The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-06-22
PREPAREDNESS is
MEXICAN PROBLEM
I WATCHWORD NOW
"WATCHFUL WAITING" NO LONG
Err POLICY OF GOVERNMENT
AT WASHINGTON
NEUTRAL ZONE PROBABLE
Plan TO Establish This South Of Border
May be Carried Out In Order TO Create
Stable Conditions-War Department
Has Made Plans to Throw Big Puni'
tive Expedition Against villa.

Has Made Plans to Throw Big Puni'
tive Expedition Against Villa.
Washington, June 21.-Recent devel'
opments along the southern border ana
within Mexico itself, it was learned or
ficially today, have brought radical
change in the attitude of this gov
ernment toward Mexico. 1t can be
stated on positive authority that
'watchful waiting" has been discarded
for "watchful preparedness"
The war department has perfected
plans to throw "a punitive expedition of
adequate strength across the Rio Gran
de the moment official word is received
of reprisals on the part of Villa for the
JuareZ incident, or in the case OF other
contingencies tending to bring the Mex
lean situation again to state approach
ing the crisis of last Sunday. Orders Tor
the advancement of this column, how
ever, it was said. would be accom-
plished by instruction for the military
occupation of territory necessary to in
sure the safety of the expedition and
absolute protection of the border
through the creation of a neutral zone
south of the line. Further movement
of the expedition would depend entirely
on subsequent developments.
Military observers here place little
credence in the reports that Villa has
abandoned his offensive to the north.
Economic as well as military necessity,
It was pointed out, call for the elimina-
tion of the Carranza garrisons now sta
toned on the flankS of the territory Viii
la now controls, and for possession of
a principal frontier entry port which
would give the rebel chieftain fresh sim
ews of war in the shape of customs du-
ties and equipment.
Although three federal generals now
are operating against Villa in northern
Mexico, confidential reports to the war
department are not optimistic regarding
the progress of the CarranZista cam
paign there, while the withdrawal of
badly needed troops from the south,
y it is expected. will be followed by fresh
incursions of the F'elicistas-already at
the very gates of the capital.
The Carranza military establishment,
according to official reports filed here,
actually includes less than 40 per cent
of its paper strength of 100, 900, and its
military value is decreased by the
doubtful loyalty of some of the high
officers and the fact that hundreds of
recruits were forcibly conscripted.
OF the rebel factions of which there
are said to be seven opposing Carranza
Villa is reported to be the strongest
Angeles is characterized in official cir
cles as undoubtedly the most skillful
military leader south of the Rio Grande
The VillistaS are conservatively estimat
ed to number 10000, equipped with
fairly modern arms, including cannon up
to 105 millimetres in calbre.
So serious is the condition faced 10y
President Carranza that he is said to be
bending every effort to secure the direct
support of the United States in main
tanning his power. This, according to
officials here, accounts for the ease with
which the Juarez incident was closed.
Oil Question was Discussed.
One Of the principal purposes of the
recent visit to Washington of General
Candido Aguilar, son-in law of the MeXi
can President and member of his cabi
net, it is declared, was to secure this
support by the United States. Genera
Aguilar was authorized, according tc
report, to settle the oil question and
other matters that have caused friction
between the countries.
1t is known that Aguilar conferred
al length with officials of the state de
partment about the petroleum question
in particular. and it is believed the
problem is nearer settlement now thar
at any time since Carranza issued his
decree which resulted in the charge OF
confiscation and immediate protests by
this government, Great Britain, Hol
land and France.
Members of the Aguilar mission also
conferred with representatives of an OF
company in Washington. and it is saiC
they will see representatives of the
company next week in New York.
1t Is known one result of the confer
ence here was that General Aguilar re
ceived an entirely new impression O
the American side of the oil question
and gave renewed assurances that no.h
ing in the Mexican administration would
tend to confiScation or to retroactive T
fects of any new regulations included il
the new petroleum code.