The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-10

The OFFICIAL adNtces regarding Inc
attack on Columbus. y. NJ. have Just
been received. They were sent from
Columbus. n. NJ, TO FL Paso. from
which place they were t~elegraphed TO
the Department at . A.. NJ. to-day.
The following is the substance Of the
report received by this Department
columbus was attacked this morn
ing at %:30 o'clock. Citizens muir
dered. The attacking force was re-
pulsed at about 8 o'clock. Tit town
was partly burned. The attacking
party retrcated TO the west. II is not
possible to state definitely how many
were killed. The employees Of the
customs service and their families are
reported safe.
80; II stated that the attacking
force numbered between 400 and 500,
and that Gen. Villa was probably in
charge. Three American soldiers were
killed and several injured. There
were our civilians killed and four
wounded. Several of the attacking
party killed n several wounded by
the American forces. The attacking
party burned the depot and principal
buildings In Columbus"
The Department is in receipt OF q
mail despatch dated February -. 1915.
from Frontera. state OF Tabasco. stat
ing that the Governor Of the state Of
Tabasco. by a decree dated February
3. 1915. officially changed the name
OF the capital Of that state from san
Juan Bautista 20 Villa Hermosa.
Fret TrOsbIe In Years.
In seeking 70 give some explanation
OF the ease with which the Mexicans
approached the American town without
detection Gen. Scott called attention to
the fact that there had been no trouble
ut Columbus In three years. and hat
undoubtedly the American troops were
taken of their guard.
He called attention to the fact tina,
owing to the limited number OF men
which the army has on the border the
patrols are required to cover an average
distance OF hfteen miles. To properly
safeguard against surprise attacks Gen.
scott expressed the opinion that there
should be at least I00.0 900 troops on the
border. Altogether at Columbus there
were at the time OF the attack seven
troops OF the Thirteenth Cavalry. num-
bering twenty-five officers and $50 men
Although the action In sending the
pursuit Of the Mexicans was taken with
out authority from Washington, and In
conflict with orders previously given to
to the effect that no invasion should
occur without orders from the President.
II was said in Administration circles
that the President has no disposition 10
criticise e Pershing.
Secretary Lansing and Gen. Scott
tonight made no effort to conceal the
fact that the attack on Columbus called
for drastic action. Although there have
been frequent raids across the border
by Mexicans and firing from the Mexi-
can side on American towns. to-day's at
tack was described as the first approach
to an organised invasion.
That Is was deliberately undertaken
BY villa as q means Of forcing the
United States into intervention n thus
enbarrass the Carranxa Government Il
generally conceded.
That Intervention is now inevitable
was generally regarded as certain among
members OF Congress. and the prospects
are strong for a sensational outpour.
ing Of feeling Tomorrow in the Senate
and House. Critics OF the Administra-
ton will avail themselves OF the oppor-
tunity to describe the outrage as a natn-
raj consequence OF the failure OF the
United States to TAXI drastic steps 10
punish the Villista bandits responsible
for the murder on January IL OF the
seventeen American citizens At santa
Ysabei. Mexico.
Carvanaa L. O~feuded.
At the State Department to-day eror,
was made to defend the steps taken by
Carran1a since then TO run down the
perpetrators Of the massacre. 1t was
also stated that from a military stand
point the state Department had reason
to believe that Carranza was gradually
gaining strength.
Al the same time II was admitted that
because of lack ~ confidence on the part
Of American banker in Carranza's
ability To control affairs II guarantee
a stable government. the de facto Gov
eminent IL in desperate 1nancia straits
and nab at present TO meet It's tinan-
Cial obligations abroad.
There Ia no intention. the Department
made IL plain. on the part Of this Gov
eminent to extend Carranza financial
assistance. IL being stated authoritatively
! that the United states was looking 70
Carranza 10 stand or fall on his OWL
ability 20 preserve order and meet his
obligations.
II developed. furthermore. that fol-
lowing the Santa Tsabel massacre. and
other incidents Of lawlessness on the
part of bandit hordes along the border
the United States Government has gone
so far as to suggest the advisability OF
its being given a free hand TO send
troops across the line to restore order.
This suggestion was NJ once met with
a counter proposal from c%arranza tina,
a reciprocal arrangement be entered
into whereby 'arranZa soldiers Nigh,
be permitted TO send troops across into
American territory in pursuit of ban.
dts flying in this direction. This the
United States Government would not
consent to.
But realizing The untenable position
which Carranza would he placed In with
his own people IL he entered INTO an,
scheme of cooperation IT was decided
tonight. when II was appreciated tina
drastic steps were necessary, no, to seek
such cooperation as had been first sug.
gested. or even approval. but to serve
notice Of the American Governments
intention to act alone.