The Yale expositor., 1916-07-20

FL Paso, Texas-Further assurance
received that the Michigan brigade
would remain on border duty for a
long time to come brought expressions
of disappointment on the part Of the
men and frank declarations from OFF,
GERS that they would resign their com
mands if this meant interminable mac
ton.
Both officers and men are willing to
stay here indefinitely OF for say six
months, if there were hope Of any real
action at the end of that time, but
even those who realize that things in
Mexico are as upset as ever do not
believe the guard will be sent across
the border
Trevino's reported detection from
Carranza, despite repeated denials, is
taken here as a settled fact. The
sources of information are so good
that FL Paso people are convinced
the Carranza government is weaken
! ing. But even these people do not
| think the overthrow Of Carranza would
mean the end of peaceful negotia-
lions between the MeXicans and Am.
orleans. Despite the fact that Treyino
bias been admittedly opposed to Car
ranza's conciliatory attitude toward
the United States, they do not think
he would be foolish enough to start
anything. Some of them even go so
far as to say that his part in the
Carrizal affair was taken not so much
to injure Americans as Carranza.
The complete overthrow by Villa Of
all is a contingency likely to arise
that would upset President Wilson's
plans for a peaceful adjustment Of
Border differences. or course 1t is
within the realms Of possibilities yet
that Villa may sometime be the Next
can government. He is said to have
plenty of money behind him some Of
which is available in FL Paso. He is
intensely popular with the people of
Northern Mexico and brigand cut
throat though he may be, he has q
personal magnetism and capacity for
leadership that is hard for the poems
to resist.
But even so, the Michigan men are
not looking forward to anything
than a year of hard grinding drill and
discipline. And they don't like the
prospect. Many OF the men will take
advantage of the fact that they have
families to secure their release, and
a number of the officers have given
themselves a fixed time to stick before
they will ask to be relieved and go
back to their jobs and their business
interests.
Some of the high officers of the regi-
ment put it up cold TO regular army
officers still higher in rank today and
were frankly told that the guard need
not expect to be sent back home for
perhaps two years.
In the meantime the most elaborate
preparations for war are being made
by the government all along the Dor
der. The militia is being organized
into one big machine, and millions Of
boxes of ammunition and supplies are
being established and everything be-
ing done to prepare for almost any
thing that may happen.
In spite of the permanent aspect Of
the thing, however. the war depart
ment is rot entrenching its army in
such shape that 1t cannot be pulled
out in moments notice.
Although everything has been going
on so quietly and smoothly that local
people themselves have scarcely real
ICED the transformation, there have
been other preparedness preparations
that might make Mexico think she
was about to be invaded on short no
tice by this country at full strength.
Along with the permanent buildings
that are going up are also being built
miles and miles of railroad running
through camps where cars can be
loaded for shipment in short order and
whole brigade permitted to leave
the country over night.
But this is about the only hope the
men have OF active service outside OF
fighting few border bandit gangs or
stopping minor raids.
Capt. Roy G. Mccormick, of Detroit,
commander OF company B, Is the sec
ond officer OF the Thirty-irst to be
honored with a special detail by the
regular army officers. He has been
placed in command OF a motor truck
company and is permanently detached
from his old command. First Lieut..
Harry Cramer will assume command
OF Company b.
The medical corps received orders
from the war department to study all
diseases common to the people Of Mex
leo.
cheered Along Route.