The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-13
War Dept Has No Evidence
Bands Are Broken Up.
LANSING HANDLING SITUATION
Why Did Carranza Wait so
Long to Protest?
Punitive Expedition "PerfectIy
Justified" Says State Dept.

Washington, April IS. = General
Carranza's note proposing withdrawal
of American troops from Mexico was
delivered to Secretary Lansing by
FIesio Arrcdondo, his ambassador, this
afternoon.
Washington, April 13.-In Of
ficial quarters it was stated the
American troops will not be
withdrawn at this time at least,
and that while the question is
being discussed with General
Carranza the pursuit of the Villa
bandits will be rushed with re
newed vigor.
Carranza's demand for the with
drnwaI of the United States troops
raises "a new issue in a situation al
ready much compleXcd, the outcome
of which officials are reticent to pre-
diet until they have gone over the
communication carefully and consid-
cred what reply the United States
will make.
Bands Not Broken Up?
Secretary Baker OF the war depart
ment said he was unable to comment
upon General Carranza's note because
it raised questions of administration
policy entirely within the jurisdiction
of the president and the state depart
ment
Although General Carranza raised
side issues, administration OFFICIALS at
their first view of the communica-
ton regarded the principal contention
as being that the object of the puni-
tive expedition has been accomplished
so far as it can be, and that the villa
bands have been dispersed. War de-
partment officials take the view that
fhev have no evidence that Villa
bands have been dispersed, because
they never had definite information of
their number and that the very nature
of the situation gives no evidence the
raiders have been eXterminated.
Mexican Ambassador Silent.
E,liseo Arredondo, Mexican ambas-
sador designate, declined to discuss
early today General Carranza's note
concerning withdrawal of the Ameri-
can troops from Mexico. At the en-
bassy il was said the official text was
being ira nsIated and would be imme
diately taken to the state department
when completed by the translatOrs-
Some state department officials
confessed that General Carranza's s
note was not a surprise. Counselor
Polk confirmed the statement in the
note that when he asked for use of
the Mexican railways the reply was
satisfactory but was coupled with
an expression of surprise that the
United States had not awaited final
approval of the pending protocol be-
fore sending troops across the border.
Is Carranza's First Protest.
1t was declared. officially however,
that no formal protest against the en-
try Of General Pershing's columns
had been previously made by General
Calranza When the advance troops
crossed at Columbus. it was officially
stated a Carranza general met them
at the border and made no protest
either personally or on behalf of his
government. State department off
cials took the view that General Car
ranza's note was not a demand for
immediate withdrawal of the forces
but an invitation to begin negotiations
to limit their stay. Counselor Polk
conferred with Major General Scott,
chief of staff, and announced that the
negotiations would be handled exclu-
sively by Secretary Lansing
Justifies Crossing Border.
The dispatch of the punitive ex-
pedition before negotiation of the pro-
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