The Washington herald., 1916-05-10

troops were ordered to Mexico. However,
the Second Cavalry will dOubtlcssly be
ordered If any serious engagements take
place in Mexico
According to reports received al the
War Department. strenuous efforts have
been made during the past two months
to enlist the National Guard of Texas.
New Mexico and Arizona up to their full
strength. At least in the cities, it is
stated the National Guard officers have
met with success and all the urganiza-
dons are fairly well filled.
The tip was quietly passed among the
officers of the guard in the border States
that they would be called first in the
event the National Guard was ordered
out. Being in the center of the excite
ment along the border. the officers of the
National Guard nave been expecting the
call hourly and taking steps to prepare
for service. Most Of the officers and men
are acquainted with conditions in Mexico
and accustomed TO the climate. As a con-
sequence. it is thought that they are
especially suited for duty on the border.
ntil they are transformed into volUn-
tecrs the National Guard can be used on
the border to relieve the regular army.
This will give more regular army Organi-
cations for service in Mexico.
In the event of the authorization OF
thirty tive-knot battle cruisers the
government will be compelled to de-
pend upon private docks to handle the
new ships at least for a time. Even
il Congress in this appropriation bill
authorizes new docks at Philadelphia
and Norfolk. they will not be COM
pleted until after the new cruisers are
in commission.
1T is estimated that the new cruisers
to make a speed OF thirty-five knots
must be over 900 feet long. The
longest government dock now is the
SC0-foot Puget Sound dock. The New
York dock is 700 feet and the one at
Norfolk $50 feet. The Bureau of
Yards and Docks some time ago rec
commended that the new docks be built
1000 feet long and the Pearl Harbor
dock plans called for this length. One
thousand foot docks will be needed to
handle the battle cruisers, and this
will probably be the length of the
new dock if one is authorized either
at Norfolk or Philadelphia.
Under a contract entered into by the
Navy Department the government will
have the right to use the Hunter
Point dock at San Francisco. This, it
is stated. will take care of a battle
cruiser on the Pacific Coast. The
government pays $4,000 a year for
the privilege of using the Hunter
Point dock. On. the Atlantic Coast the
Navy Department will be compelled TO
depend upon a drydock that is being
built by the State of Massachusetts, at
Boston for handling it's battle cruisers
until it builds a 1,000-foot dock either
at Philadelphia or Norfolk.
A telegram from Gen. Wood to the
Adjutant General announces that the
transport Fitzpatrick sailed from the
Canal Zone for New York May having
on board Col. S. Mallory, Twenty ninth
Infantry; Miller, Tenth Infantry: Mai.
Learnard, Adjutant General, Capts.
Jones and Roberts, Lieut.. Sumner. Tenth
Infantry; Capt. Eddy, Lieuts. Mix and
Campbell, Coast Artillery: Capt. Dun
can, Medical Corps; Capt Dillen, Eng
inecrs; Capts, Doodale. Supplee. Wells,
Lieute Atkins, whelan and Goodwin,
Twenty-ninth Infantry: Capt Stewart,
Lieut.. Brown, Fifth Infantry; LiA"t
Reed, navy.