The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-06-29
cARRANZA AvoWS DELIBERATE
lY HOSTILE ACTION AGAINST
UNITED STATES
FORCES.
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OF AMERICANS ASKED
Washington Notifies First Chief That
United States Expects Early State
ment of Purpose of De Facto b.
Government-Says Force Will
Be Met With Force.

Washington, June PA demand
for the immediate release of the Amer
lean troopers taken prisoner at Car
rial, coupled with a stern notifications
that the United States expects an
early statement of the purpose of the
Carranza government, has been tele-
graphed to Mexico City by Secretary
Lansing. ''r'...,
The note discloses that the State;
department received a communication
from the de facto government, stating
that the Carrizal fight was the direct;
result of orders to attack American
soldiers moving otherwise than to-;
ward the border, personally issued by
General Carranza to General. T~revinoe
and by the latter communicated to-
General Pershing.
Requires Definite Reply. Z
In reply, Secretary Lansing requires
that the de facto government trans
nit a definite statement 'as to the
course of action it has determined up
on" through the usual diplomatic
channels, land not through subordin--
ate military officers" /
The Mexican communication is con-,
strued, Secretary Lansing states, AS
a formal avowal of deliberately hos
tile action against the forces of the
United States now in Mexico, and of
the purpose to attack without pro-
vocation whenever they move from
their present position, despite the
friendly mission on which they are en-
gagged and which is reaffirmed in the
American %rejoinder."
Force Will Meet Force. +:
General Carranza is required to
place himself on record formally and
the plain intimation lies behind the
restrained language of Mr.. Lansing'sf
communication that force will be met
with force. Apparently, however. the
Washington government is determined
that the de facto government shall
not evade responsibility before the
world if war is forced upon the United
States.
Officials Discuss Situation.
The note and the military situation
q: the United States were talked over
at the White House by the President
with Chairman Stone of the Senate
foreign relations committee. Senator
Lodge, ranking Republican member,
and Chairman Flood of the House
committee on foreign affairs.
May Address Congress.
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 committees.
1t was indicated that he might desire
to address a joint session of the House
and Senate in a day or two. but would
not take this final step until the Mex
lean government had been given an
opportunity to reply. !
Believes War Virtually Here.
1--WE 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, that
a clear knowledge of what had hap
pened at Carrizal should be at hand.
But II they are going to attack our
men without cause he said, there
Is only one thing to do. We whl
never have peace down there until We
use force enough to compel it."