Newspaper Page Text
®he ctni'Weclda Sonrnal
VOLUME xvm
FRENCH STATEMENT AND PROOF IN CASE FASTEN BLAME
ON GERMANY FOR SUBMARINE ATTACK ON THE SUSSEX
0. S. OFFICIALS FEEL
EVIDENCE OF GUILT IS
BEYONDALLOIIESTION
German Contentions and Ad
missions Only Serve to
Strengthen Case of State
Department, Is Belief
WASHINGTON. April 13.—Th® Ger
man note on the Sussex and other sub
marine cases has been received at the
state department any is being decoded.
It probably will be laid before Presi
dent Wilson and Secretary Lansing be
fore tonight.
The affidavits from Paris and Lon
don, expected today on the liner St.
Paul, will be considered with the Ger
man note and the “information” regard
ing attacks on merchant vessels since
the Lusitania Is expected to be com
pleted In time to go to Berlin within
the next week.
It is understood that nothing less
than some positive evidence of Ger
many's good faith to fulfill her assur
ances, «ueh as possibly, substantial
punishment of the submarine conn
xnander who torpedoed the Sussex, can
prevent the situation between the two
countries from coming to the pass which
diplomats have struggled to avoid.
The use of the word ultimatum in
connection with the document to be for
warded to Berlin is discouraged by of
ficials, st in. it was said the effect
of the communication would be to call
for prompt action. In view of the con
clusive nature of the information on
the Sussex already beso r e the state de
partment. officials cannot see how Ger
many can continue to deny responsi
bility.
ARBITRATION NOT POSSIBLE.
The suggestion of arbitration In the
German note was met with the state
ment that the American government
would not arbitrate a question involving
American lives.
Careful examination of the German
note led officials to conclude that the
case of the United States had been
materially strengthened. The similari
ty betweeh the circumstances surround
ing the attack on a steamer In the Eng
lish channel admitted in the German
note and those surrounding the Sus
sex case caused officials to feel there
no longer is any doubt that the vessel
was the Sussex. '
Senators and representatives who call
ed at the White House went away w/n
the impression that action was im
minent but that another communication
would be sent to Berlin before more
drastic steps were taken.
The United States will continue to
compile* evidence indicating that German
submersibles are operating in violation
of the rules of international law. In
structions to Ambassador Gerard, de
signed as the tinal word of this govern
ment on the subject, will soon be sent
to Berlin, it is said.
• The official text cf the German note
and the entire submarine situation will
be discussed at tomorrow's cabinet meet
ing.
White Germany denies the Sussex was
gtlacked by one of her submarines and
explains that a sketch made by a sob
n.arne commander of a ship he torpe
doed did no» tally with the description
e,” the Sussex, officials say that Ger
ma iy*s admission that a submarine was
i- the vicinity, coupled with the array
of evidence at hand, points to the con
that the Sussex was torpedoed.
Likewise officials say there is a eon*
f t between tiie evidence in the Ger
i; an version that the steamers English
r. an and Eagle Point were sunk after
they attempted to escape and evidence
x«-.r'vcd here f rom other sources.
Ge many’s contentions in the cases of
the steamers Berwindvale and the Man
chester Engineer are not considered here
ns conclusive.
-French Say They Know
Who Torpedoed Sussex
PARIS. April 13. —Semi-official an
nouncement was made here today that
the French government has documen
tary evidence that the Sussex was at
tacked by a submarine. The statement,
which was given out after the receipt
hire of the German note to the United
States, is as follows:
. “It suffices. In order to answer the
German note, to recall that fragments
of a torpedo have been discovered in
the hull of the Sussex and that the
#*rench government Is in possession of
documents which give the name of the
commander and the number of the sub
marine which sank (damaged) tlje Sus
sex."
The further is made from
the same semi-official source that French
and British warships sank a German
submarine on April 5 after taking pris
oners ths officers and crew of the sub
marine.
It is stated the prisoners now fully
confirm Information tn the possession of
the French government concerning the
name of the commander and the number
of the submarine which Is said to nave
torpedoed the Sussex.
The French ministry of marine an
nounced on April 5 that a German sub
marine had been sunk by French and
British warships and that the crew
had been captured. No indication was
given of the place at which the subma
rine was destroyed.
