The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1916-06-30
ON LEAVING, SENATOR STONE
SAID, THE SITUATION is EX-
CEEDlNGLY ACUTE"
ORDERS HURRIED TO MILITIA
Activity in Administration CirIles Has
Not Been Paralleled Since Days
Preceding the Spanish.
American War.

ngtOn-Presiden Wilson call.
ed the ranking members of the Con-
gressiOnal foreign affairs committee
to the White House and informed
them of communication sent to Gen.
Carranza. He told them he would
take no further action, and would not
desire to address Congress before d
,eply was received.
AS he left, Senator Stone said, The
situation is exceedingly acute"
Earlier in the day Secretary OF
State Lansing, after a conference with
the president, gave out the text of a
virtual utimatum to Carranza, de-
handing the release of American
prisoners at Chihuahua and an ex-
PLANTATION of CarranZa's actions and
intentions.
There was every Indication that hos
tilities cannot be delayed longer than
48 hours. They may be forced earlier
by Carranza.
The presidents action in summon
tng Senator Stone of Missouri and
Representative Flood of Virginia,
chafrmen, respectively, of the Senate
and House foreign relations commit
tees, with the Republican members,
was a frank admission by the presi-
dent that war is at hand.
The discussion closed day OF fe-
verish activity in administration cir
cles, in which there has been no par
allel since the days preceding the
Spanish-American war.
Last Move to Complete Record.
The ultimatum to Carranza was adj
mitted to be the last diplomatic move
to complete the record Of negotiations
by the United. States to solve the
Mexican problem by pacific methods.
1t is designed to place Carranza in the
place of aggressor and establish as an
historical fact that the United States
resorted to arms only when compelled
TO do so in defense of it's national
honor.
With the publication of the note it
became known for the first time that
Carranza already had assumed full re-
sponsibility for the treacherous am.
bush of troops at Carrizal
In note to the State Department
suppressed for "a hours until the
president had completed his plans to
summon Congressional leaders, Car.
rama defantly admitted that he gave
the orders to Gen. Jacinto Trevinc
that resulted in the Carrizal attack,
and that the American cavalry was
attacked for violating his orders.
President Wilson did not attempt to
blink the fact that this was virtually
declaration Of war by Carranza.
Carranza was told in the ultimatum
served that his acceptance of respon.
sibility for the treacherous Carrizal
ambush can be accepted by the United
States in no other light than as "full
avowal of deliberate hostile action
against the forces of the United States
now in Mexico"
Army officers redoubled their eff
forts to get the national guard to the
border Immediately.
A high army officer said the militia
would be rushed to the border with
in 4S hours, even IL 1t is necessary tc
send the men down on freight cars
Secretary Of State Lansing left q
sick bed when summoned to the
White House by the president fol
half an hour. then went to the Wal
Department, where he was closeted
with Secretary Baker for half an hour
Frank L. Polk, counsellor for the
State Department, was summoned tc
his office He conferred with Leon
Canoya, chief Of the Mexican divi
sion. and also with Representative
Flood
Secretary Baker, who had a mid
night conference with the president
was at his office at 10 o'clock and re
NAMED all day.
During the day Secretary Baker was