New-York tribune., 1913-11-23
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

|
Tho statement published this morning
| TO the effect that the State Department
has protested against the action OF Great
Britain in sending two war vessels into
Mexican waters is absolutely false and
In denying the statement ! desire TO add
! condemnation OF the publication Of state
ments Of that kind without taking time
to inquire into their truth or falsity.
"A denial cannot reach all who may
read the statement nor can II prevent
discussions and editorial comments pred
icated on false statements. Surely in in
| ternational affairs there ought to be a
patriotic desire to promote friendly rela-
tions and these cannot be promoted by
reckless publications OF false state
ments In regard TO the acts OF govern
ment officials"
Situation Kept Secret.
| While observers of the situation con-
slider that Mr.. Bryan's comment is in this
! case justified. they also believe that con-
ditions around the State Department and
the White House regarding the giving
out OF information concerning the Mexican
situation are decidedly adverse. II is re-
! called that when the report from Mexico
City fortnight ago that an ultimatum
had been presented to Huerta was denied
| by Mr.. Bryan. with criticism Of the press
at the same time. he had full opportunity
| to deny the story before it was published.
but failed TO do SO.
1t is the policy of the administration
| apparently to veil the entire Mexican
situation with great secrecy. Mr.. Bryan
| is the most secret official Of all and il
! Is doubtful that IL he had his own way
| anything whatever would be published
! concerning the progress or lack OF prog
ress OF events.
| Representative Mann. of Illinois. has re-
| ceived letter from a man whom Mr.
Mann considers an authority on Mexican
matters. which protests against the pro-
posed lifting Of the embargo on arms
The letter says.
| The newspapers have repeatedly stated
that you were considering the raising Of
the embargo on the shipment OF arms and
! other munitions of war from the United
States to the revolutionists In Mexico.
with the probability that this action
would be taken. and they have also stated
that the members OF both houses OF Con-
gress appear to be in favor OF the propo-
sition. / do not believe the latter to be
true. and hope that II is not your inten-
tion 10 take this action.
81 have received many communications
concerning the situation in Mexico, and
while, of course, l am not as well in
formed concerning the conditions there as
you are, still the information that has
| L..
free shipment Of arms would mean the
possible armlng OF every bad man, every
scoundrel. every outcast. every murderer.
every bandit: that IL would mean death
10 thousands upon thousands, and would
be nearly as bad as the arming OF the
savages and highwaymen In a civilized
community.
with arms and ammunition those va
rious bands OF revolutionists would
shortly have many candidates for presi-
dent and frequent revolutions. 1t seems
to me that such action would be crime
against Mexico itself, and ] do not be-
lieve they have any organization whose
promises can be relied upon. I hope that
you will not think 1t desirable to take
such action"
Another Regiment Sent South.
| Reinforcement Of American troops or
the Mexican frontier was a development
to-day relating to the Mexican problem
but this movement of troops was declared
to be not at all alarming by official state
ments. II was said at the War Depart
ment that one Of two infantry regiments
, Is 10 be ordered Immediately to Fort
/ fva
the cavalry regiments now stationed at
that fort for active duty along the in
, ternational line in the execution OF the
neutrality laws. The choice will fall on
the 18th Infantry. now at the Preside,
San Francisco. or the 10Th Infantry, sta
toned at Fort Douglas. near Salt Lake
, City.
To serve as garrison and defend the
! city OF El Paso from any possible attack
from the south Of the line, or TO police
the city in case OF rioting II was said
that the infantry organization would be
as serviceable as the mounted soldiers
On the other hand, not being as mobile,
the infantry could hardly fill the place of
cavalry on the border patrol.
The net result OF the order is to in
crease by a full regiment the American
troops available to maintain order along
the border That their services may be
needed for this purpose was asserted by
members of the Texas Congress delega-
ton. and Secretary Garrison yielded to
their appeals when he learned through
press dispatches that the Federal leader.
were again approaching Juarez. opposite
FL Paso. and that the rebel general Villa,
who only recently had captured that
town. had gone out to meet the Federals
in battle
Reports Of threatened disorders near
Laredo. far TO the east OF FL Paso. also
reached the War Department, but Cen
J era! Bliss at the same time informed the
Washington officials that he had sent an
other squadron OF the Sd Cavalry from
Fort Sam Houston. San Antonio. to rein
force the squadron already there.
4 IL a All fVAr q