Evening journal., 1914-03-09
MUST
EXPLAIN RAID
INTO MEXICO
President Directs General
Bliss on Border to Begin
the Inquiry at Once
PRESIDENT MAY DEMAND
STATEMENT FROM COLOUITT
By JOHN r. NEVIN

BY a United Press STAFF Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. Mar. 9-The Texas
authorities must assume Responsible
ity for Saturday nights sensational
raid into Mexican territory by armed
Texans. Unless Governor Colquiti
volunteers an immediate and satis-
factory report, President Wilson Will
personally ask for It by wire He
made this plain TO callers today. The
object Of the raid. the recovery Of
the body of Clemente vergara. which
had been buried at Hidalgo, Mexico.
after he was tortured and slain by
Mexican Federals, will not be con-
sidered by the administration That
was merely the elimination Of
circumstance that may prove decided
ly dangerous. II Texan rangers car
rying arms invaded Mexico In direct
opposition to the warnings OF the ma
tional government. officials indicated
II may be necessary for the national
government not only TO dlsavow this
act. but also sharply to rcbuke those
who permitted &C.
There will be no hasty action by
/ President Wilson. He made It plain
to callers today that a full and COM
plete inquiry has already been in
stituted and that until IL ends no
statement viii be forthcoming from
either himself or from Secretary Of
State Bryan that will deal with the
merits of this new complication
The President. with more than usual
lNigor denied tnat this government had
ANY advance information concerning the
raid Reports that Consul Garrett was
coqnizant of the plan We're not credited
by the President. Every effort had been
made by the administration the Prcsi-
dent told his caller. 60 prevent any in
vasion of any kind in Mexico by armed
Americans. The administration had TAX
ci mp the Nergara case with the Huer-
a. government he having been slain by
Federal-. Consul Garreti had been in
Vcstigatng in person. But AZ no time
Lad the President or his advisers even
considered sending armed men 10 take
the body by force w tact less than. a
I week ago the President took the posi-
$ ltion that any such action with the con
r scni OF the Federal government would
g n chcct bc declaration Of vaf and
n an armed Invasion
e u !, because this Is li- position that
s the President is seriously concerned
4 over Saturday night- raid. NE sent fot
Secretary Bryan tii-. morning Just o.
/. soon as he got mp and secured details
s of the affair. Bryan was told that a
: complete and thorough investigation
= Unjust be made at once The President
/, then got IN touch with Secretary ol
War Garrison and through him orders
were sent to General Bliss. commando
ing the United States force. ON the bor
der. 10 send a complete report from, the
n military standpoint These two reports
,gll De checked one against the othel
and then the administration viii decide
what 20 do.
The President was considerabl.
q exercised today over the reports tha
S Germany had notified this govern
r ment that unless complete Drctecc
t ton is accorded Germ an subjects il
Mexico. IL will act independently il
g furnishing such protection Th
d President told his callers that sucl
5 a report was malicious and absolute
d ly untrue The attitude OF the Kal
r sers government has been one o
n forbearance. and 10 has recognizes
= the right of the United States TO dea
$ with Che Mexican situation as Il con
siders best
y Tho President made IL very plail
l., today that he does not expect pas
@ sage of the poindextor and lone
q resolutions. demanding that he furn
ish the Senate an explanation of th
= veiied illusions IN his message Of
a the Panama Canal tolls question
4 Even. ii it is passed, however. II wa
Il plain from his attitude that the Pres
CONTINUED on Page 2.)