The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-03-28
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(. critics." !.
Washington, March 25.-In a for
NAL statement the president told the
people to be. on their guard and not
to credit such stories lie called
'.attention again to the governments
announcement that the sole object
Of the punitive expedition was to
punish villa and his followers
The news services had been asked,
the president said, to assist in keep
ing this view constantly before the
Mexican and American people The
7 warning was issued after careful
consideration of many official reports
from throughout the United States
and Mexico saying that alarmists'
stories OF the intentions OF the Wash
ington government were having an
undesirable effect upon the Mexican
people and the American residents
in Mexico.
The possibility that Gen Carran-
za's hand might be weakened to a
perilous extent should the Mexican
public misunderstand the American
expedition has been prevailing fac
tor in the entire operations against
villa.
Drastic steps may be taken If the
warning is not needed.
The presidents statement follows
Only One Purpose
"As has already been announced.
the expedition into Mexico was or
dered under an agreement with the
de facto government of Mexico for
the single purpose of taking the ban
dit villa, whose forces had actually
invaded the territory OF the United
States, and it is in no sense intended
as an invasion of that republic or as
an infringement of its sovereignty.
I have therefore asked the several
news services to be good enough to
assist the administration in keeping
this view of the expedition constant
ly before both the people OF this
country and the distressed and sen
sitive people of Mexico. who are very
susceptible indeed to impressions re-
ceived from the American press not
only but also ready to believe that
those impressions proceed from the
views and objects of our government
itself. Such conclusions. 1t must be
said are not unnatural because the
main If not the only source of infor-
nation for the people on both sides
of the border is the public press of
the United States.
''In order to avoid the creation OF
erroneous and dangerous impressions
in this way, ] have called upon the
several news agencies to use the ut
most care not to give news stories
regarding this expedition the color
OF war, to withhold stories of troop
movements and military preparations
which might be given that interpre-
tation, and to refrain from publish
ing unverified rumors of unrest in
Mexico.
Should Show Clean Hands
II feel that II is most desirable to
impress upon both our own people
and the people of Mexico the fac;
that the expedition is simply a nee
essary punitive measure, aimed sole
ly at the elimination OF the maraud-
ers who raided Columbus and who
infest an unprotected district near
the border which they use as base
In making attack upon the lives and
property of our citizens within our
own territory. II is the purpose OF
our commanders to cooperate in
evcry possible way lth the forces of
Gen. Carranza in removing this
cause of Irritation TO both govern
ments and to retire from Mexican
territory as soon as that object is
accomplished.
az ~ nay duty. 70 warn the people
OF the United States that there are