Fergus County Democrat., 1916-07-06

erhment purposes To employ all effort
that may be at its disposition to avoid
reoccurrance of any new incident
which may complicate and aggravata
| the situation At the same time, it
hopes that the American government
on its part may make use of all effort
to prevent also new acts of its mill.
tary and civil authorities on the from
tier. that might cause new complica-
| TONS.
While the object of negotiations is
thus clearly outlined, and appears ac-
ccptnble to the state department. the
| subjects to be considered specifically
will have to be arranged later. Presi-
dent Wilson has made II clear time
| and again that gradual withdrawal
OF the expcditionary force would be
ordered, once he was assured that the
Carrnnza forces would be employed III
breaking up bandit preparations for
new raids.
II has been noted already that tho
Mexican troops have occupied and
policed the territory relinquished by
General Pershing, as he drew his men
northward. Army officials believe that
this, taken in connection with the
may lead to complete withdrawal OF
the force as rapidly as is possible
without cndnngcring the border
IN effect, the latest note proposes
that the clock be turned back to the
time Immediately following the Co
lumbus raid, and when negotiations
were afoot for the passage Of An.cri-
can troops into Mexico, IN pursuit or
the raiders. Conditions have changed
since then. General Carranzn having
assembled considerable army in
northern Mexico and tho United States
having called the enlisted national
guard to the line for patrol duty. II
IL regarded as improbable that they
plan for American pursuit of bandits.
except possibly within limited areas.
whore n hot trail is followed and no
Carranza troops are available, will be
discussed In the new negotiations.
A plan for border cantonments. to
which reference Ia made In the note,
was proposed by General Obregon at
his conference In fl pasO with Major
General Scott, chief OF staff OF tho
army. General Scott would not CON
slider It then because II was founded
on the stipulation that General Per
shing's column would be withdrawn
Immediately. That stipulation, in cf-
feet. now is revoked and unquestion
ably American officials now will give
the plan serious consideration.
General Obregon proposed that ut
necessary intervals, along the border.
camps of Mexican and American
troops be established opposite each
other on their respective sides of the
line. Information as to bandits move
ments would be interchanged by the
camp commanders and military opera
tions against the raiders be conducted
jointly, although each force would re-
main within Its own territory. With
l00,O0 or more national guardsmcn
at the border, II would be possible to
establish the American camps In
way to make 1t practically impossible
for raiders to escape II real co-opera-
tion were given by the Mexicans.
The mobilization Of the guard con
tinued today at full speed. II Is GER
tain there will be no immediate alter
ations in the war departments plans.
Probably reduction of the border
forces would be ordered only after
some cooperative plan of action had
been agreed upon with the Mexican
government, and should be tried out
sufficiently to leave no doubt as to
its practicability.
Officials believe that the call for
the national guard and the actual dis
patch OF the troops to the border was
the impelling influence which induced
General Carranza to abandon the hos
tile attitude taken in his previous
notes. They say the United States
holds a strong argument In favor of
peaceful solution of border difficult
ties as long as It maintains an army
near the line and there seemed little
probability that it will be withdrawn
until all danger has passed.
tInqucstiOnably II no new bandit
outbreaks occur the national guards
men will be gradually sent back to
their homes. It originally was planned
that only a part of the force be used
on the border. the remainder being
sent later to relieve regiments which
had put in the required time at ac-