The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-07-08
NEGRO TROOPERS
FREED BY MEXICO
cavaIrymen Captured During
Battle at Carried Have
Been Set at Liberty:
MAY AVERT THREATENED BREAK
News from Border, Although Unoffi-
cial, Serves to Relieve the Ten
sion in Washington.

FL Paso, Tex, June president
Wilson's peremptory demand on Cen
eral Carranza for release of the Amer
lean prisoners held in Chihuahua pen
itentiary today met with compliance
Late this afternoon it was an
nounced from Juarez that a message
had been transmitted over the Next
can telegraph which stated that the
twenty-three negroes of the Tenth
cavalry, captured at Carrizal with
Lem H. Spillsbury, Mormon scout, had
been removed from prison.
The message added that the men,
with their arms and accoutrements,
under heavy guard, should be placed
on Mexican Central train bound for
Juarez, where they expected to ar
rive tomorrow morning
The telegram conveying this news
was addressed to General George Bell,
jr., commander of the Ell Paso base 1t
was signed by General Jacinto Ire
vino, commander of the Mexican mill
tary district of the northeast, whose
headquarters are at Chihuahua City.
General Bell, in keeping with his
custom of maintaining close secrecy
regarding all military developments,
refused to say whether or not he had
received the message. He said that
all announcements must come from
General Funston at San Antonio.
On receipt of word that General
Funston had given out the contents
of the message, he said that no escort
would be sent to meet the prisoners
in the morning, but that an officer
would be delegated TO take command
of them and lead them to Fort Bliss.
Relieves the Tension.
Washington, June 29.-News of the
release of the prisoners, received
early tonight in press dispatches,
brought undisguised relief to high Of
although no announcement had come
through official sources. Moreover,
it was assumed that Carranza, i'm
pressed with the urgency of the situa-
ton, had ordered the captured caval-
rymen started for the border without
waiting for his announcement of the
action to reach Washington.
While it is generally conceded that
this move lessons tension and makes
the crisis less imminent, no one con-
versant with the grave problem is los
ing sight of the fact that the all i'm
! portant question of Carranza's attitude
toward the American expedition
across the border to protect the ter
ritory and citizens of the United States
from bandit outrages remains unset
tied. If the de facto government
stands upon the orders to General
Treyino to attack Pershing's men
when they move otherwise than to-
ward the border, the situation actual
ly is just what is was before except
that there now is a possibility of dip
lomatic negotiation that did not exist
while the Americans were held pris-
oners at Chihuahua
War Moves to Go On.
The preparations of the United
States for war will go steadily for
ward. There will be no interruption
of the rush Of national guardsmen to
the border and General Funston will
continue disposing of the forces under
his command as though he expected
an immediate attack from the Mexi-
cans.
To Motorize Army in War.
FL Paso, Tex, June 29.-Coincident
with reports that Carranzista forces
have been concentrated with view
to holding the railroads of Chihuahua
in the event of hostilities with the
United States, American military au-
thorities here were taking steps today
that would render them practically
independent of railroads for the
transportation of troops and supplies.
A train of twenty-seven armed mo-
tor trucks with fuel tank cars and re
pair trucks arrived today and was as
signed to the local brigade, while at
the office of the depot quartermaster
it was announced that two additional
truck trains are expected to arrive
from eastern factories tomorrow.
Steps have been taken also looking
toward the communicating of such
trucks as are available in FL Paso
should occasion warrant. Reports to
military authorities on the border in
dictate that General Pershing is re-
tanning at each of his chain of field
bases a number of empty trucks for
the rapid transportation, If necessary,
Of troops and supplies across country,
Congress Avoids War Talk.
Prompt compliance by Congress
Stop a FiIibustering Party.
NoCaIoS Ariz T,1no % hoou;Iz