The Washington herald., 1916-04-22
AT PARTING OF THE WAYS
Expedition Must Prepare to
to Face Strong Opposition
or Withdrawal.
BAKERS STAND UNCHANGED
War Department Expects Gen. Scott
to Save Situation" Says Well
Informed OfhciaL .H
BULLETIN.

FL Pssos Texs.. April z1.-Rn-
mors were persistent sbout III P..e
tonight that there had been a clash
between American troops and
Csrrnnsa troops near Csxst
Grsndes, but it lacked confirms
tiou I'm Official circles.
The Cabinet yesterday discussed the
critical situation Of the American forces
IN Mexico. Admissions made By high
officials after the Cabinet meeting leave
10 room 70 doubt a crisis ie approaching
which VIII compel this government 10 de-
eide definitely whether Il will continue
the pursuit Of villa or withdraw the
punitive expedition.
Dispatches to the State and War De-
psrtments furnish the Gdninistration
with ample information that CarranzistS
officers have warned Gen. Pershing and
Col W. c. Brown that they must not
advance q step farther into Mexico
These dispatches were considered by the
Cabinet almost TO the exclusion Of other
matters. Il was said II WAS declared
Chief Of star, to Gen. Funston. His nlis-
sion. 1t was declared, Ia to save the
situation.
Secretary Of War Baker discussed seE-
terdsy the thrests from carrsnzistsx
He denied he had received orncfsr di.-
patches cornrnins the report Of an uln-
mstum 20 the United States army, but
suggested It was possible Gen Pershlnr
and Col Brown had ceased operations
because OF the physical fatigue OF their
men and OF the Tagging Of their horss<s
He Indicated all the facts would not es
known until Gen. Scott shouid report
Danger Ahead OF q. q. rroep..
u was plainly inferred from whst SEQ
trssry Baker said that a dangerous coslt
tion OF snti-American forces had occur
red just ahead Of the United States
troops. and that IT was perilous for Gen.
Pershing TO attempt to penetrate farther
into Mexico.
An official with intimate knowledge Of
all the State and War Department dis
patches said:
1T may be a fact that GarranEs mill
tary officers have actually told Gen.
Pershing and Col. Brown that they can
not make another step forward In Mex
leo without peril TO themselves It may
have been meant that II would be danger
Gus to enter PsrrsI again. There may
be such a danger, but we do not believe
it originates with any person authorized
to speak for Gen. CarrsnEa.
No decision had been made as 10 what
course this government will pursue even
though it should be shown by Gen. Scott's
report that the opposition 10 a farther
advance OF the Americans is so strong
that It might be able to stop them"
Gen. ScOtt's Report Will Decide.
1t wac believed last night that the gov
ernmenCs decision would depend almost
entirely upon Gen. scott's report. Secre-
tary Baker said that while he did not
know definitely when he would hear from
Gen. Scott, he hoped his report would be
In Washington by tonight
Secretary Baker said he was not aware
Of any purpose on the part Of the ad-
ministration TO make any change Affect
ing the expedition. He announced. how
ever. that the Seventeenth Infantry had
been ordered from Eagle Pass TO Colun-
bus, which is the expedition's base. Il
was said 70 be probable that Gen. Pervh-
ing has received 5000 or 700 re-snforos-
ments recently.
II was asserted that the American
forces would not be permitted under any
circumstances TO clash with Csrrsnss
regulars.
State Department dispatches from
Hernosillo confirm reports Of a nEht be-
tween Mexican soldiers and Yaqui In
dlans.
ROMAN PRESS PRAISES q. S.