Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-31
Gen. Crooks Campaign I'm Mexico,

VIEWS OF LIEUT. BAIRD, WHO HAS JUST RETURNED
FROM THE OPERATING FoRcE-DIFFICuLrIEs TO
BIZ ovERcoME-REPoRTs ABOUT BATTLES AND
MASSACRE NOT TO BE RELIED uPoN-MExICAN
COOPERATION, ETC.
Lieut.. William Baird, who has Just returned to
Washington from Gen. Crooks command, in con.
Versation with STAR reporter the subject OF the
expedition into the Sierra Madre mountains said
II don't think the reports OF Gen. Crooks engage.
ment with the hostiles are reliable, and don't
thlnk any authentic information can be received
until ontcial dispatches are received at the War
department 1t is my opinion that very likely
tnere has been nghting, but don't think any de.
cisve action has yet taken place. You see Gen.
CROOK did not intend to send back word until he
had accomplished something or had entirely
failed"
MASSACRE STORY IMPROBABLE
"What do you think OF the report OF the massa-
ere by the scouts 2" asked the reporter.
81 don't believe word OF IT," was the reply. "In
the first place. these Indian scouts are the bitter
enemies to the renegades, and Will do everything
IN their power to annihilate them In the second
wonld be in as bad predicament as the fleeing
nostlles for without the protection OF the United
states troops, they would be In danger OF falling
tend greatly to prevent such action, for india ms
are not treated with the same consideration by
Mexican as by United States soldiers"
STRENGTH OF GIN. CROOKS COMMAND.
Crooks command correct?" inquired the reporter.
''ies; he took with him two hundred scouts,
fifty cavalry. and about ifty packers"
@ Would 1t not have been safer to take a larger
force OF cavairy?"
There! am glad you asked b at" said Lieut.
Baird, "lor Gen. Crooks actions in that respect
are not generally understood. He took all the
men that ne could possibly provide transportation
baggage had to DO carried on pack mules The
country was secured and all the mules that could
These mules ehe no were orOagnt In
the force had to be regulated In accordance with
the supply. 1t was absolutely necessary to take
with him as far as the border eight or ten compa-
nes, with which he formed a Gordon along the
line. Six companies were left in the vicinity OF
San BernadinO, under Col. Biddle. II was with one
or these companies that was stationed"
SIT IS TERRIBLE COUNTRY
that Gen. Crook entered" continued the lieuten-
ant "It is perfectly desOlate. Prosperous ranches
that used to stand along the base OF the noun
an occasional isolated hamlet Is all that is left OF
the villages The great difficulty that Gen. Crook
has to contend with is the scarcity OF water. The
scouts only know OF one or two places where
water can be found, but the fugitiveS know where
every drop is In the mountains.
CORDIAL RELATIONS WITH THE MEXICAN AUrHoRI-
"Do you think the Mexican troops will cooperate
with our forces?" queried the reporter.
"That was the Intention" was the reply, land
know that the most cordial relations existed be-
tween Gen. Crook and the Mexican authorities.
and his plans and intentions were fully approved
by them"
NO NEWS GOOD NEWS.
"No, am not at all surprised that no information
has been received from Gen. Crook" continued
the lieutenant. "for, as said before, he did not
intend to send word until he did something. Why
do you know he has provisions to last until the 4th
OF July. OF course he did not expect to be on the
trail all OF that time but 1t is likely that he may
try to starve out the hostiles. He is not SO very
far on the other side OF the border now and could
send word to O military post in very few days
l think that an Indian runner could make
1t in forty-elght hours. / left the border
On the 18th OF May, and only a few days before
started one OF the Indian scouts returned sick.
He reported that Gen. Crook entered on the west
side OF the mountain range. and not through the
GuadalOupe canon as was generally reported.
That shows how unreliable the Information is
Mhi,n "a furnished by ranchmen, who like to be
hors,,,.i IN the papers as bearers OF Official In
fo.mH,t,. LEI think" said Lieut. Baird. as the
repU.s -. bade him good day, "that no uneasness
need be felt for the safety OF Gen. Crook and his
men. We had no other idea down there than that
he knew what he was about, and that he would
come out all right"