Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-11-02
Firing by Mexican BeIIigerents
Into United States Territory
Will Be Returned.
ORDER FROM WASHINGTON
TO MAJ. GEN. FUNSTON
Reports From Douglas, Ariz., Indi.
cate Both Sides to Conflict Will
Obey Warning.

Anxiety OF, the part Of administration
omcials for the safety Of American
citizens along the Mexican border. as
result Of the fighting between the
Carranza and Villa armies. was some
what relieved today. This was based
upon reports that a warning by Gen
Thomas e. Davis. commanding the
American troops intrenched on the In
ternattonal border, to the commanders
OF the warning factions at Aqua Preta
to cease firing into American terri
tory had been needed
The warning followed the serious
wounding yesterday of Louis F. Tay-
| lor. an American, by a shot fired from
| a machine gun which fell into Amer
| lean territory.
Orders to Gen. Funston.
Maj. Cen Funston, who took personal
charge of the situation today, has in
structions from the War Department
to return any fire from Mexican terri
tory endangering lives on the Ameri-
can side of the line.
Should bullets continuously fall into
Arizona and endanger Americans, Unit
ed States troops, without further ref
| erence to Washington, are to shell the
faction which fires into American terri
tory. Decision to make the orders is
sued last May to American troops on
the border effective in the present situ-
alton at Douglas was reached at con-
ference between President Wilson and
War Department officials.
Reason for Failure Of Attack.
That Villa would have taken the town
of Aqua Prieta last night had his ar
ti11ery been able to put out the search
lights in the town is the information
contained in reports sent last night by
Gen. Funston.
Reports from Gen. Slocum at Doug
las, Ariz., indicate that both sides in
the conflict were endeav ring to OBJ
serve neutrality, and that the fire of
Villas guns was being directed SO as
not to endanger American lives or
property.
State apartment advices today said
that refugees arriving In Douglass re-
port that so far little damage has been
done in Aqua Prfeta as the result of the
fighting.
Fears for American Business Man.
Senator Ashurst of Arizona has re-
ceived telegram from Doan & Doan,
attorneys, of Douglas, Ariz., telling of
Beckett, a business man of Ell Paso,
Tex, expressing fear that he would be
put to death and asking intercession
on his behalf by the Department of
State. Beckett, according to the tele-
gram, was in Douglas on business, and
was inveigled across the border on a
pretense that a business matter de-
manded his attention. He was seized,
and a rumor has reached Douglas that
he has been killed or will be killed.
Senator Ashurst took up the matter
with the State and War Departments.
Gov. Randall Stops Traffic.
dispatch:
Gov. Randall tore out the railroad
tracks crossing the international
boundary this afternoon, suspending all
possible traffic. It is reported he in
tends to build a fence across the gaps
in the international line and prohibit.
all communication between the two
towns.
.tThere is evidence that the soldiery
and populaee are being fhctted, and
i-American feeling is running high.
The situation is tense. Fighting is re-
ported between Villa troops and Car
rama troops under Cen: Dfeguez at
Torres today. Several railroad bridges
have been burned between Hermosillo
over Issues by Mexican Banks.
That the banks of issue of Mexico
City, as has long been suspected. have
issued notes far beyond the legal limit
is indicated in a cablegram from that
capital of which the confidential agency
of the government in this city this
morning announced the receipt.
This is shown by their admission that
the rigid application of recent decree
of Carranza, giving all banks forty-hVe
days within which to comply with the
long-standing laws requiring specie
reserve of so per cent as the basis OF
all note issues, would force them into
liquidation.
In response to this admission, which
ia regarded as tantamount to a con-
fession, the acting minister of finance,
Rafael Nieto, intimated that there was
a possibility that, in the reorganiza-
ton of the financial system of Mexico,
II might become desirable to create
single bank of issue. with the sole
right to emit all paper currency.
The idea of such a central bank did
not meet with the bankers approval.
and they were. therefore. asked to meet
again with the minister November
and express further their Ideas on the
subject.