The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-14
War Department Leaves Situa
ton Entirely Up to Him.
of Pershing's Troops
the Only Consideration.
DANGERS INCREASE HOURLY
Army Officers Fear a General
Outbreak of POpulace.
Funston Assures Advance Col
umns Are Fully Protected.

Washington, April 14-General
Funston, in command of about 10000
troops on the border has been given
practically unlimited instructions to
protect the United States troops in
Mexico.
The orders which were sent Thurs
day evening are understood by army
officers to mean that General Per-
shing and especially his advance guard
attacked at Parral must be protected
with all the means at Funston's COM
mand at at the earliest possible mo-
ment.
Army opinion is that General Fun
ston will act promptly and that his
first order will be to send at once the
troops nearest to the imperiled forces
of General Pershing to his rescue. The
next step of General Funston, it is be-
lieved, will be to send all available
troops across the border, and if he
regards the matter as sufficiently
pressing to utilize the Mexican North
western railroad for that purpose
1t is understood that the six or sew
en- thousand infantrymen along the
line from the border to CaSaS GrandeS
are now on the move south. 1t is stat
ed by army officers that it is seldom
a general is given such wide latitude
as General Funston has been given in
the orders from the secretary of war,
Baker Tells of Orders.
In re-stating his orders to General
Funston, Secretary Baker said:
81 telegraphed to General Funston
the contents of the dispatches which
were handed out by Mr.. Arredondo. 1
directed him to take all the necessary
steps to protect our soldiers and a1lay
| further trouble and to wire promptly
all obtainable Details ~
The secretary of war explained that
these orders were sent Immediately
after the receipt at the state depart
ment of the dispatches given out at
the Mexican embassy relating to the
/ fight at Parral. &c
Army officers realize the situation
of General Pershing's forces at Parrsai
is very precarious. They believe the
same hostility which urged the citizens
against the advance guard would not
cease at. once. - They believe that fuRe
Their attacks might be made andsthat
nothing but a retreat through hos
tile country could save Pershings s
forces from humiliation.
Danger Will Increase s
! 1t was stated by officers that it was
i this fear that forced the government
/ to protect the soldiers. They say that
the danger to General Pershing will
/ increase every day and hour until he
has been heavily reinforced.
1t was pointed out also by high
army officers that the moment the
demands of Carranza and Aguilar are
printed at Parral and in Mexico gem
orally the populace will take up the
cry to force the Americans out of
/ Mexico.
In army circles there appeared to he
a marked sentiment that the presi-
dent should either call out the ma
4 tional guard or send all the facts to
congress at once in order that a de-
cision on the future policy of the gov
eminent may be reached at once.
Funston Not Uneasy.
San Antonio, April 14.-'sNo appre-
hension need be felt about the ability
of General Pershing and his advance
columns to take care of themselves -
General Funston said early this morn
ing.
las in any similar condition, the
advance columns will fall back if they
have met serious opposition and con-
centrate, and If pressed further will
fall back on their supporting columns.
| General Pershing has several thou
sand men below Namiquipa. I do not
care to disclose how many. He is es-
pecially strong there in artillery and
against any force of Mexican troops
that can be concentrated quickly in
that region he will be amply prepared
not only to protect himself, but to
dominate the situation. OF course
his troops will stay out of such cities
as are near the line of retirement OF
the advance columns-if retirement is
| necessary, and thus avoid any instance
of fighting both soldiers and populace
/ While 1 cannot discuss nv orders
nor disclose our troop movements, /
will say this, that we have taken care
full steps to know what Gomez's So
nora troops are doing. The line Of
/ communication is protected Beyond
that, General Pershing must he 1af,
free to handle his troops as the stu
/ alton demands ~