The Springfield herald., 1911-04-21
MEXICO AGAIN
FIRES ON DOUGLAS
REGARDLESS OF REPEATED
WARNINGS NoN-coMBAT-
ANTS ARE WOUNDED
CONGRESS MUST ACT
PRESIDENT SAYS HE WILL NOT
SEND SPECIAL MESSAGE
ON SUBJECT.

Aqua Prieta, Mex.-The most i'm
portant battle of the Mexican revolu-
tion was fought here between 1000
federals under command of Lieut.. Col.
Diaz and 1000 rebels under Balasario
Garcia, and resulted in the repulse of
the former.
Two federal machine guns were in
possession of the enemy and they had
suffered loss estimated by the
rebels as at least 200 killed and
wounded. The rebels gave their own
loss at 20.
From the beginning of the battle.
regardless of the warning given by
the American government to the lead
ers of both forces, rain of bullets
poured into the American town of
Douglas and when the day was over
1t was found that seven non-com-
blatant residents of that city had been
wofnded.
Washington.-Presid Taft thinks
that he has done personally all that
can be done by him to control the
situation along the Mexican border.
Through the State Department the
administration has played what may
be regarded as its last card. 1t re-
iterated in no uncertain fashion the
representations made to Mexico few
days ago that affairs like that at
Douglas and Aqua Prieta last week
must not be repeated
Instead of awaiting the customary
period for formal reply from Mex
leo. the department asked for imme-
diate assurances that there be no
more fighting that endangered Ameri-
leans in the border towns. Informa-
tion was also requested as to what
measures the authorities had taken
to prevent future combats of this
kind
A few hours after the department
announced 1t had issued this second
demand, dispatches from Douglas be-
gan to come into the War Department
showing that the second battle of
Aqua Prieta had begun. No reply
had been received from the Mexican
authorities.
The President is plainly worried.
He talked but little, tie White House
folks said, about Mexico, but the bull
letins that came through the War De-
partment and through the press were
taken to him wherever he happened
to be and read with interest.
The President had two important
conferences. He talked with Secretary
Knox and he had a conference with
Ambassador Bryce of Great Britain.
The official explanation of Mr.. Bryce's
visit was that he came to talk abou.
the proposed arbitration treaty be-
tween the United States and England.
President Taft has told callers that
he does not contemplate sending a spe-
cial message to Congress relating to
the condition of affairs in Mexico. He
has shown to leaders of both the Sem
respondence dealing with Mexico.
He feels that few if any of those who
have been taken into his confidence
have failed to agree with him that the
movement of troops to Texas was JUS
titled. He thinks that since the lead
ers in Congress have practically all the
information he has, it is their duty to
take any further action.
The President himself has let it be
known that no United States troops
would cross the line unless authorized
by Congress, and Secretary of War
Dickinson confirmed that statement
tonight.
No one here doubts that interven-
tion would mean war. War in Mexico.
4
mean conflict that would rage for
months. probably years. The topogra-
ply of Mexico, the mountains. the in
sufficient means of quick communica-
ton and a dozen other things that
must be figured would have to be met.