Russian Sailing Vessel
Sunk in Mediterranean
BARCELONA. (Via Parts. April 13.) —
Th* Russian sailing vessel Imperator
Pas been torpedoed by an Austrian sub
marine in the Mediterranean. Nine of
the crew, some of whom are wounded,
have been landed here by a Dutch
steamship.
The I mpe rat or of 391 gross tons, left
» •import. Miss., February 23 for Mar
seilles.
• British Steamship Robert
’ ' Adamson Reported Sunk
LONDON. April 13- —The torpedoing of
the British steamship Robert Adamson
is reported in a dispatch to Lloyds died
on Tuesday at Harwich.’ The twenty
nine men of the crew were landed. The
steamship Is believed to have gone
down.
The Robert Adamson, 3.978 tons gross
end 325 feet long, was built In 1995 and
owned In Sunderland.
Four Germans
Are Arrested in
Fire Bomb Plot
Detectives in New York Seek
“Man Higher Up,” Who Is
Said to Have Financed the
Conspiracy
(By Associated Tress.)
NEW YORK, April 13. —Detectives
who yesterday ' arrested four Germans
charged with placing bombs on ships
carrying war munitions to the entente
allies today sought evidence involving
a “well known German” who is alleged
to have supplied a SIO,OOO fund to
finance the fire bomb conspiracy. They
sought also tike arrest of the chemist
who did the chemical work in the man
ufacture of the bombs. The name of
neither has been revealed.
Four employes of the Hamburg-
American line and North German Lloyd
steamship companies here are under ar
rest charged with attempted arson
either in making bombs or taking part
in the conspiracy. They are Ernest
Becker, an electrician of the steamer
Kaiser Friedrich Der Grosse! Captain
Charles Von Kleist, superintendent of
the New Jersey Agricultural and
Chemical company, of Hoboken. N. J.
Captain Otto Wolpert, superintendent
of the Atlas line piers of the Hamburg-
American company and Captain Enno
Bode, superintendent of the Hamburg-
American lines In Hoboken.
Preparations were made to arraign
them in a Brooklyn court today to an
swer the specific charge of placing
bombs in sugar bags on board the
steamer Kirk Oswald on May 2, 1915.
The steamer caught fire from bomb ex
plosions while on her way to Marseilles.
France. Unexploded bombs were found
in her cargo after her arrival there.
Police Captain Thomas Tunney. who
has charge of the case, regards the ar
rest of the four prisoners as the most
Important stride yet made In the detec
tion of a great conspiracy to destroy
steamships sailing with war munitions.
FIRES COST $4,000.00®.
The police believe the men involved
have been responsible for fires on at
least thirty-three steamers that have
caused $4,000,003 damage. They assert
they have evidence that bombs made tn
a Hoboken factory, ostensibly operated
for the manufacture of fertilizer, were
sent to all parts of the country.
Detectives asserted today that one of
the prisoners said he had been sent to
the factory in Hoboken by Captain
Franz Von Papen. The Hoboken fac
tory was a small structure In which a
few men were employed- One of the
prisoners ' told the police It was used
at first to make fertilizer for shipment
to Germanv through neutral countries
and that the Germans extracted lubrl*
eating oil from the fertlizer. •
Both Becker and Von Kleist are said
by the police to have confessed making
the bombs.
The parts played by Captains Wolpert
and Bode have not been told. It is hint
ed that the first clue to the conspiracy
came to the police as a result of a dis
pute between the men higher up In the
conspiracy and the chemist. Many of
the bombs are said to have failed to ex
plode and consequently the chemist had
difficulty over his payment.
Discovery of the plot was brought
about, according to the authorities of
Hoboken, through the discontent of a
man who had quarreled with the leaders
over money nayments. The Hoboken au
thorities said this man, whose Identiy is
withheld, told them that Captain Boy-
Ed and Captain Von Papen. before their
departure from the United States had
placed a large sum of money at thej
disposal of the bomb makers.
Triolets Born in Turner
ASHBURN, Ga.. April 13.—Mr. and
Mrs. Monroe Dukes, living about five
miles southeast of Ashburn, announce
the birth of triplets, named, respect
ively. Frank, 8 pounds; Frances, 7 1-2
pouqds, and Fannie. 6 pounds. They
are all bright, healthy youngsters.
br. Andrew M. Soule, President of The Agricultural College at Athens, Ca.,
says; **/ think you are doing the Southern farmers a great favor when you giv e
them a chance to try Sudan Grass and Feterita.”
