Milford chronicle., 1916-06-23
MexiCanS Are Shifting
Troops on Border.
PERSHlNG IS IN NO DANGER
General 0bregOD's Chief of staff Ar
riVes at Bandit Lead
ers With 1000 Men Join
CdrraDza Forces.

FL PasO, Tex, June 20.-Develop
ments in the Mexican situation, crowd
ing one on the heels Of the other in
the last thirty-siK hours, have caused
excitement paralleling that which fol
lowed the crossing of the frontier by
the American expeditionary command
at Columbus, N. NJ, more than three
months ago
American military authorities admit
that every preparation has been made
for eventualities, but say no trouble
is anticipated in this immediate local
ity.
General George Bell, Jr., command
ing the Ell Paso district, seems conf
dent that with the $500 troops on sta
tion here, he is prepared to cope with
any emergency. Some consideration,
how, however, is given a rumor that a
body of Carranza soldiers, estimated
at 5000. is encamped twenty miles
south Of Juarez, just across the border,
prepared, if necessary, to reinforce the
garrison of 1000, and that 5000 Car
rama troops left Villa Ahumada,
eighty-three miles south, for FL Vale,
southeast of Dublan, one of Brigad er
General John ]. Pershing's field bases.
This report has not been confirmed
and is generally doubted.
General Francisco Serrano, chief Of
staff to General Alvaro Obregon, Mexi-
can minister of war, has arrived in
Juarez. Next to Obregon, Serrano is
considered one of the ablest generals
in the Carranza army. American mil.
tary men believe he has been desig-
mated to take supreme command Of
the Mexican forces in the north II
hostilities are begun.
Another report was that the Arrieta
brothers, bandit leaders, have started
north to aid Carranza's forces with
following said to include 1000 men.
Reports also are current that Gen
eral Jacinto Trevino, Carranza com
mander of the army of the north, IS
arming all male citizens above the age
Of eighteen, following his recruiting
campaign, for which orders recently
were issued by the Mexican minister
Of war.
News that the fourth punitive expe
dition had been Withdrawn near Mata- |
moros and Secretary of War Bakers |
statement that the new draft Of nation
al guardsmen are for border duty only |
as needed, and not to increase Gen
eral Pershing's command, had a quiet
ing effect in Juarez, as it filtere |
through to the masses Of the people.
So far as is known, only about ten
Americans, other than expeditiOnarg
soldiers, remain in Chihuahua. Ap-
prehension is manifested for five
Americans at Parral, employees of
American mining companies. All have
been directed to leave Parral, if pos
sible, for the border at once. TIE
remainder at Chihuahua City are said
to be protected by powerful Mexican
friends.
Considerable relief was manifest
upon the publication Of the order OF
General Alvaro Obregon, Mexican min
lister of war, directing that no Mexican
be allowed to cross the inter
national boundary. Some 1000 Mexl
cans from interior states have concen-
trated in Juarez in the last few days.
in the hope of crossing into the United
States in search of work.
Precautions are being taken to pre-
vent the smuggling of ammunition
across the Mexican line. Luis Cor-e-
was arrested, charged with trying to
take $500 rounds OF small arms am
munition across the boundary in motor
cars.
Reports from various towns in Cht-
huahua and Sonora, indicated that cit1-
zens generally are being armed and
that furore Of anticipatory excite
nent prevails throughout northern
Mexico.
Military men continue to express /
confidence in the ability Of Genera |
1ershing's command to protect itself !
Mccormick and Wilson Talk Campaign
washington, June 2O.-Vance c. Nc Z
yormick. the new chairman of the ,
Democratic national committee, dis ,
.ussed the national campaign with I
PRESIDENT Wilson. Mr. Mccormick. !
Who had just arrived in the city, held \