The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-03
WON'T SEND BACK REFUGEES
Secretary GRrrisOn Orders Humn lie
Treatm me- mt Of Fleeing Mexic0us.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-The dictates of
humanity will govern the action of United
States military commanders on the Next
can border in regard to Federal or rebel
soldiers or others who seek refuge in
, American territory as result of the hard
fighting at Ojinaga and Nuevo Laredo.
The following order was to-day sent to
Brig. Cen Bliss. commanding the Mexi-
can 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 II the crossing is neces-
sary to save life.
I'm other words. it is not expected to
force people back to the Mexican sid.
If they are liable to be shot or otherwise
injured on their return. Cooperate 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
4 may be necessary to meet urgent needs
of the situation with referenc, to caring
for the wounded"
In discussing this order Secretary Car
rison 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
| quest ions of law and in the interest Of
came unarmed We kept them so long as
conditions Oh the other side were such
that we felt it would be inhuman to turn
them back.
in a general way we kept them until
they could be safely allowed to filter
back across the border 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 over
unarmed are treated as refugees and are
allowed to stay on our side of the line
rather than be turned back to practically
certain death.
Armed men who come over are of
course disarmed the arms are held by our
people and the men themselves are re-
ceiyed as are other refugees.
with regard to what will happen II a
very large number attempt to come over
I can only say that unless the orders are
changed which OF course they may be II
any exgency calls for change, these
men will he treated as above stated that
Is they will be treated as refugees"
Secretary Garrison declared that SO far
as he knew no Mexicans entitled to he re.
garded as refugees under the letter and
spirit of the orders to the American mill
tary commanders have been turned back
into Mexico He said the party which was
turned back near Ojnaga was reported
by Gen. Bliss TO be other than re-
fugee band and was therefore not re-
ceived.
The herceness of the fighting at Oil
maya and SeuNo Laredo has caused much
comment here. The present battles
seem 10 be the hardest fought of any
in recent months and with the largest
number of casualties.
Regret was expressed unof'iCially in
many quarters that the United states
could not see its way clear to prevent
such slaughter of human beings as Is
taking plac" just across III. boundary.
II was pointed out that such battles are
wholly futile except for temporary ad
vantage, az Their. is doubt h.r. that
when the United states finds itself ready
to act questions regarding the control
OF the government of Mexico will be
settled through the influence OF the Wash
ington Government. Meantime. accord
ing to reports from the border. hundreds
OF men are being slain and wounded on
both sides in the two battles.
Nothing !s known here to what
the President and John Lind are going
to do now that Lind has arrived Off Gulf
bort