Evening star., 1914-12-13

VERA CRUZ, December Eff the
United States employs force to stop the
firing by Mexicans across the interna
tional boundary line at Naco 1T will be
onsidered an unfriendly act. notwith-
standing the friendly motives cloaking
the act
In this manner Gen. Carranza made
answer in a statement to the Asso-
ciated Press to the formal notice
| served by the United States on both
Provisional President Gutierrez and
Gen. Carranza that unless such firing
| ceased force would be employed to pro-
tect American territory.
Carranza's reply to the American
| note, which is expected to reach Wash
ington tomorrow, is in general re-
pudiation of responsibility for any
| shots that have crossed the line, and
clearly sets forth that he and his gov
ernment will regard intervention at
Naco as hostile and unfriendly.
Is Not Perturbed.
| At no time since the receipt of Sec
retary Bryan's note. in which atten-
| tion was called to the repeated wound
| ing and killing of residents of the
town on the northern side of the line.
has Gen. Carranza appeared perturbed.
Gen. Hill, who is commanding the
| constitutionalist forces at Naco. is on
| the defensive" continued Gen. Car
rama, "and since his back was to the
line it is difficult TO see how he could
| be responsible for the firing in ques-
| tion. The fact is that Maytorena's men
| have been the attacking party, and
therefore it appears reasonably clear
| that they, and only they, could have
| been to blame.
"As a matter of fact, / do not know
that the rights of American citizens
have been violated. 1t seems to me
that it would be Well for the State De-
| partment to investigate this question
in order to fix the responsibility.
AS to the use of force. of which
Mr.. Bryan talks. that is something the
gravity of which l fear he does noi
| fully appreciate. He says il would
nor violation of our national sover-
eighty. 1t would. And moreover. 1t
| would certainly be an act directly
against the constitutionalists, who now
| hold the town, and in favor of the
i Fillistas. who would be left free to
| continue their operations. 1t would he
simply tieing Gen. Hills hands and
| leaving Maytorena free.
Street car service in Vera Cruz has
been suspended by military order. the
authorities taking the stand that the
| lives of pedestrians were endangered
| by incompetent men who Were hired T."
replace regular employees after a dis
pute regarding salaries.
Ell PASO. Tex. December ia Sec
ond warning from the Washington gov
ernment to Gov. Maytorena was re-
ceived here today, demanding that
Maytorena withdraw immediately from
the range of the American border
NACo. Ariz.. December le-Jose
Maytorena, insurgent governor Of
Sonora. who has been besieging the
CarranZa garrison of Naco Sonora
since September, issued a statement to-
day declaring that he had received no
order from Provisional President
Gutierrez to stop firing in order to pre-
vent bullets striking in American ter
ritory. Until he does receive such or
ders he will continue his attack He
is preparing for final assault on
Naco Tuesday night.
Americans arriving here from Cana
nea reported today that W. C. Nc
Duffe, who operated an automobile
stage between the border and Cananea
was arrested by Mexican officials De
cember and is held incommunicado
The case has been reported to Freder-
lex Simpioh. American consul at No
gales. Sonora.
Brig. Gen. Tasker II. Bliss. COM
mander OF the United States troops
here, revoked tonight all passes for
crossing the international line
Gen. Bliss, it was stated, intended TO
break up repeated efforts of both
Mexican factions to send agents into
Arizona for recruits and supplies
The belligerents We're as active as
usual tonight in exchanging shots Gen.
Hill received today two seventy-five-
millimeter maxim guns. which were
placed in position after dark
State Department officials Were satis-
fled last night that orders from Pro-
visional President Gutierrez TO desfst
from his attack on Naco would reach
Gov. Maytorena in ample time to pre-
vent his carrying out his intention OF
resuming operations Tuesday night \
copy of the message TO the governor
conveying instructions already has been
received from Mexicn CITY