El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-12-11
]. s. MAY DROP
SHELLS IN NACO
Informs Mexicans that Fir
ing Into Arizona Must
Be Stopped.
CONTINUED Ia rage One.l

NOOHbiHieu ----'
literally have hailed across the boun-
dairy. .
The United States has served IoIIldI
notice on both provisional presluenI
Gutierrez and Venustiano CdIId IL.
that unless they promptly PreVen-L. llIelI
troops from firing across the AL.Le i lGeei5
boundary, such force viii be empty Gu
by the American government as may pc
necessary to protect American territory
according to Washington dispatches.
In most emphatic and threatening eA-
preston from the Washington govern
ment since the diplomatic correspond
ence with Gen. Huerta, when preceded
the occupation of Veracruz, ldentlcaI
warning was sent to the chlefs OF the
two factions opposing each other at
NacO.
Although the messages, which were
to be conveyed by American consul
Canada to Carranza at Veracruz ana by
American consul Silliman to Cen Cult
errez at Mexico City, left washington
late Wednesday night they dId not
reach their destination until thursday
May Shell MeXieans.
The psremptory tone of the commu-
nicatiOns did not become generally
known until Thursday night, although
the sending of three batteries Of field
artillery from Ell PasO to Naco was ex-
planned by high officials as meaning
that the Mexican factions would be
shelled out of their positions and driven
several miles from the line if the firing
into the United States continued.
The messages to both CarranZa and
Gutierrez pointed out that several
Americans had died of wounds received
from bullets fired from Mexican terri
tory and that the United States had
appealed in vain to Gov. Maytorena and
Gen. Hill, commanding the rival forces
at Naco, to so regulate their fire as
to prevent a repetition Of such occur
rences.
Having failed to impress Hill and
MaytOrena, the Washington govern
ment stated that 1t must naturally turn
to the respective chiefs to whom the
contending generals are supposed to
owe allegiance.
L. :. Points Out Alternative.
If the chiefs in de facto control can
not put an end to the reckless firing
~ ,--Ir suDO.uinaJes, the United States
government pOinted out unequivocally
that its manifest duty, much to its re-
gret, will be to take such steps as my
be necessary to protect American lives
through the employment of force"
VIII Allow Time for Communication.
The American government made IL
clear, incidentally, that it intended to
use force not for aggression, but only
for defence and had no idea of invad-
ing Mexican territory or interfering
with the rights Of the Mexican people
to settle their own disputes or violat-
y
A sufficient time will be allowed for
both Carranza and Gutierrez to COM
municate with MaytOrena and Hill re-
srecting the seriousness Of the situa-
ton.
Mexican Columns May Retire.
The general expectation at Washing
ton is that it will not be necessary to
use force to compel the Mexicans to
cease their fire, as it is understood pro-
pOsals already are being exchanged by
MaytOrena and Hill through American
army officers at Naco. whereby the con-
tending columns are to retire to a fixed
distance from the border, thus virtually
creating a neutral zone.
As difficulties have arisen at other
points along the border through the
conflict Of the Mexican factions the
Naco affair will constitute a precedent
by which the Washington government
intends to act in the future. it is de-
clared- No further firing across the
line will be tolerated, according to the
decision of president Wilson and his
cabinet