The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-01-14

Washington, January 12.-Secre-
tary Lansing today telegraphed to
General Carranza, calling for prompt,
public punishment of the bandits who
executed 16 or II Americans near
Chihuahua Monday. Through Eliseo
Arredondo, the newly appointed Mex
lean Ambassador here, it was arrang-
ed to bring the bodies from Chihua-
hua to Juarez today on special train.
1t was announced at the State De-
partment that Secretary Lansing's
protest went by telegraph to Ameri-
can Consul Silliman at Querretaro
and demands protection for Ameri-
cans in the district, which is said to
be controlled by the defacto govern
ment of Mexico. 1t denounces the
murders at ga dastardly outrage"
Mr.. Lansing's dispatch says the
murdered men were travelling under
safe conducts issued by military COM
manders of the Carranza government
and that they apparently were slain
solely because they were Americans.
Secretary Lansing issued a state
ment in which he said the State De-
partment "feels that it took every
possible precaution to prevent Amer
leans from exposing their lives in a
region where guerilla warfare is in
progress" and that at is to be de-
plored that its advice was not follow
ed"
Every step will be taken to see
that the perpetrators of this bastard
ly crime are apprehended and pun
ished," he said. -.,-r $3.50.
The Secretary said the, United
States would look to Gen. Carranza
for satisfaction. The question OF
what steps the United States will
take depends upon development of the
facts.
President Wilson was m commune
cation early today with Secretaries
Garrison and Lansing and soon in
structions were issued to send to the
White House all facts as rapidly as
received. Advices that at least 16
Americans were killed were received
by Major Scott, chief of
staff of the Army, and also by the
State Department.
Secretary Lansing's statement fol
lows:
"In October the department sent
the strongest kind of instructions to
the Consuls in the States of Chihua-
hua and Sonora, calling upon them to
use every means in their power to
persuade Americans to leave imme-
diately for United States territory,
and these Consuls were instructed to
employ special riders to carry this
message to Americans located in iso-
lated sections. A few came out.
Some, regardless of the disturbed
conditions existing in Mexico, did not
heed the warning.
at was only two or three weeks
ago that Villa detained 80 Americans
in the very district in which the I'M
fortunate Americans now reported
killed met their death. Great alarm
was felt for the safety of these 80
Americans. Recently the Villistas
are said to have stated they would
kill Americans in Chihuahua terri
tory in order to force American inter-
vention.
"Within the past week or 10 days,
three employees of the Hearst ranch,
in Chihuahua, near the place where
Americans are now reported slain,
were reported to have been executed.
Two of these three employees made
their appearance at Ell Paso some
days ago, but the third appears to
have been killed.
"The department feels that it took
every possible precaution to prevent
Americans from exposing their lives
in a region where guerilla warfare
is in progress. 1t is to be deplored
that its advice was not followed.
EVERY step will be taken to see
that the perpetrators of this bastard
~ crime are apprehended and punish
ed"
AS soon as the Senate assembled,
Senator Sherman (Rep,) of Illinois,
introduced a resolution proposing in
tervention in Mexico by the United
States and six Pan-American nations
which have acted with it in Mexican
affairs, unless Gen. Carranza complies
with demand to protect foreign lives
and property.
Senator Gallinger, Republican lead
err, declared the United States should
demand full and quick PREPARATION.
"There should be conclusive action
taken in this matter" he said. "If
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