Show INSTALLMENT ONE F 8 CHAPTER I IThe IThe IThe The erect middle-aged middle man In blue business suit who came briskly out of ot the White House paused re reo reluctantly re- re reluctantly before the inquisitive press of ot correspondents Anything new on our rearmament rearmament ment program General one re- re reporter reV V o porter wanted wante to know Another asked Did the President have anything to say about Mex Mex- Mexico ico leo General Hague Chief Chiet of ot Staff of the Army had managed to dissipate I with a calm smile that gravity in which he had emerged from confer confer- conference conference conference ence with the President There is nothing to give out gen gen- gentlemen he said with quiet firm firm- firmness firmness ness and strode to his military se sedan se- se sedan dan that was waiting in the drive drive- way The generals general's car sped off to the thelong thelong thelong long concrete Munitions Building on Constitution Avenue that houses the War Department General Hague hurried to his offices on the second floor and instructed his aide de camp to summon Colonel In a few minutes acting assistant chief of staff stair G 2 in charge of military intelligence re reo reported re- re reported ported in from another wing Sit down do the gen general eral Invited The President has just decided to go to the bottom of this Mexican situation lean aquiline face re reo remained re- re remained impassive except for a quick gleam of ot fire In his piercing black eyes good news sir sirl he ex exclaimed claimed and added in a quiet voice In that connection my section has just completed our final estimate of ot the situation based on all present available information Would you care to hear my report now Go ahead Hague Invited Ill be as brief as possible sir I IGo Our best estimate Is Euro European European regulars mobilized In Mexico That covers organized infantry di dl divisions visions artillery cavalry tanks air corps and technical groups trans transported ported from Mediterranean ports during the past six months together with some reservist Infantry assem assembled assembled bled from South American points To all outward appearances they fully support the arguments of the new Mexican dictatorship that as a apart apart apart I part of the Mexican military forces these troops are not the concern of the United States General Hagues Hague's straight mouth parted in n a cynical smile There is the big rub The Mexican version has so ration rationalized their European army that the American public falls for the fiction completely It almost has our State Department fooled tooled even when our ambassador knows the real commander com com- commander mander in Mexico is Van Hassek one of the smartest tacticians of the old Imperial Army The subterfuge Is obvious sir averred My whole section agrees agree's that the United States faces attack from Van Hassek's army General Hague somberly nodded his head I agree perfectly with your de de- deductions deductions de- de deductions and Informed the President pretty much to the same effect today He Is very gravely con con- concerned concerned and wants the facts as quick quick- quickly ly as possible But what can the President do unless Congress is con con- convinced convinced vinced and facts are available for forthe forthe forthe the public In the meantime General are we to reinforce our border garri garri- garrisons garrisons sons for defense In event attack comes sooner than expected The Chief of Staff groaned and said The President doesn't dare order troop concentrations now Congress would probably refuse him him an appropriation for transportation Hed He'd be accused of saber saber sa ra ber-ra mopped his brow and said slowly I see it all sir Just what's our move please To collect facts Our ambassador to France has something very se secret se- se secret cret hatched up with the French se secret se- se secret cret service A chance to slip sUp one of our officers Into the Mexican servo service servIce ice at Mexico City Our first move Is to select our man and send him to Paris to get his detailed Instructions Its It's very important that we pick the right man for tor this a man with plenty of brains and backbone I rather had young Benning in mind An excellent choice promptly fig cd But right now Ive I've got Captain Caplain Benning Bening down in San Antonio An tonJ o. o Investigating another |