New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-03
WILL TREAT MEXICAN
SOLDIERS AS REFUGEES
Americans Will Not Force Them
Back Across Boundary If
1t Means Death.

.Trofa The Tribune Bureau
Washington. Jan There is nothing IN
reports received AT the War Department
TO indicate that the American army =,
/ Preside. opposite Oiinaga. has disarmed
| Federal soldiers who sought refuge IN the
! United States and sent them back across
the river without their arms Reports
/ that this had been done caused something
! Of a stir I'm Washington
There is nothing i'm the instructions
which hav, been sent 10 American army
officers on the border which would JUS
| tify such procedure. 10 is considered that
/ the action. il taken, may arouse much
/ feeling among Federal troops everywhere
and that thus Americans in Mexico MAY
suffer There have already been charges
/ from Mexico city that American officials
! have favored the Constitutionalist cause.
While the departments reports do not
tell OF such occurrences as reported al
Oiinaga. one telegram from General bliss
says
''Eighty-four Mexican F'ederals crossed
10 the United States six miles below fIe-
sidio. after fight at Muleto; were disarmeu
and put back across the river.
officials OF the war Department thought
to-day that there must have been ample
reason for this action. and that the ! Gu
erals who were forced back across the
border were subjected TO no danger
thereby.
Instructions TO the army distinctly state
that persons in danger Of their llVes' VI
y no are wounded, shall he permi''eu ~
come into the United States In the case
OF civilians they come over the poruc'
under supervision by the immigration ne
partmont In the case Of soldiers inc!
are disarmed and permitted to remain Oh
the American side until danger TOT 'he"i
is past.
Following is the text Of the latest oruer
to the commander at Ojinaga
"Witb reference to possible situation Al
Oilnaga. incident 10 people crossing the
river. you will have TO meet dena"us -
the situation. which. cannot be ioreseeu
at present Extend such aid 10 Wouiue"
as humanity indicates and permit Ieiu
gees TO cross the river if crossing Is heco'
sary 70 save life In other words IL Is
not expected to force people paoN W
Mexican side IL they are haDle 10 p7
shot or otherwise injured on their return
Co-operate fully with Red Cross. You are
not expected 10 turn supplies over 10 heu
Cross hut 10 cooperate with them ia
their work TO such extent as may De
necessary to meet urgent needs OF the
situation with reference TO caring lor
wounded"
When questioned about the matter 10
dav. the Secretary Of war made the FOL
loving statement:
when the lighting FIRST took place on
the Mexican side and the soldiers OF 'he
defeated party began coming across the
border We. without REGARD 10 techhical
questions Of law and in the interest Of
humanity. took in as refugees all those
who came unarmed. We kept them so
long az conditions on the other SIDE were
such that we felt it would be innumdh
70 turn them back. In general way we
kent them until they could be safely al
lowed 10 filter across the border into theh
own country.
Those orders have never been changed
and. If properly interpreted, the men VINO
have been lighting on the other side OF
the border and who come over unarined
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 oil
course. disarmed; the arms are held d!
our people and the men themselves re-
ceived as other refugees.
with regard 10 what will happen IL
very large number attempt TO come over
| can only say that unless the orders are
changed (Which. OF course. they may De
if an exigency calls Tor changer those
men will be treated as | have stated
that is. they will be treated as refugees.
How long they will be permitted to stay
and all other hypothetical questions am
unable to answer
1t was said at the State Department To-
Gay that no messages had been received
there concerning the visit of John Linz
to the President at Pass Christian.