The Washington herald., 1914-01-03
HUMANITY WILL GOVERN
ACTION OF u. ST. TOWARD
REFUGEES FROM MEXICO

The dictates of humanity will gov
ern the action of United States mill
tary commanders on the Mexican bor-
der with respect to federal or rebel SOL
diers or others who may seek to take
refuge in American territory as a re-
suit of the hard fighting at Ojinaga
and Nuevo Laredo. The following or
der was yesterday sent to Brig. Gen.
Bliss, commanding the Mexican border
patrol:
You will have to meet demands of
the situation which cannot be foreseen
at present. Extend such aid to the
wounded as humanity indicates, and
permit refugees to cross the river If
the crossing is necessary to save life.
In other words, 1t is not expected to
force people back to the Mexican side
If they are liable to be shot or other
wise injured on their return. Cooper
ate fully with the Red Cross. You are
not expected to turn supplies over to
the Red Cross, but to cooperate with
them in their work to such extent as
may be necessary to meet urgent needs
of the situation with reference to car
ing for the wounded
Mr.. Garrison Explains Order.
Discussing this order, Secretary of War
Garrison said:
when the fighting first took place on
the Mexican side and the soldiers of the
defeated army began coming across the
border, we, without regard to technical
questions of law, and in the interest of
humanity, took in as refugees all those
who came unarmed. We kept them SO
long as conditions on the other side were
such that We felt 1t would be inhuman
to turn them back. In a general way,
We kept them until they could be safely
allowed a IN filter hack the hnrdRr
into their own country. Those orders
have never been changed, and, if properly
interpreted, the men who have been
fighting on the other side of the border
and who come ever Unarmed are treat
ed as refugees to stay on our side of the
line rather than be turned back to prac-
tically certain death. Armed men who
come over are. of course. disarmed; the
arms are held by our people. and the
men themselves received as other
refugees.
with regard to what will happen il q
large number attempt to come over, /
can only say that unless the orders are
changed, which of course, they may be
IL an exigenCy calls for a change, these
men will be treated as above stated; that
is, they will be treated as refugees"
Late Battles Hard Fought.
and at Buevo Laredo has caused much
comment here. The present battles seem
to be the most hard-fought of any in re-
cent months, with the greatest number
of casualties. Regret was expressed un-
officially in many quarters that the United
States could not see its way clear to pre-
vent such a slaughter of human beings as
is taking place the other side Of the
boundary.
4, l,,t, 81
are wholly futile. except for temporary
advantage. as there is no doubt here that
when the United States finds itself ready
to act all questions regarding the control
of the government of Mexico will be set
tied through the influence Of the Wash
ington government
Nothing is known here as to what the
President and John Lind are going to do,
now that Lind has arrived of Gulfport.
No reply will be made by the State
Department to President Huerta's mes
sage of felicitation to President Wilson
and the American people on New Years
Day.
President Wilson said in his message
to Congress there is no government in |
said Acting Secretary of State |
Moore yesterday. Therefore this gov
ernment cannot send any message to
Huerta or other Mexican official con-
cernlng the new year. ftuertd mes /
sage has not reached me yet, but / feel
sure that when 1t does it will be mere
ly passed over without comment by |
either the President or the State De-
partment'
Huerta's message, sent at the conclu- |
sion of the New Years festivities at |
the National Palace, was as follows:
ITO Hon. Woodrow Wilson.
president, United States, Wash |
ington.
THE Mexican republic, through me. |
has the honor of wishing a happy New |
Year to the glorious people of the |
United States. so worthily represented |
by your excellency.
"v. HUERTA."
Orders were sent from the American |
Red Cross Offices here today dispatch
ng six Red Cross nurses now at Ell /
Paso, Tex, Immediately to Preside.
Mexico. Miss A. L. Dietrichs, chairman !
If the Ell Paso Red Cross committee,
will have the choosing of the nurses
and the selection of provisions and |
,ther relief necessities which will go
with them.
1t is expected that another half dozen
nurses will be ordered to service in
Nexico early Oeyt week