The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-28
De Facto Chief Likens Prison.
ers In American Jails to Inn
prisoned Cavalrymen
PRESIDENT WILL WAIT
NO LONGER FOR REPLY
Will Lay Situation Before Con-
gress for Action Today-lt
Reply Comes Expected to Be
Flat Rejection

Washington, June 27.-The Car
rama government prepared the United
States today for fiat rejection of de-
mands made in Sundays ultimatum by
making counter demands on the
United States.
Carranza demands both the release
Of thirty MeXicans held prisoners by
American authorities. and that the
mbar@e on shipments across the
border into Mexico be lifted.
1t was made plain tonight that both
demands will be rejected. Instead
plans are. being pressed to dispatch
United States troops to free the
American cavalrymen imprisoned at
Chihuahua city II Carranza does not
relase them
President Wilson and his cabinet
reached final decision today on tho
course OF action to be pursued in
Mexico. The President discussed with
the cabinet the message he plans to-
read to Congress tomorrow or Thurs
day.
The message has been prepared In
anticipation Of an unfavorable reply
from Carranza. This re- Is expected
to reach Washington tonight or to-
morrow If it is not received by to-
morrow, the President will grant no
further time. but will act at once, it
was declared tonight.
Eliseo Arrendondo. Carranza's am
bassador designate at Washington de-
livered TO the State Department today
two notes containing Carranza 8 coun-
ter demands.
One note demands the release of
twenty-nine. Mexican citizens held at
Redding, California. by United States
authorities, and J. ~. Gonzales, a So
nora. Mexico, treasury official who is
under arrest at Tucson, Arizona
These arrests were made. the note
asserts, without any just cause and
without any charges being filed
against the prisoners.
The other note demands the lifting
of the embargo on shipments OF all
character from the United States
across the Mexican border
The port OF Laredo was closed three
days ago, Carranza's note alleges: the
Norwegian vessel Freda with a cargo
for Yucatan. was seized and held by
the United States authorities. and an
embargo has been enforced at all
points on the border not only against
war munitions, but food stuffs and
supplies of every character
Carranza insisted he had received
no formal notice of the existence OF
an embargo. He declared the Mexi-
can government affords facilities for
expectation OF Mexico's products to
the United States.
II these measures are continued, thu
note adds. II will tend to aggravate
the situation"
Demands Almost Parallel.
1t was significant that Carranxa'a
demands were OF a character almost
paralleling those of tho United States
The ultimatum TO Carranza demanded
the release of the American prisoners
and also, an explanation OF Carranza's
actions against and intentions toward
the American expeditionary forces.
CarranZa demanded the release Of
the Mexican prisoners and an explana-
ton OF the action OF the United States
in holding up shipments of war NUM-
tons to his army and its future In
tentions with respect to these and
other shipments.
The demands relating to the arrest
OF Mexicans on American soil were ac-
cepted as a gratituitous insult since
Carranza sought to place this on a
par with the Imprisonment of Ameri-
can soldiers, The State Department
has no information as to the charges
against the Mexicans held In Calf
fornia and Arizona II is confident
that such arrests were made for law
breaking.
Admission of State OF War.
The American cavalry men were
taken as prisoners of war at time
when a state OF war did not exist TO
continue to hold these prisoners Is an
admission that state of war exists
and demands waritke action by the
United States TO release them, ofhcialg
declared.
There was xravest apprehension to-
Hav as to safety OF the prisoners At
chihuahua in the event the United
States Is forced 10 send an army to
rescue them. Thus far no threats
have been made by the CarranxistAs
against the prisoners, so far as the
State Department knows.
The British consul at chihuahua
City. who is representing American
interests In the absence OF American
consul transmitted to the State De-
partment through the British embassy
TODAY report as to the condition Of
the American prisoners. The report =
said:
There are twenty-onc prtvates ana
two sergeants OF Tenth Cavalry, ana
one white interpreter interned In
penitentiary. Two are slightly wound.
ed. one through the shoulder and the
other has a flesh wound In the knAA4
Gsets recovering, and receiving GnA63.i
zeal AttAnt1ou- They 40 0n@ce1e
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