New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-18
Administration Gets Con-
firmation of Carranza
Threats on Border.
MEDIATION MAY
BE OFFERED u. S.
Latin Republic Said to Plan
Move II II Does Not Offend
Wilson.
IRON ms Tribune Bureau ]

/ already be blown OF the Mexican situa'
ton, is the fear expressed in Admins
I tratIon quarters tonight. This fear IL
based on the following facts;
Unofiiisl reports that three troops
! Of the Sd Cavalry have FLASHED with
Mexican troops near San Benito, in the
Brownsville district. and that hghtina
is still in progress. General Riesut
Csrranza commander In that territory
was reported yesterday to have threat
ened resistance II American troops
crossed the line, and 10 have gathered
1000 troops for that purpose, and 1t II
feared that this may have happened.
Confirmation from General Pershins
of General Trevino's mot an inch fur
Their" threat. This threat was FIRST
confirmed by General Bell at FL Paso
and later report from General Per
shng gave the test Of Trevino's ulti'
matum, which Administration offieial'
refused to disclose.
Baker Sees President.
Reports from Major Gray, command
ing San Ignacio expedition, that one
Of the raiders captured by him was
Major Cruz Ruiz, a Csrranza ofieer
and that a blouse containing the com,
mission Of Cairanza lieutenant dated
May. 1918, was found after the raid.
Secretary of War Baker Immediately
conferred with the President on re-
ceiving Pershing's confirmation OF the
/ Trevino threat. The State Depart
ment also was advised, and Is under
/ stood TO have called the facts to the
attention Of the Csrranza government
After his conference with President
Wilson, Secretary Baker said he had
ordered no additiondsl troops 70 tbs
border and that General Pershing had
asked for no achievements.
81 look for no immediate trouble
there" said the Secretary. THAT sit
uation seems to be not imminent"
Meantime the note to Carranzs hal
been delayed by President Wilson anc
will not go before Monday.
The outlook, in view of all the fact,
at hand, is a gloomy one for the Ad
ministration. The present situation, II
/ is realized, has developed through re
peated failures, both diplomatic AND
military.
II forceful intervention Gomez. IT viii
prove a long and costly undertaking
| With only eighty-fve thousand regular
troops the Job Of cleaning up Mexico
is impossible, experts declare.
Say Diplomacy Is BunslinE.
To season state troops and train volun
teers would require from six months
/ to a year. Carrsnzs can get ready ~
army of sixty thousand men almos
F, Immediately, with a fair equipment, fol
a campaign.
Diplomats in Washington declare thu
major difficulties are due to bunglini
diplomacy. The United States has M
regular diplomatic representative II
Mexico. Special Agent Rodgers, VIII
was transferred from q consular pos
in Cuba, has apparently accomplished
nothing toward effecting an under
standing with Carranzs.
Eliseo Arredondo, Carranza's envo,
tere, has not yet been received as al
ambassador by this government. H
has been handicapped also by Secre
tary Lansing's absence from the Stat
Department on account of Illness an
by defective communications with Mex
leo City.
1t is believed that IL Ambassado
Fletcher had been sent 10 Mexico, a
originally intended, instead of beinl
kept in Washington for no appsren
purpose, the situation would have bee
saved. Mr. Fletcher speaks Spanish
understands perfectly the Latin TEN
permanent, and is an experienced diplo
mat He would, it is believed, hav
been able to forestall the delicate crisi
that has developed.
May Offer Mediation
As il is, there Is practically no wa
Of reopening negotiations. The failur
Of the original psrleys for a protocol
led TO the Scott-0bregon conference,
the two governments hoping that thei
military chiefs might succeed wher
the diplomats had failed That confer
enee, however, only added TO the con
; fusion.
Mr.. Rodgers, further than reportin
scraps Of information of doubtful valu,
Las been unable to advance the nego
tistions. II is unlikely that any at
tempt will be made to reopen the cas-
through him. On the other hand, tn
Administration is convinced that Csr
rama must be dealt with directly
anything is to be accomplished, and be
lieves it futile to take up the questio
further with Mr.. Arredondo.
Hope WAS held out to-day that som
of the Latin American countries wer
to offer their service as mediators.
was learned that one at least Of tn
Lstin-Ameriean diplomats here ha
cabled recommendation OF such
course to his government and aske
for authority TO approach the Unite
States on the subject. There is som
fear, however, in the Latin-Americsl
countries that such an offer might b
offensive TO the United States.
Unless mediation is offered and &C
cepted, however, il is practically Ger
tain that Intervention will result
. Technically the United States Inter
vened" the moment it refused TO with
draw the troops on Carrsnza's demand
! diplomats say, but the Administration
| prefers 10 avoid the term az long a
Carrsnza's opposition falls short o
force.
There will be no protest from Latin
!, America if President Wilson decide
to intervene openly, but the action will
be resented and regarded with dee
suspicion. Il is believed in most Of tn
South and Central American countrie
that President Wilson is playing poll
tics with the Mexican situation and /
determined TO keep the troops there 3
any cost for no other purpose than I.
Offset the bad impression caused b!
his Vera Cruz scuttle.