fifteen men
composing the military police or pro-
vost guard
Want City PatrOlled.
A movement was instituted today
by business men and citizens, which
is expected to result in appeals to
General Thomas f. Davis in command
here that soldiers be placed on duty
at night in the residence districts of
the city.
The work of the military police IS
confined principally to arrests of sol
diers who overstay their leaves from
t.I, ha
sdered as a protection tn the city. It
was declared by several business men
a large percentage of the popula-
ton of Douglas, at least sixty per
cent. is composed of Mexicans and
according to reports circulated about
the streets, many of them are sym
pathizers of the Villa movement.
Many reports have been received by
the civil authorities of stories of am
munition and rifles hidden in Vari-
Gus quarters of the city, but thus far
none Of these caches have been To-
Gated, if they really exist.
Alarm Unnecessary.
Army officers here stated that the
city is being amply protected by the
soldiers and that patrols throughout
the streets at night are not neces-
sary. They point out that, with the
guards along the border and on each
side Of the town. no movement could
he started without the alarm being
given in ample time.
The army camp, where three reel-
ments of infantry, one battery of ar
tllery and the headquarters of a
brigade of cavalry are located, is Just
to the east of Douglas. The cavalry
could take up positions in any portion
of town within half an hour and, it
was stated the infantry could gain
control of The business portion of the
city within that time
Mexican officials at Aqua Prieta,
the little town in Sonora, just across
the boundary frons here, declared to-
day that fears of the residents IN
Douglas were groundless. But few
Mexican troops are located near the
border, they said, and the officers OF
the constitutionalist army are keep
ing a close watch on all persons sus-
pected by them Of being in sympathy
with villa.
Mexican Border Forces.
According to figures given out by
General p. Elias Gales, military gov
ernor of Sonora, which were checked
by officers of the United States army
here, not more than 250 Mexican sol
ders are in Aqua Prieta Between
500 and LOCO troops are encamped
at Cabullona, eighteen miles south nt
the border; the towns of Cananea, Ma
cozari and Naco are each Garrisoned