New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-18
PARRAL INCIDENT
NOW VITAL ISSUE
Withdrawal of Expedition
No Longer Hinges on
Status of Villa.
.CARRANZA ASSURANCE
OF DEATH ACCEPTABLE
Apology for Attack on Troops
Nav Be Asked Before
Recall Of Army.

From t.. Thtlns Bureau
Washington, April 17.-Whether Villa
is dead or alive a question still UNI
settled here will have little to do with
the withdrawal Of the American troops
from Mexico. The Administration be
leves the expedition can accomplish
little more by remaining. and so soon
as the Parral incident is satisfactorily
explained and The reported breaking
up Of the Villa bands is confirmed the
retreat is expected to begin.
The report OF Villas death was taken
less seriously tonight, particularly as
no confirmation had come in the thirty
hours since the receipt Of the first
Nexican reports OF the finding Of the
body. A dispatch that lent color TO the
story. however. was received from Colo
mel Howe to-day. stating that Villa
was believed several days ago TO have
fed toward San Francisco, Borja, where
the body was reported 20 have been
found.
Raiders Held Prisoner.
Major Sample, commanding at Co.
lumbus. y. w.. reported to-day that six
Mexicans, confessed participants in the
Columbus raid had been captured in
Mexico and brought under guard 10
Columbus Bringing the prisoners
across the line without extradition pro-
ceedings is regarded as of doubtful
legality. and the state Department is
expected to treat with Csrranza as 70
their status.
Administration officials believe the
retreat from Mexico is fully justified.
They point out that to keep the troops
there. even If Villa still is alive, could
not reasonably be expected TO accom-
plish any useful purpose and might re-
suit in war On the other hand. they
point out, Villas band has certainly
been broken up and its fragments
driven into the mountains far from the
border. where the Carranzh troops
should be better able 10 pursue them
than an expedition from a base 500
miles away.
1t is declared. however, that il is
quite impossible for the army TO retire
while there is any doubt about the
Mexican governments attitude on the
Parral incident. 1t must be shown 20
the satisfaction Of the United States
that the Carranza soldiers who attacked
the Americans there were mutneers.
and that Carranzs repudiates their
act.
Death Would Remove Doubts.
Itisalso impossible for President vii
son to withdraw in compliance with Car
ranza's demand. Although Secretary
Lansing has admitted that the Ameri-
can expedition was started into Mexico
on the mistaken impression that Car
rama had consented to it, the President
will not be put in the position Of hay-
ing been driven out by threats.
The death Of Villa. if it is confirmed,
will remove all these doubts. If Villa
is alive the troops can be withdrawn in
accordance with orders issued TO
Funston that ne was to retire as soon
as j., was apparent Carranza had the
situation in hand.
- General Funston and General
Pershinc have taken any steps 10 make
certain the Identification Of tho body
they have done so on their own inl-
tiative. No instructions 70 that end
have been sent from Washington. either
to consuls or military commanders.
This fact may be significant OF the
attitude Of the state Department. IL
was minated to-day that the United
States government might be willing TO
accept q formal declaration from Cen
oral Carranza that Villa had been killed
and order the recall Of the troops.
In some quarters the suggestion was
made that reports of Villas death
might have been circulated for the ef-
feet on the Mexican people, and tina.
they were not intended to reach beyond
the border II was pointed out that it
would add TO the estimation in which
Carran7a military chieftains ere held
by their own people II they we're able
20 show the body as proof that the
American expedition was unnecessary.
Thinks Mcxicans Sincere.
Senator Stone. chairman OF the Sen
ate Foreign Relations Committee. after
a brief conference to-day with Secre-
tary Baker. expressed tho view that
the Carranza authorities hardly could
have any object IN circulating a report
OF Villas death unless they believed
il 20 be true. He agreed with Secre-
tary Baker and other officials. however
in accepting the reports Of the finding
Of Villas body with the utmost eau
ton.
Il ia generally admitted that every
Gay the troops remain in Mexico in
creasos the possibility Of serious
clashes. While there has been no evil
dence Of any opposition by military OF
civil officials OF the Mexican govern
ment. the Parral incident has served IS
a warning that the civil population and
even the troops cannot always be con-
trolled.
Secretary Lansing would not discuss
to-day the status Of the negotiations
with the Mexican government over the
recall OF the troops. IL was indicated