The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1916-07-07
Guards on Both Sides.

In effect the latest note proposes
that the clock be turned back to the
time Immediately following the Column
bus raid. and when negotiations were
afOOt for the passage of American
troops into Mexico in pursuit Of the
raiders. Conditions have changed
since then. however, Gen. Carran2a
having assembled a considerable army
in Northern Mexico and the United
States having called the entire nation
al guard to the line for patrol duty. II
is regarded as improbable that any
plan for American pursuit Of bandits,
except possibly within limited areas
where a hot trail is followed and no
CarranZa troops are available, will be
dissucced IN the new negotiations.
A plan for BORDER cantonments,' TO
which reference is made in the note,
was proposed by Gen. Obregon at his
conference in FL Paso with Naj-Gen.
Scott, chief of staff of the army. Gen,
Scott, would not consider it then be.
cause it was founded on the stipulation
that Gen. Pershing's column would be
Withdrawn Immediately. That stipu.
lation in effect now is revoked snt
unquestionably American officials now
will give the plan serious conside.
ton. % a ~
Ger p',Se~on rs ge. |, ',s-.e. r q.
.essary Intervals along the botdei
camps Of Mexican and American
troops be established opposite each
other on their respective sides OF the
line. Information as to bandit move.
ments would be interChanged by the
camp commanders and military opera
tons against the raiders being con-
Quoted jointly, although each force
would remain within its own terri
tory.
With 100000 or more national
guardsmen at the border it would be
possible to establish the American
camp in a way to make it practically
impossible for raiders to escape if real
cooperation were given by the MeXi.
cans.
Movement of Troops Continues.
The mobilization by the guard con-
tinued at full speed. 1t is certain
there will be no immediate alteration
in the War Department plans. Probe.
bly, a reduction Of the border forces
would be ordered only after some CO.
operative plan of action had been
agreed upon with the Mexican govern.
ment and had been tried out sufficient
ly to leave no doubt as to it's practi-
cability. In other words, a demonstra'
ton Of the ability of the Carranza
forces to carry out their part of the
bargain would be required. Whether
such demonstration must precede
withdrawal Of Gen. Pershing's forces
is not so clear.
Officials believe that the call for the
national guard and the actual despatch
Of the troops to the border was the
impelling influences which induced
Gen. Carranza to abandon the hostile
attitude taken in his previous notes
They say the United States holds a
strong argument in favor OF peaceful
solution Of border difficulties as long
as it maintains an army near the line
and there seems little probability that
it will be withdrawn until all danger
| has passed
PROFESSIONALLY, if no new bandit
| outbreaks occur, the national guards
men will be gradually sent back TO
their homes. It originally was planned
that only a part of the force be used
on me border, the remainder being
sent later to relieve regiments which
mad put in the required time at active
service. 1t is possible that scheme
! lo+1