The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-03
WE can ON MEXICO TO ACT
And Oner to send United states Troops
II They Are Needed nj Cananea.

n They Are Needed at Cananea.
WASHINGTON, June I'm response to
frantic appeals for military aid and pro-
lection for American lives and property
sent by William j. Galbraith, the American
consular agent at Cananea. Sonora State,
Mexico. where riots, arising out of a strike
among the employees of the Greene Copper
Mining concern, caused a serious situation,
Secretary Root to-day directed Mr.. Thomp-
son, the American Ambassador to Mexico,
to call on the Mexican Government for
proper protection to Americans and Ameri-
can interests. The telegram to Mr.. Thomp-
son contained also a very diplomatic sug-
gestion that this Government would be
glad to send American troops across the
border into Cananea. This action could
not be taken without the consent of and
a request from the Mexican Government.
There was considerable worry at the War
Department to-day over a report that
Major Charles H.. Watts had started across
the border with a squadron of the Fifth
Cavalry from Fort Huachuca. and de-
spatches we're hastily sent forbidding him
to take any American troops into Mexico.
The perturbation was really ~unfounded,
for Major Watts telegraphed to the Depart
ment late this afternoon that he had not
crossed the line and that he never intended
to do so unless he had instructions from
headquarters. There would probably have
been something of an international squabble
IL Major Watts had forced his way through
to Cananea.
All that he did, it seems, was to start
of from Fort Huachuca for Naco, an Ari-
IONA town right on the border, half in
Arizona and half in Mexico, about sixty
miles from Cananea and connected with
the latter place by a railroad, Major Watts
was directed this afternoon to camp at
Naco and stay there until he got furt her
instructions from the Secretary Of War.
In going to Naco Major Watts picked out
the most strategic point for operations in
case he was called on to &c on through
to Cananea for business.
The advices received in Washington,
limited to the brief dispatches from Mr.
Galbraith. and one from Denver, the head
quarters Of the Department OF Colorado,
which has jurisdiction over Fort Huachuca,
do not indicate how many Americans were
killed at Cananea or just how great the
damage is. Mr.. Galbraith sent two de-
spatches to Washin gton asking for pro-
lection and two more to For Huachuca.
These last two were sent on to Denver
and from there Lieut.-Col. Davis, military
secretary of the Department of Colorado,
sent them to Washington. The first de-
spatch from Consular Agent Galbraith said.
Send assistance Immediately to Cana
nea, Sonora. American citizens are being
murdered and property is being dynamited
and we must nave help. Answer Naco,
Arizona, Immediately
The despatch came from Naco, where
Mr.. Galbraith either went or sent a mes
senger. The next message was written
to-day. 1t follows:
Imperative immediate assistance De
rendered American citizens at Cananea,
Sonora, Mexico
The situation appeared exceedingly
serious and the State and War departments
became busy places. Mr.. Root took up
the matter with the Mexican Government
by sending the following despatch to MIR.
Thompson at the city Of Mexico:
4Galbraith, consular agent at Cananea
telegraphs our citizens are being murdered
and property dynamited at that point and
asks immediate assistance Press de-
spatches this morning report strike riots,
resulting in race conflicts between Ameri-