The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-12-08

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"second.-Texas 10 a state ordinarily
peaceful. but you cannot, put 10000
troops into It without running some
risk Of a collision between the people
Of the state and especially the Mexi'
cans who live In Texas ear the Dor.
der and who sympathize with the in
s~urrectol and the federal soldiers. For
that reason I beg you to be AZ careful
Is you can to prevent friction Of any
kind. We were able In Cuba with the
army of pacifcation there Of some
thing more than 5000 troops to main.
tain them for a year without any trou.
BILE. aud I hope you can do the same
Thing In Texas. Please give your at
tention to this and advise all the ON
GERS in command of the necessity for
very great circumspection In this re-.
gard. =
"Third.-one Of the great troubles In
the concentration Of troops Ia the dan
ger Of disease, and / suppose that you
have adopted the most modern meth.
DDS for the preventing and IL necessary
for stamping out epidemics. That is
80 much = part Of a campaign that 1t
hardly seems necessary for me to call
attention to it.
"Finally, I wish you to examine the
question Of the patrol Of the border
and put as many troops on that work
a. fo oroot3oohlo ond roo,o thoo os>
now engaged in it in order to prevent
the use Of our borderland for the ear.
rying On Of the instruction. I have
given assurances to the Mexican am
bassador on this point.
II sincerely hope that this experience
will always be remembered by the
army and navy as a useful can Of
education, and I should be greatly dis.
appointed If 1t resulted in any injury
or disaster to our forces from any
cause. have taken a good deal Of
responsibility in ordering this mobili-
cation, but I am ready to answer for 1t
IL only you and those under you use
the utmost care to avoid the difficulties
which 1.have pointed out.
You may have a copy Of this letter
made aud left with General Carter and
such other generals In command 40
you may think wise and necessary to
guide them in their course. but to be
regarded 10 confidential" .
/ am more than happy to here record
the fact that all apprehensions as to
the effect Of the presence Of so large a
military force in Texas proved ground
less. No disturbances occurred. The
conduct Of the troops was exemplary,
ana the public reception and treatment
| Of them was all that could have been
desired, and this Notwithstanding the
presence Of a large number Of Mexican
refugees ID the border territory.
From time to time communications
were received from Ambassador Will
son, who had returned to Mexico, con-
drming the view that the massing Of
American troops In the neighborhood
had had good effect. By dispatch Of
April 8, 1911, the ambassador said:
1.-THE continuing gravity Of the sit
uation here and the chaos that would
ensue should the constitutional author
tiles be eventually overthrown. thus
greatly increasing the danger to which
American lives and property are al
ready subject, confirm the wisdom of
the president in taking those military
precautions which, making every al
lowancs for the dignity and the sover.
eisuty Of a friendly state. are due to
our nationals abroad.
Charged as I am with the responsi.
bility Of Safeguarding these lives and
property. ! am bound to say to the de.
partment that u military disposi-
lions on the frontier have produced an
effective impression on the Mexican
mind aud may at any moment prove
to be the only guarantees for the SAFE
ty Of our nationals and their property.
II Il should eventuate that conditions
here require more active measures by
the president and congress sporadic
attacks might be made upon the lives
and property Of u nationals. but the
ultimate result would be order and
adequate protection"
The instruction continued and re.
suited in engagements between the
regular Mexican troops and the insur.
gents. and this along the border, 30
that in several Instances bullets from
the contending forces struck American
citizens engaged In their lawful occu.
pattons on American soil.
Proper protests were made against
these invasions Of American rights to
the Mexican authorities. On April II,
1911. ] received the following telegram
from the governor OF Arizona:
"As a result Of today's fighting across
the international line. but within gun.
shot range Of the heart of Douglas, five
Americans wounded on this side of the
line. Everything points to repetition
Of these casualties on tomorrow, and,
while the federals seem disposed to
keep their agreement not to fire into
Douglas, the position Of the insurrec.
tionists is such that when fighting oc.
ours on the east and southeast Of the
intrenchments people living in Douglas
are put In danger Of their lives. In my
Judgment radical measures are needed
to protect our innocent people. and IL
anything can be done to stop the fight
ing at Aqua Prista the situation calls
for such action. It is impossible to
safeguard the people Of Douglas un.
less the town be vacated. Can any
thing be done to relieve situation. now
acute?"
After q conference with the secretary
Of state the following telegram was
sent to Governor Sloan on April 10,
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