The Washington herald., 1916-03-22
REASON IS KEPT SECRET
Other Squadrons From West
and Twenty-fourth Infan-
try Are En- Route.
GEN. FUNSTON MAY BE UNEASY
Troopers Rounded Up in Theaters of
Washington and Are Ready to
Go by Midnight.
BY JOSEPH r. AMIN.

Moving in three sections, the third
squadron and regimental headquarters of
the Fifth Cavalry are pulling out OF Ross
lyn, Va, this morning. bound for Column
bus. n. Mex, and possibly the interior.
Along with the Twenty-fourth Infantry,
! stationed in Wyoming. the Fifth was or
dered out at the request of Gen. PERISH
ing, in command of the expeditionary
forces.
At s O'Clock last night, bound for the
theaters. movie houses and other bright
lights of the city, troopers of the Fifth
were still pouring across the Aqueduct
Bridge at Georgetown. pleasure bent and
without a thought of Mexico By $50
o'clock olive drab messengers, mounted
on motorcycles, horses and in street cars
were dashing rapidly through the famil-
lar city haunts of soldiers, picketing thea
tiers and movie houses, and spreading the
word to all that the regiment had been
ately.
Secrecy Surrounds Cause.
At midnight, the last of the odd jobs
incidental to the movement Of a regi-
ment had been wound up and troopers
had turned in to get what sleep they
could before 4 o'clock reveille. BY 6
o'clock this morning. the arst section
of fifteen cars. bearing Troops l and
X. was pulling out. Absolute secrecy
as to the reasons for the move was
maintained by the War Department
At a late hour last night, many of
the officers were unaware of their
destination. And, although the War
Department knew of the projected
move early in the afternoon, the or
ders did not reach Fort Myer until
$50 p. m.
From that time things were on the
jump. Had the orders been received
Immediately after the move was deter
mined upon. the Fifth could have en-
trained before nightfall. Officers and
men have been packed up and ready to
load since week ago Sunday. But
there was plenty of activity and sat
isfactory results, despite the handicap
VI the udrk. " ME II was not
thought wise to attempt to load the
horses in the dark, all wagons were
packed, full field equipment fastened
on saddles, commissary and Suartermas s.
thing prepared for an early start this
morning. Col. Wilder's orders were
that the post should be cleared by s
o'clock.
The first and second squadrons Of the
Fifth stationed at Fort Sheridan and Fort
Leavenworth, will join the third squad
ron and headquarters en- route to the
border
Funston May he Uneasy.
A battalion of the Third Field Artillery
remains at Fort Myer, with Maj. McClos-
key post commander in the absence of
Col. Wilder. A squadron of cavalry from
Fort Ethan Allen has been ordered to
Fort Myer for garrison duty.
In view of Gen. Funston's statement
to the department last week that the
Fifth would not be called for unless alb
solutely necessary, the orders of yes
terday are taken to indicate at least
pressing shortage of troops. The gen.
orally accepted explanation was that Gen.
Funston is becoming uncomfortable be-
cause Of the concentration of Carranzista
troops between Pershing's column and
the border. so situated that the line of
communications can be cut at any time.
The call for the Twenty-fourth Infantry
is taken to indicate that infantry will
be used to strengthen the lines of COM
munications in the event that the break
reported last night is purely wire
trouble" In the event that the lines
of communication-transp and mes
senger enthusiastically have been cut
by hostile Carranzistas, the work Of res
cue will devolve largely upon mounted
forces.