The Colorado statesman., 1916-07-01
WILSON SEES WAR CRISIS WITH
MEXICO AvERTED; AWAITS
REPLY NOTE.
WAR TENSION is EASED
MEXICAN OFFICIALS PLEASED
WITH PROSPECTS FOR
PEACE.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Ell Paso. Tex. Juno 29-American
prisoners taken by Carranzistas in
the battle of Carrizal will be re-
leased. Andres Garcia, Mexican con-
sui in El Paso, informed Gen. Bell,
commanding the forces at Ell Paso. to
that effect Wednesday afternoon.
They are to be delivered at the bor-
der, today, with all armT and equip
ment captured with them.
This is expected to prevent a
breach of relations between the two
governments for the present and may
lead to arbitration. The decision of
the Carranzistas to release the Ameri-
can prisoners was unexpected The
attitude of the Carranza officers had
been defiant, and Americans did not
expect the Carranza government to
accede to the ultimatum. Therefore
the meeting of the American general
and the Mexican consul came as a
surprise. When it was divrlged that
( Mr.. Garcia had informed Gen. Bell,
Mr.. Garcia at first declined to make
a statement, but later they confirmed
the fact that the release had been or
/ dered and that the men would be
brought to El Paso to be turned over
to the United States. Mr.. Garcia
said:
My government to show its good
faith and to convince the American
government that it wants to be ia r,
has decided to send the prisoners to
the border that they may be turned
over to Gen. Bell.
"Our government does not believe
the American government, when it in.
vestigates fully, will approve the ac.
tions of the American forces which
engaged the Carranza troops in action
at Carrizal last Friday. For that rel-
son we see no good reason for hold
ing the prisoners-those men of the
American command made prisoners
by us. We will return the prisoners,
with their arms, horses and equip
ment, to the American border They
will. be started from Chihuahua to-
night and should arrive here Thurs
day some time"
Border Americans generally believe
war with Mexico must come, sooner
or later, and they think the sooner
it is brought about the better.
Mexican officials were happy over
the turn in events. They declared
that this would mean a lessening of
the tension of the last few days.
shington.-Virtually all danger
of immediate war with Mexico has
been averted by the decision of Gen.
Carranza to surrender the American
prisoners at Chihuahua, in compli-
ance with President Wilson's de-
mand. War may come yet, but If it
does, it will be the result OF further
| clashes between American and Mex
lean troops or of continued defiance
by Carranza of the pacfication of
northern Mexico by the United States
army. AS result of Carranza's COM
pliance with his principal demand,
President Wilson decided that there
is no immediate occasion for going
before Congress to obtain additional
authority to enforce his policy.
ashington.-Between 100000 and
100000 American citizens would
answer a call for volunteers should
tn" President decide to issue call
because of a war with Mexico. This
was the statement of army officers
today when they were asked how, in
their opinion, the country would re-
spond to a call for volunteers.
SIX MILLION IN DIVIDENDS.