Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-14
U. s. FORCES MENACED
BY CARRANZAiS STAND
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BY CARRANZA'S STAND
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the present one which we must avoid
ct all cost. may develop.
Please make use of any arguments
you may deem advisable to put an
end to the situation created by the
presence of American troops in our
territory. I will keep on advising you
through the Foreign Office of any
further Incidents.
Foreign Minister Aguilar. in n dispatch
sent before that from General Carran2a,
said one American trooper was killed and
several civilians were wounded.
Reports from Mexico on the casualties
at Parral vary from 20 killed to 150. All
agree, however, that one American
trooper was killed, the first to lose his
life across the border.
GARRISON PROTESTED,
Consul Garcia, the Carranza agent at
Bl Paso, wired the embassy that several
persons were killed on both sides" His
dspatch added that when the American
troopers entered Parral "the people pro-
tested, and II appears the garrison did
also"
This latter statement Is in contradlc-
tion to the dispatches of Carranza and
Agular, which declared the Carranza
lean mob.
A report to the state Department from
Consul Letcher at Chihuahua forwarded
through General Funston. said there had
been some trouble" at Parral when the
American column was fired upon by Mex
lean civilians. The death of one of Major
Tompkins' troopers Is the first loss of
life in combat suffered by the American
forces in Mexico.
General Carranza Is preparing imme-
4 IL. g t. - -
government in Mexico City. Official re-
ports to the State Department said he
expected to leave Queretaro the tempor-
airy capital, today, and should arrive in
Mexico City tomorrow
The dispatch received here by Mr.. Arre-
dondo from General Aguilar relating to
the fight at Parral was as follows:
. "QUERETARO, April IL. 1918.
''Mr. Eliseo Arredondo, Mexican Embassy,
Washington
please confer with the Hon. Secre-
tary Lansing and inform him that at
p M. column of 150 American soldiers
entered the city of Parral The Mayor Of
the city, Jose de la Luz Herrera, imme-
diately called the attention of the COM
mander of this column to the incon-
venience of his entering the city, his SOL
diers Immediately withdrawing, but when
they were leaving the people protested end
the Mayor and the military commanders
tried to control them with their appeals In
order to prevent friction: but owing to
the imprudence of n civilian who fired
shot general disorde~ followed in which
ono American soldier was killed and sew
eral civilians were wounded by shots from
American soldiers.
military commanders succeeded In
checking the mob at Maturana to prevent
them from following American troops.
forming a Gordon of Constitutionalist SOL
diers In this connection the Mexican
Government warned the Government of
the United States from the beginning that
It would be unwise for American troops to
pass through cities, due to the impossible
ity to avoid friction between them and tho
people and our forces at an unexpected
moment. The American Government to
that effect agreed to give the necessary
instructions to its troops to have them abb
stain from occupying any towns.
"The Mexican Government depores the
occurrence, but it was beyond its efforts
to prevent it, and insists with the Ameri-
can Government on the necessity of with
drawing it's troops from our soil in order
not to give room for the alteration of the
good and cordial relations which both
countries are obliged to preserve.
"AGUILAR."
CARRANZA's REGRET EXPRESSED.
The message from the Carranza Consul
at El Paso said:
General Gavira informs me that last
night about 14o American soldiers tried
to enter Parral. The people protested. and A
II appears that the garrison dG also,
Several persons were killed on both sides.
"(Signed) ANDREAS G.. GARCIA"
During a visit to the State Department
Mr.. Arredondo. by instructions of General
Carranza, expressed regret for the incl
dent. After returning to the Mexican
Embassy, Senor Arredondo issued this
statement:
"Eliseo Arredondo. Ambassador desig
nate of the Mexican Government in Wash
ington, voicing the sentiments of Mr.. Car
rama, called at the Department of State
this afternoon to express Mr. Carran2a's
sincere regret for the occurrence in Par
raj between American troops and the peo-
pie of the city, thus showing that the la
mentabe incident was the result of the
mistake of the American commander in
entering the city, contrary to the instruc-
tions of his Government This can be
readily seen from kilograms submitted by
Mr.. Arredondo to the Secretary of State"