Will you try the new Feterita and Sudan Grass at our ex
pense, with generous supply of Flower Seed thrown in for
good measure? Read our combination offer below:
Feterita, the new cereal.
This new grain is proving itself to
! be of wonderful value in all parts
I of the country. It will grow an.l
mature a big crop of grain in from
75 to 90 days time. One single
' seed will make a plant baring from *
' five to ten stalks and each stalk
will carry a head of seed,, the larger
: ones weighing about a i>ound each.
I These beads of grain are easily
gathered and stored and have a va-
I rtety of valuable uses. Crush the
I grains or cook them whole the
i same as wheat and you have a most
, delightful breakfast cereal. The
kind that always makes the chil
dren call for more. Take the grain
( to a mill and have it ground into
; flour and it wakes an excellent snb-
I stitnte for wheat flour. Probably
I of all its uses Feterita has attrnetei
as the grains are just the right size and it has the chemical elements
to make a perfectly balanced ration. A small patch will grow enough
seed for a big fiock of chickens and the stalks will make excellent
fodder for the cow or horse.
We we:.t to send you r package of seed large enough to plant a
S rod square i-atch of ground. This will give you a chance to try it
as a breakfast cereal, have some ground for flour and see how your
chickens thrive on the balance. You will be sure to want to plant more
es it another year.
Let us have your order for this
i combination today. The papers
you get are worth more than SI.OO
—and the seed come in addition
to this. Address —
The Atlanta Semi-
Weekly Journal
Circulation Dept., Atlanta, Ga.
GERMANS - PLAN FOB
NEW VERDUN DRIVE
SMASHEDjJY FRENCH
Teutons Prepare for Attack on
Important Strategic Point
West of Meuse, but French
Prevent Its Execution
(By Aaaocieted Frees.)
WASHINGTON, April 13.—The attack
on Verdun has subsided for t-he moment,
after several days of severe fighting.
There were no engagements of impor
tance in that region last night, the offi
cial French statement of this afternoon
says. Preparations were made by the
Germans for an attack or. Hill No. 304,
an important strategic point commanding
a large section of the territory west of
the Meuse, but the Paris communica
tion says the French prevented execu
tion.
The principal German effort since the
general Verdun offensive was begun Sun
day has been the attempt to force a
passage between Dead Man’s hill and
Cpmieres, for the purpose of enveloping
the hill. Some French trenches were
carried but the main positons were held,
and Paris regards the operations of the
week as having resulted decidedly to
their advantage. Following the evacua
tion of the Bethlncourt salient the Ger
mans were compelled to make frontal
attacks except at Dead Man’s hill where
they attempted to advance through the
lavines.
Elsewhere on the western front and
on the Russian and Italian battle lines,
no operations of importance are record
ed. The Russian attacks have not seri
ously shaken the Germans lines and al
though spirited fighting is still in prog
ress, the offensive piovement apparently
is subsidng.
The Russian sailng vessel Imperator,
on a voyage from Gulport, Miss., for
Marseilles, has been torpedoed in the
Mediterranean. Nine of the crew, some
of the wounded, have been landed at
Barcelona.
German Attack on
Hill 304 Prevented
(By Associated Presa.)
PARIS, April 13.—Calm prevailed in
the whole region of Verdun last night,
this morning official communication
says. Preparation was made by the
Germans for an attack on Hill 304, but
‘the attack Was prevented by the French
from being carried into effect. No oth
er important developments were re
ported at the front.
The statement follows:
“The night passed quietly in all
the Verdun region. A German attack,
which was being prepared yesterday
evening against our positions at Hill
No. 304, did not progress to the point
of leaving the trenches. The curtains
of fire maintained by our artillery and
the bombardment from our batteries in
a neighborhood sector directed against
the columns of the enemy assembled
in the wood of• Malancourt, apparently
put -an end to this maneuver.
"There has been no other event of
importance on the rest of the front.”
Warships Collide,
No Damage Done
WASHINGTON. April 13.—A collison
yesterday afternoon between the battle
ships Michigan and South Carolina, in
which neither ship was seriously dam
aged and no one hurt, was reported to
day by Admiral Fletcher.
