The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-12-06
U. S. NEAR WAR LAST JUNE

| now near the OullcQ SUuleS came 10
armed intervention in Mexico last
| June, with war as an almost certain re-
suit is revealed by tho publication of
dispatch which Secretary Bryan sent
to the secretary Of war in regard to
the attack on the United States con.
sulate at Piedras Negras, formerly
called Ciudad Porfirio Diaz. The dis,
patch appears for the first time in the
annual report Of Brigadier General
Tasker II. Bliss, commanding the
southern military department with
headquarters at San Antonio, Tex
General Bliss points out that for sew
eral days the question of possible peace
or war rested entirely within the discre-
tion Of the United States consul at
Piedras Ncgrns. Late in May this con.
sui, Mr.. L. T. Ellsworth, informed the
state department that the Americans in
that city were being mistrcated and
menaced by bands of troops affiliated
with the constitutloualists. A few days
later he again reported disturbances by
the same troops, and added that when
he went TO the commanding officer 10
lodge a protest he was seized and
threatened with violence. Later there
was threat to attack tho consulate
and tear down the United States flag
In consequence of these outbreaks, Sec
retary Bryan on June sent the fol
lowing dispatch to the secretary OF
war, asking that 1t be transmitted to
General Bliss:
While II is not desired 10 send a
military forco across the line, except
as last resort. there would appear
To be ample authority and precedent
for doing so 10 prevent the killing OF
or Injury 10 the consular representa-
tive OF this nation. whom proper
Mexican authorities are unable 10
protect I therefore have tho honor
10 request that YOU will at once issue
the necessary instructions TO the OFF,
communication With the Consul and
TO hold force in readiness TO go to
his aid II the necessity arises
When General Bliss received the dis
patch, 1t was accompanied by instruc
tons from Secretary Garrison to "take
the necessary steps to comply prompt
ly with the request of the state depart
ment in case necessity should arise"
General Bliss, in telling of the cir
cumstances, says:
II was almost foregons conclusion
that should the necessity for this ac-
ton arise our troops would havo TO
nght their way into Mexico. The
strength of neither our force at Eagle
Pass nor at any other point on the
border had been fxed with this pos
sibIe object in view, and II became
necessary to re-enforce the troops at
Eagle Pass. which l Immediately did,
and IN view OF tho delicacy of tho
situation placed Colonel Fred w.
Sibley. Fourteenth cavalry. in direct
command.
The possibility Of war was removed
by General Carranza, the chief of tho
forces. When Colonel !
Sibley, an old Indian fighter and q man
Of long experience on the Mexican bor-
der, had communicated with Carranza,
the latter gave the most positive assur- !
ances that his men and the bands Of |
troops affiliated with his cause would |
abstain from molesting Americans and |
would pay due respect to American Of
ficiais and American consulates. He at |
once sent q military guard Of trusted |
Officers ana men to protect the con-
sulate at Ciudad Porfirio Diaz and dis.
patched q message to Consulate Els !
worth apologizing for what had oc.
Cured and promising him every posi-
bic protection.