The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-04-17
UNITED STATES SOLDIERS ARE
WARNED NOT TO CROSS IN
TERNATIoNAL LINE.
TAFT FEELING ANXIOUS.
President Spends Part Of Night
Watching Bulletins From Aqua
taeks Are Expected--Great Battle
May Take Place Today.

WASHINGTON. April iG-,Anxiety over
developments IN Mexico, cndnngcriEg
lives and property Of Americans near,
the boundary line, was plainly evident
Ii official circles here tonight. Pres
idcnt TAFT untll nearly midnight re-
celvcd bulletins at the White House
from the war department. regarding
The advance Of the federals upon the
insurgent forces at Aqua Pricta. but
retired confident that an attack would
not be made before tomorrow.
DR. Nasaucz Gomez was In constant
communication with the insurgent
tnntn Mt III paso. who transmitted to
him messages from the nsurgent army
advancing on Juarez. Mindful of the
incidents of last Week around Aqua
pricta,. DR.. Gomez telegraphed a mes.
sage of warming 10 his constituents 70
avoid injury 10 American lives or
property. He was advised that the
insurrcctos had mobilizcd practically
their entire army In Chihuahua under
Francisco Madero 10 be within strili-
ing distance of Juarez
The messages that DR. Gomez sent
to the insurgent forces in n manner
still unexplained here prevented tho
attack tonight on JuareZ. He attached
much Importance to the pause of the
insurgents, and other Mexicans drew
much hope from the occurrence. DR.
Gomez. how was unable to say
whether 1t was caused by his long
message of last Tuesday addressed to
Francisco Madero. and explaining con
ditions under which peace could be ar
ranged. or his message of last night
advising tho insnrrecto forces to defer
their attack pending the receipt of
certain messages from Mexico City
Arn,istice Rumored.
DIR. Gomez was said to be arranging
for an armstice to take effect inn
modately by which peace negotiations
might be instituted near JuarcZ.
Senor Oscar Branff and Scnor Es-
duivai Obrcgon. two business men OF
Mexico City. who came here unofficial
" to confer with DR.. Gomez about
peace. left tonight for the camp of
Francisco |. Madero. Jr. Both were in
conferences with DIR. Gomez before
they left and received passports
through the insurgent lines and let
ters OF introduction to the rebel chief
They also called on Senor De IA
maccna. the Mexican ambassador. to-
day. They declined to discuss the re-
suit of their mission here. but II was
learned from other sources that they
were unable To obtain anything def
mite in the way of peace conditions
and decided 10 confer With the rebel
chief In person. II was explained mt
the Mexican embassy tonight that the
ENJOYS did not constitute an official
commission, but that their mission was
not without the knowledge of the
Mexican government.
Dr Gomez was In communication
with Mexico City tonight In an effort
10 bring Influence tn bear OH the Mex
lean government and avert great
loss of life at Juarez. which he believed
To be inevitable unless the federal
garrison there Is Withdrawn or an ar
mstice arranged. According to his
advices the federals are outnumbered
nearly two to one and tomorrow almost
the entire insnrgcnt army will be con-
centrated within the vicinity of JuareZ.
DIR. Gomez hopes that the serious
situation at Jnarez may be avcrtcd by
concessions from Mexico City.
mo SoVTooPonueUCe.
The departments message follow 4:
Douglas, Arizona April 49, 1911,
G:Il p. m
authentic reports indicate action 10
miles south of here between the ad-
vance guard of federal troops, mum.
bering about l,200. and the insurgent
scouts. In all probability considerable
engagement Will occur not later than
tomorrow The insurgcnt forces are
holding Aqua Preta and are at pres
ent engaged In digging trenches par
alel with the national line and about
200 yards south of the boundary.
have warned the insurgents about
using these trenches In n manner sub :
jecting United States citizens on
United States territory to danger.
have also sent messenger, Charles
Mexican, to the federal commander
transmitting to him your instructions
relative To the observing Of the neu-
trality laws and tie endangering of
American lives in American territory
How far am | warranted In going un-
der the circumstances?
(Signed) SKUNK"
The war department promptly re-
piled:
instructions.
"Replying to your request for in
structions as to what to do in case
fighting occurred which involved dan
ger to citizens of Douglas or vicinity
you are instructed as follows:
Under no circumstances allow any
of your men to cross intcrnationa
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