While the fleet was steaming north
from Guantanamo, Admiral Fletcher
said, the two battleships, "came in con
tact” during maneuvers. Both are pro
ceding under their own steam.
17 (pl We will send you The
I (IT I Atlanta
V Journal 18 months,
Household Journal 12 months, I;
I; Farm Life 12 months, and include
absolutely free the collection of
;! seed as described in this adver
l; tisement.
more attention as a chicken food would be burned out.
I The Semi-Weekly Journal, Atlanta, Ga.
Enclosed find SI.OO. Send me The Semi-Weekly Journal L
18 months; Household Journal 12 months; Farm Life 12 !;
months, and the Seed Collection FREE. ;!
Name ;•
P.O v ;l
R. F. I) State
ATLANTA, GA., FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1916.
Mexican Note Not a Surprise,
War Department Is Preparing
VILLA IS REPORTED
TO BE NEAR RANCH
SDUTHDF ROSARIO
American Consul Letcher Has
News That 'Pershing’s Force
Was in Clash With Parral
Garrison
(By Associated Preaa.)
1 TORREON, Mex„ April 12. — (Via El
Faso Junction, April 13.)—Francisco
Villa is believed here to be near or at
the Urbinas ranch at La-snlevas. south
of Rosario in the state of Durango. It
Is reported he is heading down the Na
zas ’river in the direction of the Con
treras and Ceniceros bandits.
Not Sure If Civilians
Or Soldiers Were Fighting
SAN ANTONIO, Tex., April 13.—Ad
vices received at department headquar
ters, Fort Sam Houston, today state
that American forces nave had an en
counter with either Mexican military
forces or the civilian population of
Parral. No details are available. x
The report came from American Con
sul Letcher. It stated that Major Gu
tierrez, commander at Parral, said there
was a clash which he termed unimpor
tant between American forces and the
stroops of the garrison or residents jf
t’arral. The Americans entered the
town with the intention of marching
through en route southward. An ex
change of shots followed.
Song Wins
Liberty for
“Baby Gringo”
i There are more ways than one of
capturing a Villa bandit. Four-year
i old Harry Joline tried singing. And it
1 worked.
Baby Harry and his parents were held
; prisoners by Villa’s men in Mexico re
; cently. Harry was given the freedom
of the prison which happened to be a
j bull-pen. He sang baby songs to his
guards and sang so sweetly the “bebie
J gringo” and his parents were released.
Harry showed his real heroism when
with his parents he traveled 14,000
, miles in 45 days to his home in Philadel
' phia and kept well every day of the
• journey. The climate and altitude
i changed so often during the trip Harry’s
' clothes were sometimes changed three
• tims a day.
RESULTSOF STANDARD
OIL PROBE WITHHELD
a.
(By Associated Press.!
WASHINGTON, April 13.—Attorney
General Gregory, responding to Senator
Kenyon’s resolution calling for the re
sults of the department of justice in
vestigation into the working of the Stan
dard Oil dissolution, told the senate to
day it would be imcoinpatible with pub
lic interest to disclose the information
at this time.
We want to send you a package of Sudan Grass seed sufficient
to plant a 2 rod square patch of ground. From this trial patch
you can raise enough seed to plant a large acreage another year.
Our Flower Garden. We always did admire a
nice flower garden and i-i this special bed we have over 150 dif
ferent varieties of our ciioieost annuals that will commence to bloom
early in season and continue until stopped by frosts in fall. This
flower bed will be a constant source ’if pleasure and delight to yoj
as the different varieties come into bloom.
We want to send you a large package of seed, enough to plant
a bed a rod long.
Sudan Grass. This
wonderful new hay crop Is succeed
ing in all parts of the country.
It grows from seven to nine feet
tall and stools out very thickly, a
single seed producing a plant that
will throw up from thirty to Sixty
stems. Sudan Grass does not lodgy
and go down after rain anti wind
storms as does millet and other
grains. Horses, cattle and other
stock like it and thrive on it in all
stages, green or cured. A small
patch will grow- enough extra fine
liny to provide for a horse and cow.
