The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-08


the next three months. By that time
we may expect that either Ambassa-
dor Wilson's fears will have been
realised and chaos and Its conse-
Quencsa have ensued. or that the
present government Of Mexico Will
have 20 readjusted matters ~ to Sc
cure tranquility result dsvoutly to
be wished. The troops can then be
returned to their posts. under
stood from you In Washington that
General Aleshire said that you could
probably meet all the additional ex-
pense Of this whole movement out OF
| the present appropriations II the
troops continue In Texas feF-thrse
months. ] sincerely hope this 4 20.
observe from the newspapers that
you have no blank cartridges, but
presume that this 10 an error. or that
1t will be easy to procure those for
use as soon as your manOuvers begin.
"Second---Texas IL state ordi-
narily peaceful. but you cannot put
10000 troops into 1t without running
some risk OF collision between the
people Of the State, and especially
the Mexicans who live in Texas near
the border and who sympathixe with
the insurrectos, and the Federal sol
djers. For that reason l beg you to
bc ~ GAIoAut - tou SAu ~ prevent
friction Of any kind. We were able
in Cuba, with, the army of pacihcA-
ton there Of something more than
5000 troops. to maintain them for q
year without any trouble, and hope
you can do the same thing in TexAA
Please give your attention to this. and
| advise all the odicers In commend Of
| the necessity for very great circum-
| spectton in this regard.
'Third--One OF the great troubles
| in the concentration Of troops IL the
danger OF disease. and ] suppose that
you have adopted the most modern
! methods for the preventing and. II
necessary, for stamping out cpl
| demica That 10 80 much q part Of
q campaign that II hardly SCENE
| necessary for me to call attention to
IT.
Finally. wish you to examine tho
| question Of the patrol Of the border
and put ~ many troops on that work
| ~ 10 practicable. and more than are
| now engaged in II. in order to pre-
vent the use Of our borderland for
the Carrying on Of tho insurrection.
I have given Assurances to the Mexi-
can ambassador on this point.
| Il soncerely hope that this expert
ence will always be remembered by
the army and navy as 4 useful means
! OF education. and should be greatly
appointed II II resulted In any In
jury or disaster to our forces from
any cause. I have taken = good deal
OF responsibility in ordering this
mobilization. but / am ready to an
/ swer for II II only you and those un-
! der YOU use the utmose care to avoid
| the difficulties which I have pointed
/ out.
| You may have q copy OF this letter
/ made and left with General Carter
and such other generals in command
AZ you may think wise and necessary
to guide them In their course. but TO
be regarded ~ confidential"
am more than happy to here
record the fact that all apprshensions
as to the effect Of the presence OF 30
large a military force in Texas provsd
groundiess: no disturbances occurred
the conduct Of troops was exemplary
and tho public reception and treat
ment. Of them was all that could have
| heen desired. and this notwithstand-
ing the presence OF large number
OF Mexican refugees in the border
territory.
From time to time communications
were received from Ambassador Will
son. who had returned to Mexico. con-
uFullHE tue view tuAt tne HaASsAH8 Oh
I American troops In the netghborhood
had had good effect By dispatch OF
April 8. ls1l. the Ambassador said:
THE commanding gravity OF the
situation here and the chaos that
would ensue should the constitutional
authorities be eventually overthrow.
thus greatly increasing the danger to
which American lives and property
are already subject. confirm the wis
dom OF the president In taking those
military precautions which. making
every allowance for the dignity and
tho sovereignty Of = friendly state,
are due to our nationals abroad.
Charged A. am with the re-
yponsibiltty Of safeguarding these
lives and property. I am bound to
say to the department that our mill
tary disposition on the frontier have
produced an effective impression on
tho Mexican mind and may. 1t any
moment, prove to be the only guAran-
ties for the safety Of our nationaiaand
their property. 1t II should event
uatc that conditions here require
more active meAsures by the prssi-
dent and Congress. sporadic attacks
might be made upon the lives and
property OF our nationals. but the
ultimate reault would be ordar and
adequate protection"
The insurrection continued and re-
suited in engagements between tbs
regular Mexican troops and the In
surgents. and this along the border,
10 that In several instances bullets
from the contending forces struck
American citizens engaged in their
lawful occupations on American soil
Proper protests were made against
these invasions OF American rights
to the Mexican authorities. On April
ll1., 1911. ! receievd the following tel
egram from the Governor or AriSotA:
'.As q result Of to-dAy's hghttns
across the international line, but
within gunshot range OF the heart OF
Douglas. fve Americans wounded on
this side Of the line. Everything
points to repetition Of these casual
ties on Tomorrow. and while the Fed
erals seem disposed to keep thsiz
agreemsnt not to dre into Douglas,
the position Of the insurrectionists II
such that when fighting occurs on the
east and southeast of the intrench-
mcnts people living In Douglas are
put in danger OF their lives. In my
Judgment radical measurcs arc nssd-
ca to protect our innocent people. and
II anything can be done 70 stop the
fighting ct Agua Prista the situation
calls Tor auch action. It II impossi-
BILE TO satee nArd the people OF Doug
la unless the town be vacated. Can
anything be done to relieve situation