Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1912-02-24
WILL PROTECT U. S. CITIZENS
WAR DEPARTMENT TO SEE THAT
NO FIRING ACROSS THE RIO
eRANpE is PERMITTED
GOMEZ DEMANDS RESIGNATION
INFORMS PRESIDENT OF MEXICO
THAT He MUST QUIT HIS OF
FicE AT ONCE


Washington, Feb. 24.-Americar
troops win cross the border line int
Mexico whenever it shall become nee
essary to stop firing into American
territory In ordering additional
troops to El Paso today to cope with
the situation in the event of an attack
of revolutionists on the Mexican city
of Juarez, the Washington government
determined that there should be no
repetition of the incidents of the Ma
dero revolution when a number of
Americans in Ell Paso and Douglas,
Arizona, were killed by flying bullets
from the opposing forces across the
border.
Expecting trouble and stirred to
action by the grave reports of revolu-
ton and anti-American sentiment in
northern Mexico, the war department
today ordered an additional regiment
Of infantry and battalion of field ar
tillery to Ell Paso, Texas to reinforce
the border patrol and to prevent in
jury to the people there in the event
of fighting in Juarez.
The Twenty-second infantry and bat
teries A, B. and of the Third field
artillery will make up the reinforce
ments and will be sent to FL Paso
from San Antonio.
The decision followed a White
House conference today, participated
in by President Taft, Secretary of
War Stimson and Acting Secretary of
State Huntington Wilson.
The troops will be under orders to
prevent firing across the line
The White House conference, it was
said, discussed the advisability of an
other large mobilization of troops
along the entire Mexican frontier to
be prepared to act in an emergency.
Telegrams were sent to army posts
throughout the country, ordering the
commandants to have their troops
ready and supplies packed for immedi-
ate entraining. These messages were
prepared, one to eacn garrison, more
than month ago, and the only thing
necessary was to send the whole batch
to a telegraph Office.
Troops practically have been resting
on their arms for several weeks as a
result of conditions below the inter
national line. The army war college
completed plans for new mobiliza-
ton and it would be only matter
of few hours to have the troops on
trains and ready for another man
euver division"
Much activity was displayed at both
the state and war departments. AT
the state department acting Secre-
tary Wilson, following his visit to
the White House, was closeted with
officials of the division having super
vision over foreign affairs relating to
Mexico.
In case of fighting across rfe Dor
der line in the future, the American
commanders have been instructed by
the war department to send the usual
notice that American lives and prop
erty shall not be endangered. If this
notice is not heedeo ana a zone OF
safety respected, the American troops
are directed not to hesitate to go into
Mexican territory to enforce proper
degree of protection for American citi
zens
This policy, the most drastic vel
adopted with reference to events in
Mexico, followed White House con
ference today, participated in by Pres
ident Taft, Secretary of War slim
son and Huntington Wilson, acting
secretary Of state. Orders were is
sued dispatching the entire Twenty
second infantry and three batteries
of the Third battery or the Third field
artillery from Fort Sam Houston, al
San Antonio. to FL Paso, and plans