May Swell Border Force.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 24, 1913:
Increase of American Army Near Mexico Deemed Advisable.
    WASHINGTON, Aug. 23.— With only three American soldiers available for the protection of each mile of the Mexican border and knowledge that quantities of arms and ammunition are being smuggled across the line, consideration has been given in military circles to the dispatch of fresh troops to the Southwest.
    The possibility that as a result of the steady northward movement of the Federal troops in Mexico, the many Constitutionalist bands will be tempted to cross into Texas and Arizona to escape capture has been taken into consideration. Although no orders have been issued, plans of the army have been developed fully to increase largely the manoeuvre division under Gen. Carter.
    The augmented force thus would be in position to deploy in strength along the northern border of Mexico, or. in case of need, could form the military unit of a successful expeditionary force.
    Owing to the large number of troops sent to Hawaii and the canal zone, the detention in China of a military force and the maintenance of an army of 12,000 men in the Philippines the total strength of the mobile army remaining in the continental United States above the Coast Artillery force, which must be maintained in its posts, is only about 32,000 men.
    Of those, 11,000 are under Gen. Carter in Texas. To carry the strength of his division up to possible requirements heavy drafts would be made on the Eastern and Western departments, probably aggregating 14,000 men.