The plant is an annual and dies
root and branch in fall or after
maturing a crop of seed. Usually
makes from two to three cuttings
of hay per season. Succeeds in dry
seasons where most of other crops
OFFICIAL TEXT OF
AAEXICAN REQUEST
WASHINGTON. April 13. —General
Carranza's note proposing with
drawal of American troops from
Mexico was delivered to Secretary Lan
sing by Eliseo Arredondo, his ambas
sador.’this afternoon.
The text of the note follows:
Your Excellency, Robert Lansing,
Secretary of the United States,
Washington:
The Mexican government, in its
desire to conserve cordial and un
changeable good relations of friend
ship which ought to exist between
Mexico and the United States, as
much for the sentiment that ani
mates this government as well as
for a desire of satisfying the spir
it of article 23 of the treaty of
friendship celebrated between both
countries on the 2nd day of Feb
ruary, 1848, and in view of the la
mentable happenings that took
place in Columbus on the 9th of
March, last, and remembering the
historical 'antecedents in similar
cases, did nos hesitate to make
to the government of the United
States, undei' date of March 10, a
proposal by means of which the
forces of one and the other coun
try could reciprocally cross the di
viding line in pursuit of bandits if
unfortunately there should be re
peated along the border acts like
those committed »ln Columbus.
From the beginning the Mexican
government judged that, by rea
son of the time which had trans
pired and for the purpose of treat
ing a case already passed, the said
incident could not continue as a
proposal for the reciprocal passing
of troops.
PROPOSITION CONDITIONAL
It is for this reason that the
note of our government, sent on
the loth of March, Indicates with
all clearness that the proposition
contained in it was conditional, or,
what is the same, that reciprocity
could take place only if the inter
ruption registered in Columbus
should unfortunately be repeated
at any other point of the frontier
line.
The American government rely
ing on the text of said note and
without having understood all these
conditions of its limitations, but
rather believing in the existence of
a definite agreement, as is indicated
in the terms of its note of March 13,
gave expression to its views as fol
lows:
‘That, in view of the consent to
this reciprocal agreement proposed
by the de facto government of
Mexico, this agreement is now com
plete and in vigor, and the recipro
cal privilege previously mentioned
may be exercised by each govern
ment without a future interchange
of ideas.”
It was considered right to send
on Mexican territory an expedition
which has been called punitive, with
the object of pursuing and chastis
ing Villa and his party of outlaws,
and the expedition was sent some
days after the wrongdoers had re
turned to Mexican territory.
NOT AUTHORIZED.
On the 17th day of March the
Mexican government sent a note to
the American government through
our confidential agent in Washing
ton Licenciado Eliseo Arrondo.
stating that the Mexican govern
ment had reliable information that
without the knowledge or the
advice of the nearest civil
and oplitical authorities. and
without sending any communication
on the part of the American govern
ment. a so-called punitive expedition
had passed through Palomas with
the Object of pursuing Villa and his
party.
As a consequence, the said con
fidential agent was instructed to
call the attention of the United
States government to that fact that
it was giving an incorrect interpre
tation to the text of the note of
March 10, and that the government
of Mexico was disposed to sustain
its proposal regarding the reciprocal
passage of troops, but that an ex
pedition could not be sent in the
meantime, as the terms and condi
tions relative to the agreement were
not defined.
CONDITIONS APPROVED.
This government insisted in its
note of March 17 that the recipro
cal passage of troops would be per
mitted only if, unfortunately, from
this time forward there should be
repeated interruptions like the one
registered at Columbus, or of any
other kind whatever at any point
on the frontier line. In the mean
time the Mexican government, faith
ful to its proposal and with the in
tention of fulfilling strictly its com
promise. began drawing up a pro
ject for the reciprocal passage of
troops, which presented in full
form to the United States govern
ment under date of March 13, it be
ing hoped that the terms and condi
tions established in the said agree
ment would meet with approval.
The American government through
the medium of our confidential
agent, communicated that in princi
ple it accepted the agreement and
was only studying the points in de
tail in order to finish it.
So many things went on until the
19th of March, when the Honorable
James Linn Rodgers presented a
note to our secretary begging that
the corresponding authorities in
Chihuahua should give the neces
sary instructions to permit that
some provisons be transported by
the Northwestern railroad for the
American troops pursuing Villa and
his party.
MEXICANS SURPRISED.
