The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-06-26
DEMANDS SOLDIERS RELEASE
SEEKS STATEMENT OF CAR
RANZA'S PURPOSES
Message DisclOses DE FactO Govern
ment Said Carrizal Conflict Was
Outcome Of Orders To Attack
Americans Moving Other
wise Than Towards
Border
MEXICAN COMMUNICATION Is con.
STRUED As AVOWAL OF DE.
LIBERATELY HOSTILE
ACTION

Washington, June ga demand for
the immediate release of the Ameri-
can troopers taken prisoner at CARR
zal. coupled with a stern notification
that the United States expects an early
statement of the purposes Of the Car
rama government was telegraphed to
Mexico City today by Secretary Lans-
ing.
The note discloses that the State
Department received yesterday COM
munication from the de facto govern
ment stating that the Carrizal fight
was the direct result of orders to at
tack American soldiers moving other
wise than toward the border, person
ally issued by General Carranza to
Trevino and by the latter communi-
Gated to General Pershing.
In reply Secretary Lansing requires
| that the de facto government trans
NIT a definite statement as to the
course of action it had determined up
on" through the usutl diplomatic
channels, and mot through subordi-
nate military officers
The Mexican communication is con
| strued, Secretary Lansing states, as
formal avowal of deliberately hostile
action against the forces of the united
States now in Mexico, and of the pur-
pose to attack without provocation
whenever they moved from their pres
ent position" despite the friendly mis-
sion on which they are engaged and
joinder.
Force Met With Force
General Carranza is required to
place himself on record formally and
the plain intimation is behind the re-
strained language Of Mr.. Lansng's
communication that force will be met
with force.
Apparently however. the Washing
ton government is determined that the
de facto government shall not evade
responsibility before the world if war
is forced upon the United States.
The note and the military situation
of the United States were talked over
at the White House tonight by the
President with Chairman Stone of the
Senate Foreign Relations committee,
Senator Lodge. ranking Republican
members and Chairman Flood of the
House Committee on foreign affairs.
Representative Cooper, ranking
minority member of the House Com
mittee. was out of the city.
Situation Exceedingly Acute"
After the conference which lasted
more than an hour, Senator Stone said
the situation was exceedingly acute"
President Wilson had felt it necessary
to acquaint Congress with the state of
affairs and the action taken through
the foreign affairs committee. 1t was
indicated that he might desire to adj
dress joint session of the House and
Senate in a day or two but would not
take this final step until the Mexican
government had been given an OPP
pOrtunity to reply.
The President told those of the con-
ference tonight of the note from Gen
eral Carranza avowing the attack on
American troops at Carrizal and of the
reply that he directed to be sent SEN
ator Stone was very emphatic after
ward i'm regard to the demand for the
release OF the prisoners.
I'VE must have those men," he said
sOlemnly.
The senator made no effort to hide
his own belief that war virtually is
here. A final report from General
Pershing was necessary. he said, in
order that clear knowledge of what
had happened at Carrizal should be at
hand