Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-13
Look for Clash With Mexico.


q Among army and navy officers today
q the conversation was wholly regarding
& the Mexican situation. and the feeling
e was almost unanimous that. no matter
I how hard the administration tries to
Z please the Mexicans. events will arise
that will sooner or later produce
s clash beween this country and the
y ruling forces in Mexico
3 Secretary Baker kept the President
3 advised throughout the day as to prep
6 arations along the border for the punt
( tive expedition There was no admis-
s sion that troops have crossed the bor-
\ der. and an impression prevailed that
s the actual departure of the troops over
the line is withheld pending an agree
ment between this country and Car
) RAMA without such an understand
ing the dangers to troops of the United
states would be immense. it was ad-
mitted.
There was rather general acceptance
of Gen. Funston's statement that he is
not going to rush the troops across
until he has fitted them thoroughly for
the arduous and dangerous work they
will have to perform and for the great
difficulties they will encounter
Border Situation Unaltered.
There was no indication at the War
Department that negotiations for re-
( ciprocal arrangement had in any way al
$ tered the situation the border. Pub
. lication this morning of Carranza
manifesto declaring that armed invasion
= of Mexico in pursuit of Villa would not
be tolerated except on reciprocal basis
apparently has not resulted in any
change Of Gen. FunStons instructions 10
proceed with the pursuit of Villa in his
own way and at such time as he thought
best
Army officials who studied the Car.
convinced that
- it was not intended communication
TO the United States in any sense.
The head of the de facto government
they pointed out, was in delicate po-
1itical position, forced to satisfy con-
fiicting elements among his own adj
herents in whatever course he pursued
IL was admitted. however. that II car
. rama enforced the sentiments expressed
. in his manifesto the pursuit of Villa
!. might be hampered seriously
Thinks People Entitled to Know.
The War Department was besieged
all day with inquiries. Newspaper men
gathered about the door leading to
, Secretary Bakers Office. He had prom
: ised there would be no delay that
. messages from Gen. Funston ANNOUNCE
: ing the expeditionary forces were on
their way would be published immedi-
ately upon their receipt. The Secre-
tary said he believed that the public
was entitled TO know promptly what
. was being done by the government to
avenge the Columbus massacre. and
. he authorized the installation of special
equipment for the press in order that
the word might be flashed over the
country when il came. There was no
assurance, however that Gen. Funston
would advise the department before his
|. men were well on the march south.
. President Wilson returned home early
today on the navy yacht Mayfower
from a weekend trip. There was no
need for him to look at the nights
crop of dispatches from the border.
Every important development in the
situation was sent to the Mayfower by
: radio as she steamed up the Potomac
last night.
The first business to which Mr.. Will
son turned his attention, however. was
his conference with Secretary Lansing
regarding the reply to the request of
the de facto government of Mexico for
permission to send troops into Ameri
can territory to pursue badits who es-
cape across the border. Without dis
closing the correspondence that may
( have been had with the President by
Nradio in this connection. high officials
began the day with confidence that a
satisfactory understanding would be
reached.
ACCESSIBILITY of Consulting Congress.
Another question confronting Mr..
Wilson was whether or not ii would
he wise to lay the Mexican situation
=. before Congress at this time. The Pres
= ident himself is understood to have
: been inclined to do so Immediately
: after the cabinet meeting last Friday.
= when il was determined to send troops
: in pursuit of Villa. Some of his ad-
; visers, however, have felt that the ac-
2 ton might De misconstrued in Mex
:, leo. possibly. and the expedition to
pursue the bandits be magnified into
the advance guard of a movement in
: force to police all northern Mexico.
I. Great stress has been laid by all ad
: .ministration officials on the purely ex-
s peditionary character of the force that
Z is to be sent beyond the border.
: While Gen. Funston was assembling
: his expedition somewhere on the bor-
der, three regiments of cavalry and
: one of infantry we're moving to his
=. support today from widely scattered
Salry was ordered out at his request
= Saturday night, some from the Pacific
= coast. some from the middle west and
some from the south. The infantry reg
jment. the card. now at Galveston. has
= Oeen under orders to be in readiness
z for several days. 1t will go to Ell Paso
; to border duty.
: Apprehension Along the Border.
:. Secretary Baker explained the move
: Inent of the 23d by saying that great
apprehension was felt in many border
= towns thar the Columbus raid might be
:, repeated 1t is proposed to give Gen.
: Funston ample force both for the ex-
>Spedition and to protect border resi-
' dents
=. While strictest secrecy was main
Ctained by the War Department as to
force Cen hos