The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-10-28
AN ATTACK
WAS PLANNED
Mexicans Said to Have Pre-
pared to Take Offensive
Against Americans
MORE TROUBLE
ON THE BORDER
Hinted That There May Be
Retaliation if MeXi-
cans Do Move


Gals look for a Mexican bandit attack be
fore election either upon the American
troops in Mexico or at some point Oh
the border. They claim to have un.
earthed plot having such an attack for
its object, at the same time stating that
no Americans are involved in the conspir.
acy.
The information came to Secretary OF
War Baker Thursday afternoon just be-
fore he left Washington to deliver cam
paign speech in West Virginia Upon the
advice of Secretary of State Lansing, he
lost no time in making public the infor-
nation that had come to him, Mr. Bak
er's informant was somewhat indefinite
as to individuals but much more definite
regarding details.
The United States has taken steps
which may prevent the attack. No i'm
mediate withdrawal of General Pershing's
/ troops from Mexico is indicated Wheth
er orders to General Pershing and Cen
eral Funston to prepare for attack have
/ been issued is not stated, but there is a
/ hint that they may have been directed to
take retaliatory action if their forces are
ATTACKED. Mr.. Baker would make no di-
rect statement on this point. however
Meantime, Juan T. Burns, Mexican
consul general at New York, has made
public this message from General Carran
"a:
absolutely false that bandit Villa is
besieging the city of Chihuahua or that
Zapata menaces the tranquility OF Mex
leo City. Diaz was utterly defeated in
recent skirmishes with our troops and is
now fleeing with few followers to Qua.
temala | shall remain in Mexico City
until the constitutional convention con.
yenes at Quaretaro All military opera
tions have been successful and the situa-
ton is improving daily
Government officials hope that publ
cation OF Secretary Bakers statement
that the war department had received
word that another Mexican bandit attack
on the American border or American
troops had been planned by enemies of
the administration would have the effect
of causing abandonment of the plot.
Commanders of American forces re-
ceived warning, however, and We're ex.
pected to take extra precautions against |
attack. which the war departments in |
formation indicated was to occur before
election day.
The department of Justice was investi |
eating the reports in an effort to prose
cute any persons who may be directing
the plot from the American side of the
border.
Secretary lansing expressed the opin
ion that no Americans were involved, al
though Eliseo Arredondo, Mexican am
bassador designate, said similar reports
reaching him two weeks ago indicated
that American advocates Of Intervention
in Mexico were assisting Mexican bandits
in planning the raid.
Secretary Baker was pressed for fur
Their details concerning his information
on his return yesterday from campaign
speaking trip.
War and state department officials re-
fused to disclose the source or specific
nature of the information on which Sec
rotary Baker Thursday night issued his
statement regarding the probable bandit
attack on Americans ito discredit the
governments Mexican. policy" They
said the channel of information through
which the report came was so valuable
hat nothing would be given out that
night njure its usefulness.
Both Secretary lansing and Secretary /
Baker yesterday laid stress upon the
statement that no consideration of do
nestle politics led to the issue of the an
that such plot had been
discovered.
"The obviously appropriate comment
# the secretary of state" Secretary Bak-
r said, referring to the explanation by
secretary Lansing Thursday night that
10 American was implicated and that }
esire to prevent the carrying out of the :
lans had prompted Secretary Bakers
tatement, "precludes the possibility that 7
ny such construction or understanding
ould be put upon my statement. The " "
tatement was without political purpose Il
nd ought to be without political effect. .
t will have served its entire purpose if Z
serves notice upon the lawless people U
4 Mexico that we have been warned and II
re prepared" II
Secretary Baker declared it was Fab
lrd" to suppose that his statement had
cen intended to imply that any political >
iterest in the United States desired any .
iihE VNhSi lhah PthSc On tHC 'ppiuNis
Such thing could not be" he said. i !
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. Lansing au- ~
lorized the following statement: ID
at was quite correctly reported last l.
light in the statement that Secretary
aker's announcement was inspired by abb
,lutely no political consideration as to II
his country. Nor does it mean to infer
rat Americans of any sort are involved II
the plot There are many Mexican re-
lgees in this country who doubtless '
ould consider the present time as ripe
II the furtherance of their projects. The q
liver which il known TO have gone from
lis country to Mexican bandits was not !
.cessarily from Americans. Indeed. y
nnot conceive that there is any Amer
an citizen who is so hesrtless so en-
relv cruel. so wanton as to take a po-
.ical step that would involve American %
yes. u
The warning was given simply to pro- 80
ct American lives and property and | bl
we every hope il will be effective" i
Connecting reports from the border leave
ubt as to the movements of Villas men
lieved to be threatening at this time. 10