Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-11
Mexico's Chief Counters in
Reply to United States
on Border Trouble.
7 LOSS ASKS COOPERATION
Send Mexican Troops
Into This Country to
Hunt Bandit Bands.

Washington, March II. - General
Carranza, through Consul Silliman, has
asked the American government for
permission to send Mexican troops
across the border and into the United
States in pursuit of bandits.
Consul Silliman transmitted the fol-
lowing communication dated at Qua
dalajara, March 10. which was handed
to him by Jesus Acuna, Carranza's
minister for foreign affairs. 1t is re-
ply to the American government rep
reservations for permission to pursue
the Villa bandits with American forces.
Carranza's Reply.
In due reply to your courteous note,
dated yesterday and transmitted today,
through Join ". Belt, Silliman's
secretary, have the honor to inform
you that having brought the above
note to the attention of the first chief
of the constitutionalist army and de-
pository of the executive power of
Mexico, he has directed me to say to
you, to the end that you may, in turn.
transmit it to the department of state
of the American government, that he
learned with regret of the lamentable
incident which occurred in the town
of Columbus, N. NJ, on account Of the
assault it suffered yesterday from the
bandits led by Francisco Villa.
THAT although there has been
competent number of forces in the
state of Chihuahua to reestablish or
der and afford protection to nationals
and foreigners, ever since Francisco
Villa appeared in the mountains of the
above state, at the request of the gov
'ernor of the state and of the constitu-
tionalist consul in Ell Paso, Texas, the
first chief ordered the timely depart
ure of $500 men commanded by
General Luis Gutierrez with in
structions to pursue the bandits who
had just crossed the line to American
territory, which they undoubtedly did,
compelled by the tenacious pursuit Of
the above mentioned forces.
1.-THE above lamentable incident Is
similar to the incursions which were
made in the state of Sonora and Chi
huahua by Indians from the reserva-
tons of the government of the United
States. Incursions into the state Of
Sonora occurred more or less about
the year 1880 when Geronimo, the In
dian chief, who died not many years
ago in Fort Mount, Ala, led numer-
Gus horde and invaded a part of the
north of the state of Sonora, commit
ting many murders and depredations
of life and property of Mexican fami-
lies, until after a long and tenacious
chase by American and Mexican forces,
the band of malefactors was annihi-
lated and its chief was captured.
"The incursion into Chihuahua, led
by the Indian chief, Victoria, command
ing 500 Indians took place between the
years 1884 and 1885. Then the bands
of marauder5 committing also many
crimes, went into the country a. far as
the village Of Tejolohic of Tres Castil-
| los, very near the capital of Chihuahua
and during the first formal encounter
between them and Mexican forces,
after having lost their chief, they were
dispersed.
In these two occasions through an
agreement between the governments OF
| the United States and Mexico it was
/ decided that the armed forces Of one
and the other country might freely
cross from the territory of one to the
other in pursuit and for the purpose of
Furnishing the above named bands OF
marauders. Recalling these incidents
and the good results for both countries
on account of the above agreement. the
| government presided over by the first
chief, anxious to eXterminate within
1 the least possible time the hordes led
/ by Francisco Villa, who has been re-
Gently placed beyond the law and to
capture him to apply condign punish
ment, resorts to you as confidential
agent and addresses the government of
the United States requesting the nee
essary permission for Mexican forces
/ to cross into American territory II the
incursion which took place in Column
bus should, unfortunately, be repeated
in any other point of the boundry line.
The Mexican government would great
/ ly appreciate a prompt and favorable
reply from the government of the Unit
| ed States.
please accept, Mr.. Confidential
Agent. the assurances of my high con-
JESUS ACUNA,
Secretary in charge OF the Depart
ment of Foreign Affairs