Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-26
REPORT Of BATTLE
At JUAREz DENIED
El Paso Dispatch Contradicts
News Received at the
War Department.
ORDERS FOURTH INFANTRY
TO BE IN READINESS
Regiment Instructed to Be Prepared
to Go to San Antonio.
TAFT PROPOSES NEUTRAL ZONE

-~S >>AS So6SSoSA0u 70 3ISSlOeuC
Madero-Secretary Stimson
Confers With Executive
on the Situation
Ell PASO. Tex. February a6-Thers
has been no fighting in Juarez or en-
vlrons. FL Pasoans are at loss to ex-
plain the origin OF the report that fight
| ing has occurred at Juarez, or ten miles
| south. There has been no fighting in the
city, and railroad employees south re-
| ported all quiet at 10 clock.
peace commission. which will attemrt
to persuade the rebels not to enter Juarez,
has departed for Bauche, fourteen miles
south of here.
| SAN ANTONIO, Tex. February a6-
| The manager of a telegraph company at
| FL Paso Informed San Antonio news
paper at 1880 o'clock that there had
been no lighting in Juarez today. 1t was
declared there had been no trouble in the
Mexican city or its outskirts.
Has News Of Battle.
The War Department was thrown into
state of excitement here today by teie-
graphic reports of the arrival of large
| band Of insurgents in the vicinity or
Juarez. Mexico. opposite El Paso. and OF
serious lighting in the outskirts of the
town.
These reports. 1t was explained at the
Department. came from army officers
and the department officials were startled
q second time by press dispatches from Ei
Paso declaring there had been absolutely
no fighting i'm Juarez or it's environs.
None of the department officials would
comment upon the complex situat ation.
The immediate effect of the first news
was to cause the dispatch of further
| messages from the War Department to
certain military posts. looking to fur
! ther movements OF troops toward the
| border. The 4th Infantry. now divided
between Fort Crook. Omaha. and Fort
Logan H. Roots. Hot Springs. Ark, was
tordered to get ready with supplies and
shelter tents and everything necessary
to entrain for San Antonio on tfie re-
cefpt OF q second message. This will
probably be the first regiment to REIN
force the border patrol. but others are
slated for such service IL today's de-
velOpments at Ell Paso appear to Justify
the movement
Does Not Mean Invasion.
| The assemblage of this military force
on the north side of the Rio Grande does
not mean a projected invasion or Mexico,
fact strongly emphasized at. the War
Department. 1t is admitted. however. that
the troops will not hesitate to cross the
international boundary line to insure the
maintenance of a neutral zone broad
| enough to insure the safety Of persons on
| the American side.
! There Is no thought of intervention in
Mexico for the purpose of pacificatfon or
otherwise" said Secretary of War Stim-
a hn 70 TOD tl.oS
We propose to do is to protect American
| lives and property. and this we will do.
There Is general belief here that the
| Mexicans will resrect a neutral zone near
the American border, and will not invite
even a temporary invasion of American
| troops.
| Whether the program of President Taft
s,ats to be enfofcsd by troops OF the United
selves will observe 1t and prevent q clash
with the United States.is to be seen.
President Taft is exceedingly hopeful that
President, Madero and the lighting revo-
lutionists will join In keeping of the
| grass.
Proposition to Madero.
President Taft. it pow becomes known,
has proposed to President Madero tho
establishment of a neutral zone along
the American border. in which there must
be no fighting. This proposition will. 1T
| is believed. be accepted. If it is not.
American troops will enforce it just the
same by going across the border and
whipping any body of Mexicans that en-
cages in battle at points where American
| lives will be In danger.
kilograms being received from Texas
congratulate the administration on It's
attitude as to q neutral zone and express
the belief that this attitude will save
complications with Mexico.
When Madero was engaged in. warfare
| with President Diaz and his forces there
were several battles right on the border
and a number of Americans were killed
| by stray bullets. Property inside OF this
country also was damaged and much
harm done. President Taft proposes that
this shall not occur. andt if the Mexicans
really seek American troops on their soil
| they, will get it by following the same
tactics they pursued something like q
The President. as heretofore stated, has
conferred with members OF the foreign
affairs committee of the Senate and with
the Texas senators, and they unani-
mously agree that he has taken the right
position.
Conference With Stimson.
Secretary Stimson conferred with Presi-
dent Taft early this morning as to tho
Mexican situation. His reports. submit
ted to the President, did not show much
change there. The troops ordered to the
border are on their way. and there Will
be a goodly number on the ground by
night. The officers have full instructions
to use care. but to put a stop to fights
that mean shooting into the territory OF
the United States.
Advices to the State Department from
Mexico. under date of the 24th instant.
show that federal troops have arrived at
Durango, where conditions are much i'm
proved owing to their presence. Other
federal troops have reached Torreon and
have relieved San Pedro and adjacent
towns. A troop train has repaired the
railroad. Monterey ID reported quiet.
Sonora also IL reported quiet, although
there are slight disturbances among the
Yaqui Indians.
Consul Alger at Mazatlan reports. under
date Of the 25th, that conditions in that
region are improving and that Ameri-
cans are becoming reassured
CONDITIONS AT MADEIRA.
Letter Says the Residents Have Been