Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-17

lery and the Ninth infantry, from
Fort Sam Houston, Tex, all under the
command of Gen. Albert L. Meyer OF
the department of Texas, who was ac-
! companied by his stam ana the head-
quarters band.
/ President Diaz was attended by 5000
Mexican soldiers. For the purpose of
meeting today the entire international
bridge spanning the Rio Grande was
regarded as neutral territory. This
permitted the Mexican troops to ac-
company their president to the Amer
lean end of the bridge, while similarly
the escort of the regular army attend
ing President Taft was permitted to
proceed directly to the border line of
Mexico.
Cities Gayly Decorated
The cities of El Paso and Juarez
were gayly decorated, American and
Mexican flags being everywhere en-
twined. The occasion was made a
holiday and excursions were run from
hundreds OF miles around. President
Taft arrived in Eel Paso shortly after
9 o'clock this morning.
His train was met at the city limits
by an escort of cavalry and the SOL
diers with clanlxing sCabbards gall
/ loped along beside it as it was drawn
slowly into the very centers Of the city
being parked outside the st. Regis
hotel. Soon after his arrival the pres
ident was escorted into the hotel to be
| the guest of the Ell Paso chamber Of
commerce at breakfast. The break
/ fast was entirely of an informal char
/ acter, and when it had ended the
president went to San Jacinto square
| to review the school children of the
/ city, who were massed there and who
sang America" as he arrived.
From San Jacinto square President
] I'm a1,.,, r,f
merce to await the coming of President
Diaz, the latter having arrived early
yesterday morning at Juarez.
Guns Salute Diaz
The coming of the Mexican executive,
whose temporary quitting of his own
territory has necessitated the sanction
of the congress of the republic, was
signaled by the booming of twenty-one
guns, fired as President Diaz arrived at
the American border line. He was at
tended by a military escort in full dress
uniform. The salute was fired by the
American forces.
Gen. ]. Franklin Bell, chief of staff
of the United States army, met Presi-
dent Diaz as the personal representa-
| tive of the president of the United
States. This honor had been intended
| for Secretary of War Dickinson, but
/ the illness Of the secretary's son pre-
| vented his BENG present.
President Diaz, gray and grizzled
| looking every inch a soldier and
| fighter, alghted from his gold-trimmed
| carriage of state and entered an Amer
! lean equipage plainly simple.
| Brig. Gen. Meyer accompanied Gen.
Bell to meet the Mexican president.
! Governor Campbell of Texas also pro-
ceeded to the border, formally to well
come the Mexican executive to the
! etc 70 FTbn ms of the pifV C0mnlnted
| the welcoming party
The escorts of the United States
| troops then proceeded to conduct Presi-
dent Diaz to President Taft at the
chamber of commerce building.
Texas Troops Guard Way
Texas troops guarded the way. The
onlv cabinet officer attending President
Taft today was Postmaster General
Hitchcock. 1t had been planned that
/ Secretary of State Knox, Secretary of
War Dickinson and Secretary of Com
merce and Labor Nagel should also be
present, but exigencies of public bust-
ness detained Mr.. Knox and Mr.. Nagel,
and his sons illness kept Mr.. Dickinson
away.
After the meeting had occurred and
a light luncheon served, President Diaz
withdrew in the same manner he had
come. AS he again entered his own
carriage a parting salute of twenty
one guns was fired. Having seen Presi-
dent Diaz safely away the troops re-
turned to the Chamber of Commerce
building and prepared to escort Presi-
dent Taft over the same route Prest-
dent Diaz had Travelled. The applause
and cheering which had greeted Dfaz
were as nothing compared to the out
burst of enthusiasm which marked
/ President Tafts journey to his meet
ing with the Mexican executive.
As Mr.. Taft arrived on Mexican soil
/ he was greeted by members of Presi-
dent Diaz' cabinet and was conducted
from his own carriage to an equipage
placed at his disposal by the Mexican
republic and was saluted by twenty
one guns from the Mexican artillery.
| When President Taft alighted from his
carriage on Mexican soil it was the
second time in the history of the United
! States that a president had left its
| borders Mr.. Roosevelt set the prece-
dent when he attended a dinner given
| by the president Of Panama on Pana-
manian territory.
! President Taft left his guard behind
on the border line, and his only mill
| tary attendant was Capt Butt his aide.
! Governor Campbell of Texas, in cross
1 ing the line to call upon President Diaz,
also left his staff behind at the bridge.
| The simple ceremonies ended at Juarez
]
to head a civic and military parade
/ five miles in length, concluding at Car
negie square, where the president re-
viewed the procession and later made
a speech.
Epoch Is Made
President Diaz said: Mr.. President,
! gentlemen-This visit which his excel
lency, President Taft, makes to Mexico
will make an epoch in the history of
Mexico. We have had with us some
very eminent American visitors, such
as Gen. u. s, Grant and the Hon.
Messrs. Seward and Root, but never
| have we seen on our soil the first mag
/ istrate of the great American Union.
Such a proof of international courtesy.
which Mexico appreciates and esteems
in all of its worth and meaning will be
from today a happy precedent for
Latin-American republics to cultivate
constant and cordial relations among
/ themselves, with us and with all tho
other countries Of the continent.
Inspired by these sentiments, which
are those of my countrymen, 1 toast for
the hope that the country of immortal
Washington may always enjoy all the
! happiness and prosperity which justly
| correspond to the intelligent activity
and high civil qualities which charac-
terize the manly and cultured Ameri-
/ can people, and for the everlasting
glory of it's heroic founders.
"I also toast for the personal happi-
ness Of it's illustrious president, who
has come to honor us with his presence
and with his friendship, the manifesto