Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-27
Also Denies Political signlf-
icance Attached to Exposure
of Villa Conspiracy. /
STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN
TO PROTECT U. S. CITIZENS
Gems. Funston and Pershing Have
Acted Promptly to Safeguard
Troops and Boundary Towns.

| >-.>es@AJ
The Secretary Of War. Newton n
Baker. today denied that any Ameri.
can is implicated in the alleged Mot to
attack American troops in Mexico or
American border towns, following a
statement issued by him last night, in
which he announced the discovery of
such a plot on the part of the ''ene.
mics Of the administrators policy to-
ward Mexico in cooperation with Villa
or other bandits in Mexico"
| War and State Department officials
refused to disclose the source or specific
nature of the information on which
Secretary Baker last night issued the
statement that such attacks have been
| planned for the purpose OF discrediting.
between now and the date of the cleo
ton. the administration's Mexican pol
| Icy. Officials said that the channel of
| information through which The report
nothing will be given out which might
tnjure it's usefulness.
Both Secretary Lansing and Secretary
Baker today laid stress upon the state
the United States at this time led to the
issuance of the announcement that such
plot had been discovered.
E~nozad plat +o p-.r.r+ p.;ds
APoSeo Z 1io' " 1Hese0' Ds~Aos'
Secretary Baker today referred to an
explanation made by Secretary Lansing
last night Of the War Department state
ment after Mr.. Baker had gone out OF
town as ''the obviously appropriate COM
ment Of the Secretary of State" Sec
retary LansinR's exclamation Of Mr.
Raker,s Statement last nieht wns To the
erect that no American Is Implicated.
Secretary Baker said that a desire to
Mot had nromnted his staternerf. ma.
ha said. s.Secrefarv IAnsfnrsa Nxulana fion
nr.ciXde. The noc.yh5iitv that INV such
uuas,r oua uno,. sSa NV .t.temsnt. The ststemsut
vas wf.nous poi,sa.s snu - ~,
have served ifs entire purpose Il II sarves
notice upon the iawle6s people In Msxaco
tnai We nave Oeen "Hfneo Ano ~ pe-
r. I. ..covrixsd In washinreon Shat
Secretary Bakers statement, which
was in the nature or pomosnsi VII IN
@ Saos9 sIe ~ ITo;t.S S+s tss Shc hsve
relatives In Cen. Pershing's punitive
force in Mexico. ana VIII cause great
alarm IN AZ tns Vosoer Is,rn .ra ,s,s
we'll defended and prepared In q mlli.
tary way. In his statement Secretary
Raker pofnts out that orders have rome
forward to Gen. Funston and to Gen.
Pershing to be prepared.
indicated that no Immediate movement
of Gen. Pershing's columns Is contem-
plated He refused to say. however.
whether orders had been given to meet
an attack, and gave the impression that
Gems. Funston and Pershing might
have been directed to take certain steps
of a retaliatory character, should an
attack be made upon their forces. or
under consideration today. Il have
nothing to say on that subject, was
his only response to every question IN
regard to orders sent to the border.
Rafers TO Mexican RefugeeS.
Secretary Lansing Views inc s'eua-
ton based on the Information a. to
the alleged plot which has been re-
INC r.--.. .,.ho,,., .,r,.-
celVeo IN Washing eoi'
what indefinite as to lndfvlouals, as
s;n danperous situation along
pnh,;cat,on of the fact
the border. Fuohca'ioh VI 'ne
that the government mas lahen S.epe "
s.,;auas COOS f.r toward nre.
wanting an attack either upon a border
+ouyr or upon Peshine's forces.
One striking remark in Secretary
Bakers seatement was " e @
tnrc.. oneratinr at the present time in
Mexico "are being paid in silver coin.''
Secretary Lansing touched upon this
tooay; IN Sa san. ~ '1e1
II was quite correctly reported last
night in the statement that Secretary
Bakers 'ssannouncement was inspired by
absolutely no political considerations
as to this country. Nor does it mean to
infer that Americans of any source
are involved in.the plot. There are
many Mexican refugees in this country
who are inimical to the Presidents
Mexican policy who would doubtless
choose the present time as ripe for
the furtherance of their projects. The
silver which is known to have gone
from this country to Mexican bandits
was not necessarily from Americans.
Indeed. L canRot conceive that there is
any American citizen who is SO heart
less so entirely cruel, so wanton as to
take a political step that would in
voIva American lives.
.uTba warninr was given simply to
american lives and property
and have every hope it will be ef-
fant;,,. ;;
ieceiNe
sMex,csna Aritatincr Constantly.o