Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-01-21
TAKEN To MEAN
PERSH|NC WILL
WITHDRAW SOON


WASHINGTON, Jan. 20-Immediate
withdrawal of "a substantial number
of national guardsnien from the bOr-
der has been ordered by the war de-
pal tment and General Funston now is
selecting the units to be sent home.
In announcing the order late today
Secretary Baker said the number to
he withdrawn at this time probably
would be $4,000 or 10000.
Tho secretary refused to comment
on the order or say whar relation it
might have to -fle withdrawal of
General Pershing's expedition from
Mexico. He said that the organiza
tions to be Withdrawn would be an
nounced as soon as General Funston
reported those he had designated.
This withdrawal will reduce the force
of state troops or the border to be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 men.
The announcement generally was
accepted, however, as an indication
that the withdrawal of Pershings
forces would rot be long delayed. 1t
had been understood that as quickly
as border stations are evacuated by
state troops, regulars will move up to
occupy -hem, but tonight it was said
authoritatively that no order to bring
the regulars north mad yet been is
sued.
Il is the policy OF the department
not to permit disintegration of the
national guard organizations and the
intention is to hold every man in SER
vice, though not u"der arms, regard
less of the fact that his duty on the
border has ended. All applications
for discharges except for cause, will
be refused, and designations of off
GERS win he carefully examined anc.
accepted only when the department
is satisfied with the reasons given. II
was pointed out that acceptance of
many of the designations already ofv
fered was more OIL less in the nature
of q wedding out process. -ai
This policy of maintaining intact
| the strength Of ehe national guard is
taken as further indication of what
will be the adm inistration's future
! ro,icy in dealing with Mexico. This
| rGlicy. it has been indicated, contem-
plates dealing with the de facto gov
ernment on strictly formal basis
rather than on an altruiStic basis.
| Thus it is understood that the actiV-
tiles of Villa and the question of who
occupies the territory Pershing is
about to leave will be regarded hers
as problems for Carranza and that
the United States will look TO him
| for their solution.
it probable that Withdrawal of Gem
eral Pershng's force carnot pe ac
| complished in much less than three
J weeks after the order is issued.
| Previous troops movements of the
! magnitude of that of the euardsmen
ordered today have required two
weeks
The Mexican Northwestern railway
south from Juarez would facilitate the
|
| Gated that no request for its use wilt
be made by the United States and
that no offer of il by the Mexican
| government is expected.
l Whether the administration intends
to delay sendirg Ambassador Fletcher
to Mexico City until after the Amer
Jean troops come out has not been
definitely indicated, but it has been
pointed out that the stationing of an
ambassador at the CarranZa capital
might be construed as sanctiOning
| certain acts of the de factc govern
ment against which this government
has persistently protested. There was
a suggestion today that continued dis
approval of these acts might POSSIBLY
serve to delay Indefinitely Ambassa =
dor F1etcher's departure for Mexico.
one question brought sharply to
the front within the last week IS that
| presented bN the attl'ude OF tne ue
facto government toward the Ma
tiona bank and the Bank of London
and Mexico. They We're forced into
liquidation for not complying to the
decree that their metallic reserves be
increas sed collar for dollar with the
note issues Since then the govern
ment has secured from them a larg J
loan in metallic currency and bullion,
the metal being carted from the
banks to the treasury French and
British diplomatic agents have pro-
tested without avail.
Withdrawal Next Week
Ell PASO. Jan. 20-Although no
official information has been given
out here regarding the expected
Withdrawal of troops from Mexico,
army officers of chis district say they
expect the movement to begin early
next week. These officers said today
that General Pershing held a finaI
review Yesterday at Ell Vale. his
southernmost point, preparatory u
the withdrawal of the troops there.
numbering approximately 1900 men,
,(Continued on Page Two)