The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-04-15
PRESIDENT TAFT TO PREVENT
FURTHER FIGHTING ON LINE

WASHINGTON. April 1i-President
Taft is determined that battles between
Mexican fcdcrals and insurrectos shall
not be fought on American soil. lie is
equally determined that the lives of
American non comba,ants shall not be en-
dangercd by the forces OF President Diaz
and those Of General Madero
Future combats between the rebels and
tho forces OF the Mexican government
must not be fought out close 10 the
American Line ms 20 put I'm jeopardy the
lives and property OF Americans.
Through the state department the pres
dent tonight notified the Mexican gov
crnmcnt that 1t must see 10 it that here
after no such unfortunate incident as
that OF yesterday at Aqua Pricta. when
two Americans were Killed and eleven
wounded. he allowed to occur Through
the war department. and through the
department OF justice. the president sent
similar warning TO the leader Of the In
surrectos at Aqua Prieta.
Must Not Be Repeated,
The view was expressed at the White
house tonight that these warnings will
he obeyed 10 the letter and that no more
battles will be fought near the border.
Neither the president nor any of his
tion tonight were inclined to regard the
incident at Aqua Prleta as a forerunner
OF anything more serious. but they con
cluded that il must not be repeated
The president knows that battle
grounds are not chosen like places for
the holding of athletics contests. but al
the same time he takes the position that
prepa rations for battles must be made by
the hostile forces with due consideration
of the effect upon non -combatant Ameri-
cans.
The president knows that some Of the
American spectators at yesterdays af-
fair near Douglas were eager to see the
fight and might have got TOO close TO me
engaged forces but he has been in
formed also that warning was given to
the insurroctos. at least not to get TOO
close to the United States.
both the insurrectos and the federal
troops 10 erect trenches or make their
lines OF battle far enough away from
American soil to make IL certain that
peace will not be interrupted.
American Troops at Hand.
President Taft feels that his order
sending the troops TO Texas has been
entirely justified by the developments OF
the last few days. He Is more certain
than ever that conditions I'm the southern
republic are alarming. Ec is no2'nF lnat
there will be no need for am Further
| movement 10 the sonth. but IL there
should be he knows that 20 600 American
troops are near the Rio Grande and t.at
on that river and the Mexican ouldcr
itself Is already force that Is lot in
| significant.
| The presidents action tonigh. fol-
lowed conference with Attorney Con
| ersl Wickershan. Secretary OF war
| Dickinson and Acting Secretary of state
Wilson. Soon after the conference broke
| up the White House gave out copy OF
a telegram sent by tho president through
] Secretary Hilles To + L. tirTdali "f ihc
/ Douglas Chamber Of Commerce and
Mines.
! MIR. Grindai had reported to the presi
dent by wire the casualties at Aqua
I by which Americans can be protected In
! the peaceful pursuit of their aanirs?
/ In reply Mr.. Hilies wired as follows:
Your telegram TO the president re re :
! celved. He is much distressed at the sill =
! uation YOU have described IL. He has
directed the secretary OF state and the
secretary Of war To take steps by which
J such a deporabe occurrence as that
OF yesterday at Douglas may be avoided
| in the future.
Advice to Douglas Citizens.
I I'm The meanwhile. the president sin
/, cerely hopes that the Chamber OF Com
merce and the local authorities a Doug
/ las may all influence possible upon
your citizens To keep far away as
possible from the scene OF lighting and
To avoid taking sides in order not TO ag-
1 gravatc situation already acute
The presidents instructions we're trans
mitted by the war department late to-
day 10 the commanding officer OF the
department of Colorado. who is making
! his headquarters AT Fort lIuachuca. ArIz.
4, Tomorrow these Instructions Will be re-
| peated to General Duncan. commanding
/ the department OF Texas. and 10 General
! Bliss commanding the department of Cal
iforna.
Situations similar TO that in Arizona
I exist in California and Texas.
4 An attack on Juarez. Just across tho
4 border from El Paso. seems imminent and
j consequently the commander Of the de-
partment Of Texas Is charged with the
responsibility OF seeing that the city ol
III Paso is not endangered. In Califor-
MIA the city Of Caicyico faces the Mexican
= town of Me%icali. in the vicinity OF which
p, considerable fighting has occurred.
II The war department tonight received
report from the commander OF the de-
+, pariment Of the Colorado. 1t said the
American forces offered no Interference
in the battle. but ono United States Of
6ccr. upon the request Of the fcdcras
crossed the line and endcavorcd TO induce
the rest of the fedcrals TO cease a useless