The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1916-04-22
NEWS OF THE WORLD

ing Cno mexican SITUATION. conservative
writer's, however, seem to favor the
opinion that the withdrawal of American
forces from Mexico within a few weeks
is likely, and that such action may be
taken without accomplishing the origi-
nal purpose of the punitive expedition,
which has been to "get Villa" It is
claimed, however, that the Villa bandits
have been dispersed, and that the expe-
dition has in reality, therefore, fulfilled
it's object.
According to a report issued by motor
and wireless, on April II, from General
Pershing's camp at the front, the Ameri-
can pursuit of Villa is at standstill, as
there are numerous indications that a
continuance of the pursuit would meet
with armed resistance.
On April 13, the United States gov
ernment at Washington received a note
of about 5000 words, from the Carranza
de facto government, in which the claim
was made that the American troops had
crossed into Mexico under a misunder-
standing, and that no actual permission
had been granted by the Carranza gov
ernment. 1t was insistently affirmed
that the notes Of the Mexican govern
ment had especially emphasized the fact
that permission for reciprocal crossing
of the frontier would be granted only in
the event of the repetition of raid SINH
lar to that made by Villa at Columbus,
New Mexico.
The declaration was made that the
United States had interpreted the first
note of the de facto government as af-
fecting definite agreement between the
two nations, but the contention of the
de facto government was that no expe-
dition should be allowed to enter Mexico,
until terms and conditions relative to an
agreement had been defined The note
concluded with these words:
'In consequence, as expressed former
ly, as no final agreement has been
reached as far as the terms of the treaty
to regulate, in general, the reciprocal
passage of troops over the dividing line
for the only purpose of pursuing the out
laws that from this time forward may
commit depredations in one or the other
country, the Mexican government
judges it is convenient to suspend for the
present all discussions or negotiations on
this particular or founded on the circum-
stances that the expedition sent by the
UnltedStates government to pursue Villa
is without foundation by virtue of the
non-eXistence of previous agreement,
formal and definite, and as that expe-
dition has filled it's object and un-
doubtedly will be unable to do more, be-
cause the party headed by Villa has al
ready been dispersed.
Finally, because there are Mexican
troops in sufficient number pursuing
him and they are sending more forces to
eXterminate the rest of the beaten party.
the first chief of the constitutionalists'
army charged with the executive power
of. the nation, considers that it is already
time to treat with the United States
government for the retiring of their
forces from our territory"
A very delicate situation has arisen
between the United States and Mexico.
by the fact that on April IL, an Ameri-
can force, entering the city of Parral,
Chihuahua, was fired upon by citizens,
with the result that one American SOL
dier was killed, and others wounded. AS
matter of protection, the American
troops returned the fire, killing and
wounding considerable number of
Mexicans. Reports greatly vary regard
ing this incident, but it seems that this
squad of American soldiers, consisting
of about $50 men, had entered the city
without permission from the Mexican
officials, which angered the populace.
A report was issued from Mexico CITY
on April 16, to the effect that Villas
body had been dug up out of a two
weeks old grave by Carlos Carranza.
nephew of the first chief. It was claimed
that after being terribly wounded, he
had been carried to town, where the
amputation of his leg had been per-
formed, with the result that blood
poisoning had set in and caused his
death. This report, however, seems to
lack confirmation, and is given but little