The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-04-16
BORDER PATROLS REINFORCED
4. s. GOVERNMENT BACKS UP
WARNING TO ME.XfCO.
Cavalry squadron Sent TO Douglas,
where Americans We're shot On
Their Own soiI-Custom House Clesee
10 Avoid Recognizing the Rebels.

WASHINGTON, April 15.-The United
States Government emphasized its warn
ing to Mexico to-day by ordering the
Sixth Cavalry to proceed at once from
Fort Des Moines. Ia. to points along
the border. One squadron OF $50 men
will be hurried to Douglas. Ariz.. where
two Americans were killed and eleven
wounded by stray bullets from the guns
Of the Mexican combatants. Another
will be despatched to Huahuachuca,
which is forty miles north Of Douglas.
and a third will go to Nogale.. eighty
miles west of Douglas.
From those points all three squadrons
will be able to cooperate upon few hours
notice. The seriousness OF the situation
on the Mexican border is indicated further
by the fact that the War Department
has ordered four troops OF cavalry in the
OF Douglas Ito proceed
to that place as reinforcement to the
single troop of cavalry now stationed
there. The additional force will remain
at Douglas until the Sixth Cavalry from
Fort Des Moines arrives upon the scene.
The troop movements ordered to-day
are conclusive evidence that this Govern
ment does not intend to take any chances
whatever upon the reply that Mexico may
make to the peremptory notice which Was
served by the United States yesterday
that the jeopardizing of American life
and property along the border by Mexican
bullets must cease. At a late hour to.
night the State Department had received
no reply from Mexico city to the forceful
representations made by this Government.
but it is confidently expected that the
Diaz Government will give assurances OF
its intention To comply with this Govern
ment's demands.
Next to the ordering OF additional
troops to the Mexican frontier the most
important development to-day from the
Washington point of view was the clos
ing Of the United States custom house
at Douglas as a port OF entry. This ac-
ton was taken by Customs Collector
O'keefe upon his own initiative because
the Mexican custom house at Aqua Prieta.
just across the border. had fallen into
the hands OF the insurrectoe. O'keefe
declined to deal with the insurrecto Gus
toms officials without instructions from
Washington and closed the Douglas ONCE
pending receipt Of instructions from the
Treasury Department.
The situation presented by this Incl
dent il totally without precedent and
h0t tho Trnaatrv ri md thn
Department of Justice grappled with
the problem all day without coming to .
conclusion. Late this afternoon Secre-
tary of the Treasury Macveagh tele-
graphed to Collector OKcefe for further
particulars in regard to revenue collec-
tions. both at Douglas and Aqua Prieta.
The Treasury Department said tonight
that it would take no action in the matter
until this information has been received.
the port of entry at Douglas. in the mean
time remaining closed.
The Treasury Department is proceeding
with the utmost caution in determining
its policy as to the closing or reopening
of the custom house and will consult
further with the Department Of Justice
and also with the State Department be.
fore taking final action. In the event Of
tha Meyican Government abandoning
Aqua frieta as n port of entry the United
States Government must either close the
custom house at Douglas or recognize
the belligcrency o: the insurrectos and in
opening commercial relations with them
acknow ledge their de facto authority.
The insurrectos have been in possession
of the Aqua Prieta custom house since
~,
there two days ago. Up TO this time the
United States has of course scrupulously
avoided doing anything that could be
construed into recognition OF the bel
ligerency of the insurrectos.
The closing of the custom house at
Douglas would not materially affect
the United States trade with Mexico.
II is sub-port Of entry and there is q
much larger port at Nogales. about seventy
five miles distant. There is a good deal
of trade incident to the mining industry
just south of Aqua Prieta which passes
through Douglas. but this could be han
died at some other port. As technical
question, however. the closing Of the
Douglas custom house is Of considerable
importance.
The embarrassment of the United
States in regard to the revenue collection
at Aqua Prieta would become mora
serious if IA Mexican port as large, for
instancc. rs Juarez, opposite FL Paso.
were taken by the revolutionists. II
the custom houses at both Aqua Prieta
and Juarez should fall into the hands
Of the revolutionists the United States
would be confronted by a serious prob
lem.
Private dispatches received in Wash.
ington tonight from reliable sources.
said that both railroads in Chihuahua
were out Of commission and that Madero's
forces were moving toward Juarez over
the Mexico Northwestern. These des-
patches, which came to men having large
interests in Mexico from confidential
agents. added that the insurrectionista
apparently intended to advance on
Juarez.
Official information received at the War
Department also indicated that conditions
are becoming more acute along the border
and that another battle is imminent -
Aqua Prieta. The dispatches received
here say that about 200 men have Joined
the insurgent army in that quarter. The
insurgents have machine guns and are
throwing up entertainments in expecta-
tion of another fight with the Mexican