The Washington herald., 1913-11-19
SOLDIERS sent
after Indians
Band Of Fifteen Navajoes Has
Been Defying Authority
for Two Months.
ENCAMPED In FOOTHILLS
Detachment Of Cavalry Will Be Or
dered from Fort Robinson to Aid
Shiprock Agency officials.

Dissatisfaction among a small group OF
Navajo Indians has necessitated the first
demonstration of military force against
the red man since the Wilson admins
tration came into office. 1t is only lit
tie group OF fifteen braves who started
the trouble, but, at the suggestion of the
Indian once, and after Secretary of the
Interior Lane had told the President and
his Cabinet colleagues of the trouble, it
was determined to send small force
into the mountain region to which the
alleged hostiles have fed in order to
bring them to terms.
Secretary Lane yesterday gave out the
following statement regarding the out
break:
The sending of troops to capture If
teen recalcitrant Navajo Indians was
done on the advice OF Maj. Mclaughlin,
who for thirty years has been known as
the Indians friend, and is probably the
most popular white man among the In
dams of North America. These Indians
are under Indictment for having stolen
three Indian women and committed other
oftenses against law and order on the
reservation. They have defied the gov
ernment for over two months. The mar
shall was unable to arrest them, and We
asked a very popular Catholic priest,
Father Weber to have a conference with
them and see II they would not come in
quietly. This he did, and three of them
surrendered. Then we sent Maj. Nc
LaughIin, one Of my inspectors, who has
made the treaties with all of the In
dians for a great many years, and in
whom the Indians have great confidence.
On Saturday Maj Mclaughlin wired.
recommending the use of force"
Mr.sLane's Reply.
Mr.. Lane. after conferring with the
Indian commissioner, replied as follows:
We would greatly regret to use force,
and this must be the last resort. Is It
possible to starve the recalcitrants out?
Have they water where they are, and
food? How much ammunition have they?
Could we not surround them and keep
them from getting food or water? The
Indians can do no harm where they are
and we can wait before enforcing the
law. 1 am not favorable to the use Of
troops If this can be avoided"
Yesterday morning a reply from Maj.
Mclaughlin, reading in part as follows,
was received:
This recalcitrant band of Navajo
has been defying the authorities since
September II and has been appealed to
by Chee Dodge. Peshlaki, and Charley
Mitchell, the three most influential men
of the Navajo tribe: also by a majority
OF NdNdyO menu iuGn "
themselves UP and Father Weber has
had three conferences with them and 1
met and conferred with them for two
hours last Saturday, but all to no avail.
They are encamped in foothills OF Chusca
Mountains, about six miles northwest Of
NoeTs trading store, where they have
lived every winter for many years past.
Would Need 800 Men.
1T would require 500 men to surround
their camp, and in my judgment they
cannot be starved into submission, as
they have winter supply now in their
camp. with abundant arms and ammuni-
ton, and while all the Navajo, except
these fifteen, are friendly and exceedingly
anxious that they surrender, they at the
same time. 1t is believed. for their own
personal safety, would furnish any of
this lawless band with subsistence and
ammunition IL demanded by them. They
have already threatened the lives of GER
tain of the friendly Indians and of Trader
Walker, whose store is about fifteen
miles northwest Of their camp, and have