The Sentinel=record., 1914-04-25

of war, though this view was strictly limited by the phrase under pres i ent conditions" An old decision of the officers of the war department ] holds that such exchanges of shots as those at Laredo today are not acts of war. There have been a number of such exchanges across the Rio Grande, beginning as far back as the | Madero revolution, which did not disturb the theoretically peaceful re- | lations of the two countries.
 The danger ill the present situa-
 tion lies in the possibility that it might become necessary for the 1 American troops to cross the river to
 drive off the annoying federal sharp
 shooters w4delt- miglt~-Fesult in the | creation at Nuevo Laredo of just such a situation as exists at Vera Cruz. For the present. however, the American troops will make no effort | to seize the international bridges, even though as is commonly under stood several of them are of Ameri- can ownership. The troops probably will content themselves with train ing artillery on the Mexican ends of the bridges to prevent their destruc- tion by anyone on that side.
 Every precaution was taken at Fort Mcintosh for any eventuality. A machine gun platoon which had started for the rifle range was held on the post reservation for instant action. The battery of artillery was ordered into position at the fort, while a battalion of the Ninth in- fantry was rushed into town to as- sist the patrol.
 It was not believed tonight that more than one building,' the Ameri- can consulate. was dynamited by the federals, and other explosions were attributed to cartridges and powder in stores and barracks. However, the devastation was complete by fire, every quarter of the city being af- fected from the squat adobe nuts of the peons to the sombre, iron-barred mansions of the richer classes sur rounding beautiful patios 1nd foun- tains.
 In addition to the redoubled patrol by the United States troops home guard was organized today under the direction of Ranger Captain Sanders. One hundred and twenty-five Ameri- cans enrolled. The army officers are wearing their side arms because of a conversation overheard the other night in which Mexican suggested it would be a good thing to pick off' the officers as they were on duty iu the streets at night. All saloons have been closed and places of amuse- ment shut their doors at night.
 The fire today reached the river front which divides the Mexican and American towns in only a few places. It was still burning at midnight.
 Secretary Garrison received the following report from Brigadier Gen. eral Bliss of a telephone conversa- tion between General Bliss and the commanding officer at Laredo to- night:
 "At 1:90 p. m. 32 cars of federal soldiers came into Nuevo Laredo. At o'clock several explosions blew up car shops, customs house. flour mill and other buildings; at 2:30 D. m. detachment of cavalry moved slowly west from the town. Think they were the destructive party. Colonel Crane moved two battalions into La redo city to satisfy citizens and pro- tect bridges"
 A later dispatch from General Bliss said:
 During evacuation of Nuevo La redo our patrol at the railway bridge was fired on. Fire was returned and Mexicans disappeared. I think there is no significance In this in- stance"