Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-15
ANOTHER BATTLE HOURLY
EXPECTED AT Aqua PRIETA
Place Held by 1000 RebelS==Federal Said to
Be Advancing==Two More Americans Die
from Wounds at Douglas=People Ask
Washington for Protection.
TAFT'S MESSAGE TO DIAZ.

Washington. April H.-President Taft
is determined that battles between
Mexjean Federals and Insurrectos shall
not be fought ON American soil. He is
equally determined that the lives of
American -combatantS shall not
be endangered by the forces of Pres
ident Diaz ana those of General Ma
dero. Future cumtdts between the reb-
els and the forces OF the Mexican gov
ernment must not be fought out so
close to the American line as to put in
jeopardy the lives and property of
Americans.
Through the state departments The
President notified the Mexican gov
errment tonight that it must see to
it in the future that no such unfortu-
nate incident as that OF Yesterday at
Aqua Ptieta, near Douglas. Arizona,
waen two Americans were killed and II
wounded, be allowed to occur. Through
the war department and through the
department of justice was sent the
same sort OF warning to the leader of
the lnsurrectoS at Aqua Prieta. The
view was expressed at the White House
tonight that these warnings Will be
oheyea To the letter and that NJ more
battles VIII be fought III the vicinity
of the boundary.
Neither the President nor any Of his
advisers whom he called into consul
tation tonight was inclined tn regard
the incident at Asua Prieta as Il fore
runEcr of anything Elre serious. but
they did conclude that it must not be
repeated.
The President knows tl,at battle
grounds are not chosen q places like
athletic contests hut at the same time
he takes the position that preparations
for battle must be made by the hostile
forces in Mexico with due conSiderd-
tiGn # the effect upon non-combatant
Americans. TIE President knows that
some OF the American spectators at
yesterdays affairs near Douglas were
eager to see the fight and might have
got zoo close to the engaged forces.
but he has been Informed also that
warning was given tho Insurrectos not
tu get too close to American territory.
Hcre1ftcr this government expects
both thu Insurrcctes and tic Mexican
Federal truupS to erect trenches t.
make their lines IF battle far enough
from American soil to make il certain
that Americans engaged in the occu-
pations of peace will not be interrupt
ed t,- bullets.
President Taft feels now THAT his
order sending the troops to Texas has
been entirely justified by the develop
mcnts of the last feW days.
He is more certain than ever that
/, 4 =.
to sa- the least alarming. lie is hop
ing tha. there Will 6c no need for any
further movement to the south but if
there should he he l;ngws that 10000
American troops ar" near the Rio
Grande and that on that river and the
Mexican border itself is already Il
force that is not insignificant.
The Presidents action tonight fol-
lowed Il consultation With Attorney
General Wickershan. Secretary Dick
inson and Acting secretary OF STATE
Huntington Wilson. soon after the
meeting broke UP the White House
gave out a copy OF Il telegram sent by
the President through Secretary TIilles
| to T.. +. Grindal of the douglas Cham
| Der of Commerce ami Mines. Mr.. Grin
| dali had reported to the President BY
Wire the casualties at Douglas and
asked:
is there np way l." which Ameri-
cans can be protected in the peaceful
pursuit of their affairs
In reply Mr.. Hil!es wired as follows;
Your telegram t. the President re-
| ceived. He is much distressed at the
| situation as you have described ii. He
has directed the secretary OF state and
| the secretary oi war To take steps by
which such a deplorable occurrence as
| that of yesterday at Douglas may be
aVerted in the future. IN the mean
| time the President sincerely hopes that
| the Chamber OF Commerce and the To-
cal authorities oi Douglas may use all
| influence possible upon your citizens
| to keep as far away as possible from
the scene OF lighting and to avoid tax
ing sides in order not to aegravate d
situation already acute.
The Presidents instructions Wero
transmitted by the war department
| late today to the commanding officer
OF the department of Colorado, who is
| making his headquarters at Fort
Huachuca, Arizona. Tomorrow these