The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-18

Following is a list of those wounded
in Douglas:
Elpidoe Arce, Douglas. wounded in
instep.
Frank Williams, blacksmith helper
| Copper Queen Mining company, shot
in the back while standing on a street
outside of the so-called danger zone.
Wound dangerous.
Jack Hamilton, Douglas, wounded
| in back while watching the battle
with forty others from the top of an
adobe house several blocks from the
international line.
Jesus Alcantara, Douglas, flesh
wound in leg.
Mrs. Larson, severely cut by the
shattered glass of the kitchen window
of residence.
| John Keith Douglas, wounded in
the leg while walking on the street.
More than half of Douglas was un-
der fire from the beginning until the
end of the battle. The United States
custom house was in the direct range
| of the attack, and the United States
soldiers near there were forced to seek
shelter.
i When the battle began Colonel Will
| liam A. Skunk, commanding the
United States troops, rushed his four
troops of cavalry to the limo and took
every possible precaution for the safe
ty of the citizens of Douglas, keeping
them out of that portion Of the city
which was considered to be most ex-
posed. This, however, did not avail
| to save Americans from injury.
Tension Is Relieved.
washington, April 1S.-Positive as
surances that the Mexican government
will adopt definite restrictive policy
along the border and news from Doug
las that the rebel forces have evacuated
Aqua Prieta did much today to relieve
the high tension under which President
Taft and members of his official fam
iIv have labored for the last few days.
The assurances from Mexico followed
the demands of the state departments
that fighting which endangered Amer1-
can lives in the border towns must be
! stopped.
| That the situation is not now regard
| ed as acute is evidenced by the fact
| that leaders of both senate and mouse
| with whom the president conferred
prior to the assembling of the cabinet,
! declared that no action was contem-
| plated by congress at this time. The
| president had extended conference with
| Senator Cullom of Illinois and Repre- :
sentative Sulzer of New York, chairman
respectively of the foreign affairs COM
mittee of the senate and house. SEN
| ator Cullom insisted that he could see
no reason for intervention, while Mr..
Sulzer announced that congress would
| not act hastily. Mr. SulZer is OF the
opinion that thus far there has been no
overt act III N1CA4SO oOlAANAOAAN ~
rant intervention.
He intimated, however, that plan
was being considered to relieve the
danger to Americans near the border.
This contemplates an agreement for a
neutral zone from five to ten miles
wide along the boundary line. Congress,
Mr.. Sulzer said, will not act under any
circumstances without special mes
sage from the president. To his officers
Taft said his telegram to Governor
Sloan of Arizona, published today, re-
Elected correctly his attitude. There
was no intention on his part, the presl-
dent said, to intervene in Mexico at
this time and the two big developments
of the morning had strengthened them
in that position.
In official circles it is realized while
hostilities have ceased at Aqua Prleta,
trouble may break out at Juarez or at
other border towns but they are more
than ever inclined now to trust that
Mexico will make good her promise to
keep the federal troops away from the
border.
Appeal to President.
; The message to the president was
dated Douglas, 1921 o'clock last night.
1t read:
''The President, Washington, D. c.:
"As a result of today's fighting across
the international line, but within gun
shot range of the heart of Douglas, five
Americans were wounded on this side
of the line. Everything points to
repetition of the casualties on tomor-
row and while the federalS seem dis
, posed to keep their agreement, not &c
fire into Douglas, the position of the
insurrectos is such that when fightins
occurs on the east and southeast of tbs
entertainments, people living in Doug
las are put in danger of their lives.
I'm my judgment, radical measures
are needed to protect our innocent peo-
: pie and if anything can be done to stcE
. the fighting at Aqua Prieta, the situa-
> tfons calls for such action. 1t is i'm
r possible to safeguard the people OF
Douglas unless the town can be va
: Gated Can anything be done to relieve
, the situation which is now acute?
(Signed) RICHARD E. SLOAN,
/, Governor
> The reply of the president, prompt
: ly transmitted, read:
ITO Governor Sloan, Douglas, Ariz-
S your dispatch received. Havi
t made urgent demands upon Mexican
government to issue instructions t.
a prevent firing across border by Mexi
e can federal troops and am awaiting
t reply. Meantime, 1 have sent direc
= warning to the Mexicans and insur
gent forces near Douglas.
s 'I infer from your dispatch tha
s both parties attempt to heed tn
warming but that in the strained sit
uation and exigencies of the contest
n wild bullets still find their way int
@ Douglas The situation might justif
V me in ordering our troops to cross tn
a border and attempt to stop the fight
ing, or to fire upon both combatant
e from the American side. But if I TAX
a this step must face the possibility O
y resistance and greater bloodshed an
also of thus infiaming Mexican popu