The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-04-06
CHARGE SINISTER MOTIVE
WILSON WARNS AGAINST THE
UNSCRUPULOUS.
Certain Agents Trying to Force War
Between United States and Mex
icO.-Alarmist Reports.

Washington, March 25.-Presi-
dent Wilson tonight issued warning
that "sinister and unscrupulous in
f1uences'' are spreading alarmist re-
ports about the Mexican situation
with the object Of forcing inter-
vention by the United States lin the
interest of certain American owners
of Mexican properties"
In a formal statement the presi-
dent told the people to be on their
guard and not to credit such stories.
He called attention again to the gov
erment's 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
warning was issued after the
consideration of many official reports
from throughout the United States
and Mexico saying that allrmlsts
stories of the intentions of the Wash
ineton government were having an
undesirable effect upon the Mexican
people and the American residents in
Mexico.
The possibility that Gen. Carranza>s
hand might be weakened to a per-
ilous extent should the Mexican puo-
lie misunderstood the American ex-
pedition has been prevailing factor
in the entire operations against villa.
The presidents statement follows:
GAS has already been announced
the expedition into Mexico was or
dered under an agreement of Mexico
for the single purpose of taking the
bandit Villa, whose forces had &C
tually invaded the territory OF the
United States, and is in no sense
intended as an invasion Oh
that republic or as an IN
fringement of it's sovereignty. l
have therefore asked the several news
services to be good enough to assist
the administration in keeping this
view of the expedition constantly be-
fore both the people of this country
and ths distressed and sensitive peo-
ple of Mexico, who are very suscep-
t;ble indeed to impressions received
from the American press not only but
also very ready to believe that those
impressions proceed from the views
and objects of our government IL
self. Such conclusions, it must be
said, are not unnatural because the
main if not the only source OF IN
formation for the people on ootn
sides of the border is the public press
of the United States.
ssIn order to avoid the creation OF
erroneous and dangerous impressions
in this way, 1 have called upon the
several news agents to use the ut
most care not to give news stories re-
garding this expedition the color OF
war. to withhold stories OF troop
movements and military preparations
which might be given that lnterpre-
tation, and to refrain from publish
ine unveriied rumors of unrest in
Mexico.
sI feel that it is most desirable to
impress upon both our own people
and the people of Mexico the fact that
the expedition is simply a necessary
nunitive measure, aimed solely at the
elimination of the marauders VINO
raided Columbus and who infest an
unprotected district near the border
which they use as base in making
attacks upon the lives of and proper
tv of our citizens within our own ter
ritory. 1t is the purpose of our COM
manders to cooperate in every posi-
BILE way with the forces of Gen. Car
rama in removing this cause of irrlta-
ton to both governments and to re-
tire from Mexican territory as soon
as that object is accomplished.
s'It is my duty to warn the people
of the United States that there are
persons all along the border who are
actively engaged in originating and
giving as wide currency as they can
to rumors of the most sensational
and disturbing sort which are wholly
unjustifed by the facts. The OBJECT
of this traffic in falsehood is obvious.
It is to create intolerable friction be-
tween the government of the United
States and the de facto government
of Mexico for the purpose of bringing
about intervention in the interest OF
certain American owners Of Mexican
properties. This object cannot be at
Hained so long as sane and honorable
men are in control of this govern