On the same date the Mexican
government answered the note, man
ifesting surprise that, without any
official advices whatever on the part
of the United States government,
American troops had crossed into
Mexican territory and were already
in Casas Grandes or its surround
ings.
On the 18th of March* our confi
dential agent’in Washington had an
interview with one Frank Polk, then •
secretary to the state department,
and he expressed to our confidential
agent that he deplored not having
received the observations of the
Mexican government before the pas
sage of American forces over the
border, and assured our agent that
the passage of these troops took
place In the best of faith and in the
belief that it would not be neces
sary to enter into more particulars
and details of an agreement which
was considered definite and ended.
These declarations, made by the
Hon. Mr. Polk, were confirmed In all
their parts at a conference on
March 23 between our confidential
agent and your excellency, who
stated also that he was sorry at
having interpreted wrongly the
contents of the said note in respect
to the passage of troops, and that
they would not advance more to
the south of the place where they
then were.
POLP SENDS REGRETS.
On the 19th of March the Hon.
Mr. Polk addressed a letter to our
confidential agent In Washington
ratifying in writing the conference
held on the previous day and ex
pressing in a clear and conclusive
manner that it was a motive for
sincere lamentation that there had
been a misinterpretation as to the
attitude of the first chief relating
to the passage of United States
troops over the frontier in the pur
suit of Villa, and declaring that the
state department of the United
States believed that our government
had consented plainly to the ar
rangement proposed in its commun
ication of March 10 from the then
secretary of foreign affairs, Li
cenciado Jesus Acuna, which ar
rangement was accepted by the
note of March 13.
In its declarations which his ex
cellency, the Honorable President
Wilson, made public on March 26,
he expressed himself in the follow
ing manner:
“As we have already announced,
the expedition was ordered under
an agreement with the de facto gov
ernment of Mexico for the purpose
only of capturing the bandit Villa,
whose forces have invaded the ter
ritory of the United States, and on
no pretext whatever would we order
an invasion of that republic or a
violation of its sovereignty.”
That idea, published by his excel
lency, President Wilson, was recti
fied on March 31 by a message sent
to our confidential agent in Wash
ington, in which he was instructed
to call your attention to the idea
indicated, since the note of March
10 referred to the reciprocal pas
sage of troops only in case that
incidents like those which occurred
at Columbus should be repeated.
COUNTER PROPOSAL.
Lastly, on the sth of the present
month your excellency, in deliver
ing to our confidential agent a
counter project or agreement on
the reciprocal passage of troops to
be presented for the consideration
of the Mexican government, accom
panied it with a note declaring that
the American government trusted
that the conditions contained in the
said agreement should not apply to
American forces which actually
found themselves within Mexican
territory at that time in the pur
suit of Villa.
lour excellency further assured
us that in exercising that privilege
of entering our territory those
forces would confine their military
operations only to the object of the
expedition ant) that they would re
tire immediately afterward to their x
own country.
Your excellency also expressed
your gratefulness to the Mexican
government for having, as you
stated, reached a compact by means
of which the United States forces
had permission to pursue Villa and
his party in Mexican territory, and .
stated that the American govern
ment found itself disposed to re
spect the confidence shown it and
that it would by no means violate
Mexico's sovereignty or abuse the
privilege so generously and freely
granted it.
Furthermore, the honorable secre
tary of state department, Mr. Polk,
in conference with our confidential
agent at Washingtoi., declared that
the United States government had
acted in all good faith in sending
its expedition into Mexico in pur
suit of Villa on the supposition that
the note of March 10 contained a
definite agreement; but that the
American government consented to
let the expedition remain in Mexican
territory only until details of an
agreement could be arranged.
PLENTY MEXICAN TROOPS.
In conseqpence of the facts pre
viously expressed, as no final agree
ment has been reached as to the
terms of a treaty to regulate in gen
eral the reciprocal passage of troops
over the dividing line for the pur
pose of pursuing outlaws who may
henceforth commit depredations in
one or the other country, the Mexi
can government judges it convenient
to suspend for the present all dis
cussion or negotiations Jn this par
ticular, founded on the circumstance
that the expedition sent by the •
United States government to pursue
Villa is without foundation in virtue
of the nonexistence of a previous -
agreement, formal and definite.
