The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-07-29
Order Huerta to Punish
ASSdilantS of Americans.
DRASTIC ACTION DECIDED ON
United States Government Demands
Immediate Release From Prison of
Mining Engineers Held With
out Cause-Washineto Now
Suspects Huerta Trick.

Washington, July 2S.-The most dras-
tic representations yet made by the
present administration were commune
Gated to the Huerta government in
Mexico
The United States government de-
manded not only the prompt arrest,
court martial and punishment of the
Mexican federal soldiers who shot
Charles B. Dixon, an American immi-
grafton Official at Juarez, Mexico, but
the immediate release Of two mining
engineers-Cha Bissell of New York
city and Bernard Mcdonald, an Eng
lishmantmprisoned by federal SOL
diers at chihuahua City without cause
and said to be threatened with eXecu-
ton. They were arrested for aiding
American refugees In leaving Mexico
and were prisoners for several days
before the United States government
learned of their plight.
SO serious were these incidents re-
garded In official circles that they over
shadowed largely the theoretical con-
siderations Of policy which the visit
of Ambassador Henry Lane Wilson
had brought to climax. The ambas-
sador was so exercised by the develop
ments in Mexico that he dictated two
strong kilograms, one to the embassy
at the City Of Mexico and the other to
the American consul at Juarez, and,
while Secretary Of State Bryan Slightly
modified their tone, they were dis
patched promptly.
Two Reports of Shooting.
1t was not until yesterday that the
administration received an official re-
port on the shooting of immigration
Inspector Dixon. This came from two
sources. The state department re-
ceived a reoprt from the American
consul at Juarez, Thomas D. Edwards,
and Secretary Of Labor Wilson receiv-
ed an account Of the shooting from
Immigration Inspector Berkshire, in
charge of the Ell Paso district. Both
were laid before the president They
corroOorated the press dispatches and
stated that Mr.. Dixon was arrested
while in pursuance Of his duty as an
immigration inspector and while at
work on white slave case.
The reports added that two other
immigration inspectors, f. w. Berk-
shire and Clarence Galley, went to
Mr.. Dixon's assistance and Also We're
arrested They were released and al
lowed to take the wounded man to Ell
Paso.
Secretary Bryan telegraphed Consul
Edwards to demand Of the command
ant of the garrison at Juarez that the
officer and men connected with the
shooting be arrested at once. MIR. Ed
wards was instructed further to de-
mand that the men be held until their
testimony could be taken by the con-
sui. This is an unprecedented step.
It is unusual for American consuls
to examine foreigners charged with
the commitment of a crime against
an American.
This testimony will be used by the
state department in the demand on
Huerta for the punishment of the Off
Ger, half breed negro, and his men.
Administration officials now view
the situation in Mexico with much
greater apprehension than at any time
in the past. Some of these officials
believe that the shooting was inspired
by Huerta's officials and is part of
the propaganda to create anti-Ameri-
can sentiment throughout the republic