Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-07-20
MEX|CANS HAVE
NO TROUBLE IN
SMUGGLING ARMS
Border Patrol PowerIeSS TO En-
force Embargo on Account
of Existing Regulations OF
War Department.

MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL ltAatp Wihhl
El Paso. Tex. July l9.-Twenty
thousand cartridges on nm average are
beng smuggled daily over the intefna-
tional line at this point, according ta
military officers here. The United
states army patrol admittedly Is pow
erless 10 prevent II on account of The
existing regulations of the war de-
partment. II was declared. The AIT
munition not only has been deslired
! to General Villa's constitutiuhalist
troops but to the federal irregulars
who recently have been especially ac-
tive in northern Mexico.
Officials here believe this may de-
velop into "A serious situation in re-
gard To the operations of the federal
lguerilas who last week captured and
! later evacuated the border town Of
Palomas The situation, however. has
been made humorous by the rival ac-
tivity of the federal and revolutionary
army agents. Their relations seem
Iirgly have not been altered by the ap-
parent armistice in central and south
ern Mexico. On several occasions one
side has made away with munitions
destined for the other party by elev-
erlv planned plots which cannot be
prevented, II IL alleged.
Can't Make Arrests.
Since the resembling of President
Taft's proclamation regarding the
massage of arms ana ammunition over
the Rio Grande It rs not permissible to
arrest or even detain smugglers al
though the army has orders to pre-
vent the actual smuggling of NUM-
Il ststts mt
regulation. il was learned, even for
bids the use Of firearms In the use
OF smuggling although the ammuni-
ton itself may be seized. the men
OF the border patrol thus only might
use their fists IN case OF conflict.
The Mexican ammunition runners for
several days boldly have been bri lglns
ammunition to the border in auto
trucks and dumping IT across the line
Unless a soldier is on the spot this
cannot be prevented. twenty-five
thousand rounds were crossed here III
this manner within the last week.
Three cases of cartridges were puf-
chased here recently by federal fill
busters. But agents of the constitti-
tionalsts were employed to assist III
cumming the shipment. They open
ed the boxes, ftplht'u illN N"iNiNbN0
with rocks ana sent the ammunition
to the constitutionalist garrison at
.Iuarez. The fedcrals after much dif-
feulty crossed into tho hands OF Their
troops the heavy boxes of stones
steal From Each Other.
Another shipment of 1000 rounds
was left by the federals on the El Pasp
county road near the Mexican line
Before another automobile arrived TO
hiring the ammunition over the line, an
automobile containing constitutional
lists agent drove up and made away
with the cartridges.
Nothing has been heard OF the ied-
eral guerilla band which took Palo-
mas. opposite Columbus, n. M Re-
% rts have been current that they are
seeking u junction with the army of
General Pascual Orozco and other
former anti-Madero rebel leaders who
have been operating in central Mexi-
co. and have broken connections with
the federal regulars. according to par
tally confirmed reports.