Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-04-21
Firm in Intention Of Not Intervening in Mexico,
Until Absolutely Compelled. Madero Gives Diaz
"a Hours TO ReSign--.Wi|| Then Attack
Juarez. Refuses ArmiStiCe ON Other Terms.
FALSE CHARGES BY MEXICO.

Douglas, Arz, April 20.-The de-
tails of Minister De La Barra's re-
shonse to President Tafts protest
against the firing into Douglas by the
Mexican Federal troops and rebels
were received here today. One of the
claims CT Senior De La Barra is that
Lieutenant Troncoso of the Mexican
Federal army was wounded by a shot
from the American custom house;
that shots came from this custom
house constantly during the struggle
and that it was not plain whether the
shots came from revolutionists wno
might have taken possession of the
custom house, or from American SYM
pathizers with the revolution, who were
present in the United States building.
The Associated Press correspondent
who was on the ground most of the
time, said:
"On the day of the battle the In
surgents did come very near the Amer
lean customs house, which was situat-
ed northeast of Aqua Prieta, but at
no time did they take possession of
the building or cross into American
territory. The American cavalry ar
rived Immediately after the battle
opened and took possession of all
ground on the American side near
the customs house. The American
troopers ran patrol from both sides
of the building extending along the
American side, both east and west.
Two rebels who We're firing from the
west of the custom house backed onto
the American line and were immedi-
ately arrested by the American caval-
rY, disarmed and not permitted to go
back into the fight.
Il stood on the porch of the Amer
lean custom house which extends
around three sides of the building.
east. south and north and which are
the only sides that could be struck BY
Federal bullets from Aqua Prieta, ex-
cept those passing through the build
ing. The building is of frame construc-
ton and it would be pierced by Mauser
bullets.
Many Americans and Mexicans
crowded these three sides of the house.
| saw not a single gun in the hands
of any sishtseers, except the Ameri-
can line riders. The custom officials
and American civil officers certainly
never fired n shot. Once when the
rebels at the railroad began a back
ward movement for an instant. Mexi-
can synpathizers on the porch called
out Viva Madero but they were in
stantly silenced not only by American
civil officers and the line riders, but
by the American civilians, among them
myself, as We feared drawing the Fed
eral fire into this crowd on the porch.
And this happened in the first days
battle while the rebels under Red"
Lopez, were attacking Aqua 'Prieta. It
was during this battle that Robert
Harrington, American switchman, was
killed in Douglas. E. E. Crow, seriously
wounded and many other Americans
injured on the American side of the
lire.
During this battle not shot was
fired from the American custom house
and the rebels never had possession or
it. Some ground, still American ter
Yftory. extends about SO feet south of
he American custom house and the
american troopers carefully guarded
this strip so that the rebels could not
get to the westward of the American
custom house to use it as shelter.
Major Schreiner of the American
army hospital corps, established his
dlllbuldHCe III liilS Stilp " tttC "Sot ~
the custom house and a little to the
south of it and there the wounded
were treated. These wounded were
| rebels who We're shot near the line at
this point and carried by other rebels
to the American line and disarmed.
1.-THE following day on my way to
the Mexican line, presented my pass
signed by Captain Gaujot to the
American troopers and was passed
over the line to the Mexican guard
house. l saw an American rebel APP
proach Captain Gaujot at the line. This
| American rebel was handling a gun.
He asked Captain Gaujot, who was on
| American territory. if he, the rebel.
might send the firing pin of his gun
across the line into Douglas to have it
repaired. You certainly cannot was
the captains reply.
| Il Went into Aqua Prieta Also hav-
/ ing a rebel passport, signed by Colonei
Medina, Jefe of Aqua Prieta. When
returning to my automobile, this same
American rebel came up to me at the
machine. but he was Immediately or
dered back by an American trooper.
II do not know what orders Captain
Gaujot issued to either the rebels or
the Federals about trenching."
PEACE DEVELOPMENTS.