And as the expedition has ful
filled its object, in so far as it will
be able to do so. as the party headed
by Villa has already been dispersed;
and, finally, because there are Mexi-
NUMBER 56.
CONGRESS WILLING
TO LET PRESIDENT
HAVE FULL CONTROL
It Is Not Expected That Re
quest Will.Be Complied With
as Officials Point Out There
No Proof Villa Subdued
(By Asaooi&ted
WASHINGTON, April IS.— Gmmtbl
Carranza’s proposal for the withdraw*.!
of American troops from Mexico failed
tc bring from administration sourooe
today any indication that the troops will
be immediately withdrawn or that the
situation la expected to result In any
serious friction wltn the de facto gov
ernment in Mexico.
The development, not unexpected, was
received in congress with divergent
views, but a general undertone of cau
tion and leaving the situation In its
present stage to the administration, pre
vailed.
Adminstration officials, however,
made no effort to conceal their feeling
that Carranza’s action might increase
the delicacy of the circumstances under
which the pursuit of Villa has been
conducted.
The outstanding features of the sit- •
nation gave evidences that the expedi
tion has been carried on with a full
i-eallzatlon that objections might arise,
that possibiltes have been considered
and probably a decison has been reach
ed as to what steps would be taken.
There was apparent agreement
among officials that the troops would
remain for the present, but that from a
diplomatic standpoint, It might seem
advisable not to risk local clashes, with
Carranza forces during negotiations.
Moreover, It was said, unitary prudence,
would necessitate holding the advance*
columns close to supporting forces un
til the attitude of the Mexican troops
was definitely known.
It was also increasingly evident to- I
day that the war department has en
deavored to provide against posslbil
tles although strictest secrecy has been
observed. It is understood that in
every movement of troops beyond the
border and along the International line,
the possibility of an attempt to cut off
the expediton has been considered and
the war department is prepared to back
up the forces should need arise.
Although General Carranza raises
side issues, administration officials at
their first view of the communication
regarded the principal contentions as
being that the object of the punitive
expedition has been accomplished so far
as it can be, and that the Villa bands
have been dispersed.
War department officials take the
view that they have - no evidence that
Villa bands have been dispersed, be
cause they never have had definite in
formation of their number and that
the very nature of the situation gives
no evidence that the raiders have been
exterminated.
Some state department officials con
fessed that General Carranaa'a note
was not a surprise.
Counsellor Polk confirmed the state
ment in the note that when he asked
for use of the Mexican railways the
reply was "satisfactory,” but was
Coupled with an expression of surprise
that the United States haxi not awaited
final approval of the pending protocol
before sending troops across the bor
der.
It was declared officially, however,
that eio formal protest against the en
try of General Pershing’s columns had
been previously made by General Car
ranza. When the advance troops cross
ed at Columbus, It was officially stated,
a Carranza general met them at the
border and made no protest.
State department officials took the
view that Carranza’s note was not a
demand for immediate withdrawal but
an Invitation to begin negotiations to
limit their stay.
The dispatch of the punitive expedi
tion before negotiations of the proto
col was characterized by state depart
ment officials as "perfectly justified
by correspondence between Secretary
Lansing and the Carranza government.
Senator Lodge, ranking Republican
of the foreign relations committee,
called at the navy department today,
but said his visit was not m reference <
to the Mexican situation.
He declined to comment upon the
Carranza note and would not forecast
the attitude of the senate Republicans.
“The administration, is charged with
our foreign affairs,” said he.
Secretary Lansing took the view
that there was absolutely nothing sot
him to discuss. He said he had yet
received no note or communication from
General Carranza and therefore had
nothing to comment upon. What he
would do after seeing General Car
ranza’s ambassador later today, Mr.
Lansing declined to indicate.
After a conference with Secretary
Lansing, Chairman Flood, of the house |
foreign affairs committee, said he saw
no necessity for congressional action as
the situation now stood.
can troops in sufficient numbers pui- »
suing them, and more forces are » j.
being sent to exterminate the rest M
of the beaten party, the first chief
of the constitutional army, charged
with executive power of the nation,
considers that it is already time to
treat with the United States govern
ment for the withdrawal of their
forces from our territory.
I take this opportunity to reiter
ate to your excellency my distin
guished estimation and considera
tion. ’,l
THE SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN
AFFAIRS, CANDIDO AGUILAR.
