Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-11
ATTITUDE OF THE U. S.
Shipments Must Not Have the Ap-
pearance of "an Expedition"
SECRETARY DICK1NsoN's VIEW
War Department Considering Prob
lens Following the Changed
Conditions at Juarez.

custom house at Ell Paso for the use OF
the insurgents in JuareZ as long as the
purchases and shipments are not ar
ranged by agents Of an armed resistance
to the constituted authority Of Mexico.
This is the Interpretation of the law
given today by Secretary Dickinson OF
the War Department. There will be no
interference with the ordinary channels
of commerce by the military authorities
at Ell Paso. Any supplies. however. gath
cred by representatives of the revolution
lists will be held up in shipment.
The merchants of Ell Paso are at liber-
" to supply the wants of the people in
Jaurez. whatever they may be. No sup
plies however, may be carried over the
border in any shape that VII! convey the
sense of an expedition.
The State Department, with the Treas
ury and War departments. is considering
the trade relations that shall be estab-
lished with the capture OF the city OF
Juarez and the control Of the Mexican
custom house by the revolutionists.
decision will be reached today, and a
formal statement of the decision of the
administration is expected this afternoon.
Telegram From Col. Steever.
The attitude Of the military authorities
at Ell Paso toward shipments of food and
arms over the border is set forth in a
telegram from Col. Steever, in command.
Col. Steever refuses to allow arms. am
munition. war materials and provisions
for the insurrectos to be carried across
the international bridges. He asks more
definite instructions. and will persevere IN
mis- course until directed to the contrary.
Articles intended for the wounded he ex-
cepts and allows to go through the lines.
The following is the dispatch received
from him last night:
Gen. Navarro surrendered uncondi-
tiOnally. with about 40 men. The insur-
rectos now have all his cannon, machine
guns, small arms and much ammunition
and the horses. Col. Tambourel was
town. and the saloons closed, SO state
latest reports; but statements are con-
flicting.
II am still refusing to allow arms, am
munition, war materials and provisions
for the insurrectOs to be carried across
the international bridges until l receive
instructions to the contrary. 1 make ex-
ception for articles intended for the
! wounded. The town is reported to have
been much shot up"
The consideration shown by revolution
lists and federals for the United States
consulate in Juarez during the battle of
yesterday and the day before, reported
| to the State Department by Consul Ed
| wards, Is the cause of much satisfaction
to the administration in Washington.
Situated in the midst of the fighting
and unharmed by single bullet, a pos
sible factor Of trouble and international
complication has been eliminated by the
avoidance of harm or destruction from
the ammunition of the belligerents.
Consulate Unscathed.
although the consulate was in the
thickest of the fight during the entire
conflict" telegraphed Consul Edwards,
mot shingle was injured, and the
greatest of consideration of both factions
was extended the consul and consulate. -
Francis J. Dyer. the Washington cor
the San Diego Union, called upon Gen.
Wood at the War Department today to
present kilograms from his papers pro-
testing against the action Of the local
military officers who are policing the in
ternational line near San Diego in deny
ing permission to Americans to cross into
Mexico.
1t was stated that many Americans
sought to visit the field of the late battle
in the neighbOrhOod Of Tia Juana, but
were prevented. with the exception Of one
young man, who surreptitiously entered
Mexico and then was refused permission
to return to California. Gen. Wood called
upon Gen. Bliss at San Diego for q report
of the facts.
Army Men Get News.
News of the fall of Juarez came to off,
cial Washington from various sources
from the secret service agents of the De-
partment of Justice who have been
watching the border, from the collector
Of customs at FL Paso, and from the sig
nal service men of the army.
The authorities here had believed that
Gen. Navarro's soldiers, who have had
nearly a year of field work, and conse-
quently may be regarded as veterans,
were more than a match for consider
ably larger number Of unframed and ill
organized rebels. To their mind 1t was
evident that there has been a lack of in
formation as to the real numerical
strength Of the Madero force.
Whatever shat number might have
been, it is now anticipated that 1t will
soon be largely augmented. The news Of
Madero's victory will spread rapidly
throughout Mexico, and without doubt
recruits will swarm into his camp. LOgi-
move would be a march on the capital
itself. incidentally stopping on the way
to besiege and capture all of the consid-
cradle cities and towns in his path.
There Will be one formidable obstacle
to such a campaign-the difficulty of
arming and supplying with ammunition
his augmented forces. He can scarcely
obtain these supplies from Texas for the
administration holds to its decision that
arms cannot be permitted to go to the
rebels across the line before recognition
Of the belligerency of the Maderoists.
And arms and munitions of war cannot
otherwise be gotten to Maderos army
until he captures some seaport and es-
tablishes safe lines of communication
with 1t.
So this question Of the recognition OF
his belligerency assumes the first de-
gree of Importance to Mader0. and with
out doubt through Senior Vasconcelos, the
acting head of the junta here, an effort
may be expected to secure such recogni-
tion from the State Department. Indi-
cations are that such request will not
be granted, for the present at least.
United States Would Lose.
There is this serious objection to doing
so: BY that act the Diaz government
would De relieved OF all pecuniary re-
sponsibility for any damage inflicted
unon Americans by the rebel operations.
The large American business interests in
Mexico which have suffered severely by
the insurrection would raise strong pro-
test against the adoption OF course that
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