The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-03
The Seized Flock of Sheep.

The new trouble on the Rio Grande is one
more added to a series Of disputes that have
arisen out of the physical peculiarities OF
the river. Mexican customs officers. with
armed herders went upon a piece Of land
at Havana which was formerly regarded as
American. but is now cut Off from the main
Texas bank by the shifting Of the river. and
there seized flock of 5000 sheep. The
Sheriff Of Hidalgo county. in Texas. ap-
pealed for help to Fort Rlnggold. twenty
eight miles distant, and Capt. w. @. For
BUSH. with twenty men Of the Fifth Cav
airy. was hurried to the scene. Under
Gen. WHEAToN's orders he arrested and
held both the customs officers and the herd
ers: and since then Major KEYEs with two
troops OF cavalry has reinforced Capt. For
BUSH, while Mexican force OF regulars Is
reported to be marching to Havana from
Reynosa.
This is, in some respects. the most singu-
lar OF the various boundary disputes we
have had with our southern neighbor dur
ing the last twenty years. 1t differs from
ordinary cases Of alleged violations Of the
frontier. in the fact that tho Mexican author
tiles, to Judge from the account, assumed
that the sheep were grazing on Mexican and
not on American soil. 1t is true that send
ing score OF armed men to make the seiz-
ure was strange display OF force. il its le-
gality was assumed to be free from doubt;
but the statement Of our officers indicates
that the act cannot be viewed as r purely
wanton invasion Of what was admitted on
all hands to be American territory.
That President DIAz will take care to re-
IL ! - 4; l.,
this affair may be safely assumed. When
ever civil or military officers have violated
international obligations he has been
prompt to right the wrong and punish the
offender. When Lieut.. CABRERA OF the
Twelfth Mexican Cavalry. with three sol
diers OF tho Picdras Negras garrison.
crossed tho Rio Grande and kidnapped
deserter in Eagle Pass, n court martial was
summoned. and both the Lieutenant and
Capt. MUSoz, his superior officer. were con-
dcmned to ten years Imprisonment. In
the same way. when e Mexican Lieutenant.
going from the Mexican to the American
part Of the town OF Nogales. was there ar
rested for suEdcy offences and then liber-
ated by some OF his own men. President
DIAZ caused him to be pursued and sum
ment. The preservation Of tho sanctity Of
tho frontier has been. in fact. leading aim
OF Gen. DIAz. because upon 1t the security
of Mexican autonomy largely depends.
The chief reflection. therefore. which Is
suggested by the present trouble is the need
OF moro careful adjustment Of boundary
and riparian rights on the Rio Grande. I'M
der some mutual agreement OF the two
In view OF the various Difficult
ties arising OF late. iC might perhaps be
well to appoint joint commission OF engi-
neers for this purpose. Only a short time
ago. near Fort Brown. complaint was made
that dams on the Mexican side Of the river
were washing away the American bank OPP
posite. by directing tho force OF the current
against 1t. The Mexlcans were. OF course.
aiming to protect their own shore from
erosion. and tho question was as to the
earlier the same difficulty had arisen at FL
Paso, where wing dams on tho Mexican
bank were greatly objected to. but were
finally found to be properly constructed,
On the other hand. source of Mexican
had been furnished by Texan
water works taking their water from the
river. and. as was alleged. interfering with
navigation. A joint commission OF engl-
neers might at least determine what struc-
lures should be allowed on either bank. and
might also recommend to the two Govern
ments plans FOR keeping. the river In Its