Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-10

Washington, May 10.-Nirtually the
last American troops in the United
States were being modified to-day
for Mexican border service. With the
National Guard of three states. they
were under orders 10 hasten to rein
force General Funstons army. The
total of between nine thousand and
ten thousand included eleven COM
panies of coast artillery ordered out
last night by Secretary Baker
The proposed military agreement
between the Carranza and American
governments remained unsigned and
General Obregon, Mexican war minis
ter after three-hours discussion with
General Scott last night, arranged for
still another conference to-day.
If the situation warrants, National
Guards of other States will he called
out for border patrol duty, officials de-
clared. Secretary Baker stated, how
ever, that no further mobilization or
ders are contemplated Immediately.
In addition to the 1000 United
States soldiers and an equal number
of militiamen from Texas, New Mex
leo and Arizona ordered to the border
yesterday. Secretary Baker announced
that 1000 soldiers. comprising eleven
companies of coast artillery stationed
at Gulf and Atlantic seaboard posts,
had been ordered to San Antonio to
serve as infantry with the border pa
troll.
The secretary also said five bat
teries of the Fifth Field Artillery had
been ordered from Fort Sill, Okla
homa. Three additional batteries Of
the third field artillery were held in
readiness at Tobyhanna, Pa, under
orders to-day.
5000 Troops Ready
Unofficial estimates placed the num-
her OF troops now on Mexican duty or
under mobilization at about $1,000.
Admiral Winslow, commanding on
the West Mexican coast, reported to
the Navy Department to-day that the
steamer San Juan had taken 6S Amer
lean refugees from Manzanillo and %
from Mazatlan, and was proceeding
with them to San Diego. Cal. The
admiral made no reference in his dis
patch to new disturbances on the
coast but said there was a general
feeling among Americans to leave
Mexico.
May Delay on Pennsylvania
1t Is believed that troops called yes
terday were selected because they can
he more easily acclimated to the hot
climate of northern Mexico than the
troops of the States further removed
from the border. In all likelihood
the next step of the War Department
will be to complete the Fifteenth divi-
sion, and II may be that the National
Guard of Pennsylvania. Ohio and New
York, the best trained troops of the
National Guard, will not he called for
several weeks, even if Intervention is
decided upon.
In Splendid Condition
Colonel McIver, Chief of the Divi-
sion of Militia Affairs, said
The Pennsylvania National Guard
comprises an efficient and well-drilled
division of the organized militia. As
to equipment and property. the Penn
sylvania Guard is in splendid condi-
ton. The same applies to the Ma
tional Guard of Ohio, where the mill
tia is well equipped for service.
According to the report made on
December 81, 1915, by Governor
Brumbaugh and corrected to May %.
the militia of Pennsylvania consists
of 746 officers and 10,l64 enlisted
men. Governor Willis report for
Ohio shows 543 officers and $3.50 en-
listed men. West Virginia has 113
officers and 1.643 enlisted men.
AS to whether the militia of these
States will be called into service along
the border or in Mexico, we cannot
say at this time. So far as | know,
no orders have been ent to them to
get in readiness for active duty. De-
Velopments will determine this, no
doubt. But we all know that with
large detachments of the regular army