Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-03-26
NO NEED FOR
ALARM, SAYS
STATEMENT
President Wilson ISSUED State.
ment for People to Be on Guard
Against Canards.
CARRANZA GOVERNMENT
COOPERATING WITH U. S
Sinister and Unscrupulous In
terests Disseminate False
Statements

Washington, March 25.-While ad-
ministration officials described the
military situation in Mexico as serene
tonight, the days development in
Washington forecasts a polical strug-
gle here next week, with the admin.
istration's Mexican policy as the
storm center.
President Wilson issued a warning
to the people not to be influenced by
alarmists' reports of the situation.
which he described as sinister and
INSCRIPTIONS, and in the interest Of
certain American owners of Mexican
properties
"Be on Your Guard"
In formal statement, the presi-
dent told the people of the United
States to be on their guard, and not
to credit such stories. He urged
those who disseminate news to test
the source and authenticity of every
report from the border, and called
attention again to the government S
announcement that the sole object of
the punitive expedition now in Mex
leo was to punish Villa and his fol
lowers. He reiterated that every eff.
fort should be made TO make the pun.
tive expedition as a move against
war.
Had Good Reports.
| The president had before him the
| most reassuring~ adyices received
| since the American columns began
their pursuit OF Villa They were
sent by General e 'ston and salts.
liaa - ei&s,sse l,sthe a5ayrafl2t,
government was doing all in it's pow.
er to aid the pursuit.
Senate Republicans Confer.
AT the capitol, senate republicans
were called into conference by their
leader, Senator Gallinger, to discuss
the border situation. They will meet
again Monday. but it was admitted by
those present today that the sense
OF the meeting was that seps should
be taken to compel the sending OF
additional troops to guard the border
states.
In effect, that would mean the call.
ing out of the National Guard, as
almost all the mobile regulars now
are Oh the border or in Mexico,
Not Playing Politics.
Several republican senators assert.
ed that the minority members en-
dorsed the sending of expeditionary
forces after Villa, and wished to CO
operate with President Wilson in
guarding the border states. They re-
pudiated any suggestions that they
were playing politics.
III we cannot get anything done
ourselves one senator said, Eve can
at least, by unanimous action, arouse
such public sentiment as to force ac
tion by the majority"
Mexicans Cooperating With Pershinc
Ohcials also were impressed by
General Obregon's statements, tele
graphed to the state department to-
day. The Carranza war minister and
military chief said there was no fric
tion between the two governments
that adequate Mexican forces were CO.
operating with General Pershing, but
that more would be sent if necessary,
With this statement and General
Funston's report, high army officials
were satisfied that the end of the
pursuit was near. It was known that
there are $4,000 Carranza troops in
the state of Sonora, shutting off all
escape of Villa to the west.
The warning was issued after care
ful consideration by the president and
his advisers of many official reports
from throughout the United States
and Mexico, including consular dis.
patches, saying that alarmists' story
OF the intentions of the Washington
government were having an ,lndesir-
able effect upon the Mexican people
and Americans residents in the repub-
lie.
Issue Statement.
The presidents statement follows:
|. "As has already been announced,
the expedition into Mexico was order
ed under an agreement with the de
facto government of Mexico for the
single purpose of taking the bandit
Villa whose forces had actually in
vaded the territory of the United
States, and is in no sense intended as
an invasion of that republic or an in
fringement OF its sovereignty. | have
therefore asked the several ness SER
vices to be good enough TO assist the
administration in keeping this view
of the expedition constantly befor>
the people of this country and the dis.
tressed people of Mexico who are very
susceptible indeed TO impressions re-
ceived from the American press. not
only but also very ready to believe
that such impressions proceed from
the views and objects of our govern
ment itself.
"Such conclusions, 1t must be said,
are not natural because the main, if
not the only source of information for
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