Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-14
Secretary of War Dickinson
Sees no Excuse for Inter.
vention if Foreign Prop.
erty Rights Are Respected
STERN MEASURES
ADOPTED BY DIAZ
Setting Aside Of Personal
Guarantee" Gives Govern
ment Right to Execute for
Acts Of Vandalism.

New York, March 13.-"I do not be,
lieve there will be any movement OF
our troops into Mexico"
This was the statement made here
today by j. M. Dickinson. secretary
of war, who plans to sail for Panama
this afternoon.
There can be no excuse for inter
vention," continued the secretary, "nn-
less the Mexican government proves
negligent in protecting the persons or
the property of foreign residents, ana
such negligence would have to bc
firmly established, in my opinion, be-
fore any such steps could be taken.
There are no conditions now existent
to give us such warrant.
I'm order to maintain the neutrality
laws, 1t has been deemed advisable to
send troops to the border, and on ac-
count Of the immense length of the
frontier and the fact that the Rio
Grande can be crossed at almost any
point, larger number OF troops has
been dispatched than would otherwise
prove necessary"
England Sees Danger to interests.
London. March 13.-Speaking on be-
half Of the foreign Office In the house
of commons today, Under Secretary
Thomas McKlnnon Wood stated that
there was no reason to suppose that
British subjects and interests in Mex
leo were in danger; nor was there, ac-
cording to the information of the for
eign office which was watching events
IN that country, any reason to think
that the Mexican government would
be unable to protect their subjects and
interests, should they be affected.
Asked If the newspaper reports OF
the situation were exaggerated Mr..
Wood said:
Some Of them are, think"
Diaz Adopts Stern Measures.
Mexico City. March 13.-Thoroughly
aroused by the spread of brigadage
and vandalism incident to the revolu.
ton led by Francisco l. Madero and
determined to protect property, the
Diaz government this week will begin
to wage against the lawless element
a pitiless war Of determination.
Resurrecting provision of the Mexi.
can constitution not used In fifteen
years and acting under its authorize
ton, the government will set aside for
six months certain personal gilaran.
tees. Those detected in the act of
highway robbery or raiding village
farm, or train wrecking or cutting
telegraph or telephone wires or even
removing a spike from a railroad track
or throwing stone at a train viii be
shot, summarily by those making the
arrest
The bill providing for this drastic
measure was today sent to the perma-
nent commission of the federal con-
gress. 1t was signed by Miguel
Macedo, subsecretary Of the depart
ment Of the interior, and clearly states
that its enactment is the wish Of the
president.
Heavy Loss In Two Engagements.
Mexico City. March 13.-News Of
two battles in which the federal troops
are reported to have been victorious
over the insurrectos reached here yes
terday The killed and wounded In
the two engagements number about
100
At Aqua Prieta, across the border
from Douglas, Arizona, 500 rebels at
tackled 300 federal troops, but were
unable to withstand the hre Of ma
chine guns and retreated. The rebels
were armed with rifles only. The total
casualties are placed at thirty-fve.
A body Of 40 insurrectos was cut
to pieces by state rurales at San
Bartolito Pueblo yesterday. More than
fifty were killed, eleven seriously
wounded and twenty-seven captured.
Owing to the fact that the rurales
have adopted the revolutionists'
tactics Of ambushing their enemy none
OF their number was killed and only
few wounded.
Colonel Guerrero, in command Of the
,rurales, upon learning the rebels were
marching to attack the municipality
Of Nativitas, sent 100 of his men to
meet them. Fifty others were ordered
to cut of their retreat.
Rebels Trapped In Ravine.
The first force selected a favorable
position overlooking ravine through
which the rebels must pass, and when
they were in the trap opened merci
less fire upon them. The rebels are
said to have made stubborn fight,
but at the end of a. half hour were
completely demoralized.