The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-02-19
BORDER TROOPS
COMING HOME
All Guardsmen to Be On
Way by March Z at
the Latest
AFFECTS $4,000
Order to Bring Troops North Said by
War Department to Have No Connec-
ton With Present International Crisis
Regulars to Stay.
to Stay.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Coinci
dent with the reopening of the Ameri.
can embassy in Mexico, the big army
Of national guardsmen that was con
centrated on the border on account of
bandit activities will be in process of
dissolution. Orders have been issued
by the war department directing Gen
eral Funston to begin the immediate de-
mobilization of all the guard units re-
naming in border camps, and it is ex-
pectcd that the last troop train will be
on its way north by March 7.
General Funston still will have on
the border nearly $4,000 troops, all of
the regular army disposed along the
line from Brownsville TO Yuma, Ariz.,
on plans worked out by the general
staff The command includes all the
troops who were in Mexico under Gen.
Pershing and their distribution was
carried out under the direction of Gen.
Fben Swift, who was with the Per
aning expedition. Gen. Pershing will
main at Fl Paso, where he is com
handing a division including the larg-
est cavalry unit on the line.
Secretary Baker emphasized that the
withdrawal Of the state troops is in no
way connected with the crisis with
Germany, but carries out policy deter
mined on long ago by the administra
ton. The order was issued after Gen
I Funston had reported that with the
| new disposition of regulars he felt that
he had enough men TO meet any border
lrxigencies that might arise. Many
l., " 4
home during the past few weeks and
the number of guardsmen remaining
and to be demobilized under the last
order number about $4,000.
Administration officials place entire
| confidence in Gen. Funston 5 opinion
F.! that the force of regulars will be suf
/ fcient. They arc understood TO hav,
/ been convinced b. the reports of spe
| cial observers for the state department
and the army that whila it may be pos
sibie Tor Villa and Zapafa followers t,
commit minor depredations in thu
! sparsely- settled region west of Ell Paso
there is little possibility of a recur
renee of raids in the lower Rio Grand
country.
1t also IS desired that the Carranz;
SONCl illitHl We SiIlbdi IdSStO as niue Il
possible in its efforts to control Mex
CO. The maintenance of 4 large arm,
al the border has been constant caus
Of complaint from Mexicans. The re
duction is expected by Washington OF
ficials TO have beneficial effect on re
lations between the stwo countries, es
peeiallv just now when diplomatic in
tcrcoursa is being resumed.
In cooperation with officials of tn
American railway association the va
department has mapped out the tran:
portation problem very fully. \
troops will be required to travel in da
coaches for period longer than ,
hours, the Pullman company havin
made arrangements under which an az
ditional number Of sleePingcars will b
available for the troops.
Ambassador Fletcher took with hil
to Mexico a mass of memoranda o
subjects that the United States has il
structed him to take up with the Me,
lean government. 1t is expected
will call at the Mexican foreign offc
tomorrow to present his credentials.
memorandum on the killing of thre
Americans south of Haehita. n. NJ,
being prepared and will be forwarde
TO him early this week with instruction
that he make presentations to Il
: de faeto government.