South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-24
First Chief Said to be Court
ing Trouble in Order to
Bolster Up Waning
Prestige at Home.
TREVlNA'S MOVEMENTS
REGARDED IMPORTANT
MaSSing of Artillery Lends
Color to Belief That Plans
Are Being Laid to At
tack PerShing.

International News Service
WASHINGTON. May "a. - That
Gen. Carranza deliberately is trying
10 force an open break with the
United States i'm order To bolster up
his fast fading prestige is the opin-
ion rapidly growing in official circles
here. His latest demand for the i'm
mediate withdrawal OF the American
troops from Mexico as reported from
Mexico City. has incensed even those
administration officials who hereto
fore have been tolerant of his atti-
tude because they believed IL was
assumed for home consumption. 1t
is considered likely here that the de
factO government shortly will be in
formed again that while the United
States has no design whatever on
Mexican sovereignty-its first duty to
its citizens is to protect them and
that II must retain a sufficient force
along the border and in northern
Mexico for that purpose until the
Mexican authorities conclusively
demonstrate that they can handle
the situation.
In the absence of the official text
from Carranza which is now en-
route 10 this city. officials have re-
fused 10 discuss it anyway. At the
white house it was stated today that
there has been no change whatever
in the general situation and the
Pershing expedition will remain
where il is FOR the present"
Contemplate Attack
Massing of 900 Mexican forces.
including all branches of the ser
vice. at Mapula. near Chihuahua
city. by Gen. Jacinto Trevino is held
IN administration circles here to he
almost conclusive proof that an at
tack upon the American forces in
that vicinity is contemplated. Gen.
Funston has been ordered by the
war department Immediately 20 for
ward all available information re-
garding the capture Of these troops.
The very fact that included i'm their
ranks is declared TO be practically all
Of the artillery of the Carranza
army admittedly is highly signih-
cart. Officials point out that IL is
not the customary thing 10 hunt
bandits with artillery. There hardly
IS an army officer here who does not
believe that the troop movement is
preparatory to enforcing a demand
for the withdrawal of all American
forces from Mexico
At the Mexican mbassy. however.
r contrary opinion was expressed
today. officials there insisted that
this movement of Trevino's was
merely for the purpose Of patrolling
oil Of northern Chihuahua and SON
ora so that the various bandit fac
tions operating in that vicinity can be
eXteTminated. In this connection il
was stated that Gen. Obregon had
directed these movements in order
TO demonstrate conclusively that his
promises 10 Gen. Scott that IL the
American forces withdrew he would
take steps which would stamp out
ali bandit activities along the border.
were made in good faith.
Renew Pressure.
Pressure on the white house by
leading democratic senators and rep
resentatives from border states inn
mediately 20 call for volunteer
army or not less than 25o.0O0 men
was renewed today One senator.
who recently conferred with the
president. declared today that he
believed that such an army is inev-
liable The president. he said. wants.
~ possible To wait Until the new
army bill is in effect So that every
effort can be made 20 expedite en-
listments and get the troops that
would be needed for a preliminary
campaign through regular channels.
But even the president is said 10 be
doubtful whether this will be pos
sible
Sec'y Of War Baker still has on his
desk the request OF Gen. Frederick
Funston that he be given all Of the
available coast artillery in the coun-
Try FOR use tn the Brownsville and
Big Bend sections OF Texas. IL is
understood that the general staff has
roncurred In the suggestion that
these troops Immediately be made
available for border service in view
OF the slackeninE OF the tension in
fhe general International situation.
CONTINUED On PACE 13)