Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-06-29
WAR OR PEACE
IS PUT UP TO
MEXICAN CHIEF
carranza Is Severely Castigated
in Note by President VIII
son.
WARNS OF DRASTIC ACTION
"Gravest Consequences Will Follow
II First Chief Carries Out His
Threat to Attack-Troops will
Stay in Mexico.

Washington.-Impu bad faith,
broken promises and failure to dis
charge the obligations of sovereignty
implied when this government recog-
nized the de facto government of Mex
leo. President Wilson in his reply to
Carranza puts the question of war or
peace with Mexico.
In effect the document charges Car
rama with protecting rather than
seeking to punish the bandits who
have murdered American citizens on
American and Mexican soil and con-
cludes with the warning that If the
Carranza threat to have recourse to
arms" IL the American troops are not
withdrawn form Mexico is carried
out, it will lead to the gravest con-
sequences"
Is II Breakdown or War?
1t is the opinion of the highest Off
Gals of this government that the eff
feet of the note to Carranza will be
either to cause "a complete backdown
by the de facto government of Mexico
or to precipitate hostilities at an early
date. This government is prepared
for either alternative, but optimism
prevails that hostilities will be
avoided
The indictment against the Carran-
"a government In the note contains
the following counts:
The Mexican note of May % de-
handing the immediate withdrawal of
American troops was "discourteous in
tone and temper"
The government of the United
States has viewed with deep concern
and increasing disappointment the
progress of the revolution in Mexico.
American capital and enterprise
have been destroyed or rendered non
productive, the lives of Americans
and other aliens have been sacrificed /;
bandits have been permitted to roam
at will, and robbery and murder have
gone unpublished.
Says Murderers Are Protected.
Incursions have been made into
American territory, depredations and
murders have taken place on Ameri-
can soil, American garrisons have been
attacked at night and American SOL
diers killed and their property and
horses stolen. American ranches have
been raided and American trains
wrecked and plundered, murders "char-
acterized by ruthless brutality and I'M
civilized acts of mutilation" have been
perpetrated. Representations have
been made to stop these outrages to
no effect. Towns in northern Mexico
have not only harbored the perpetra-
tors, but $50 far has the Indifference of
the de facto government gone that
some of these leaders have received
not only thei protection of the Mexi-
can government. but encouragement
and aid as WE'LL"
The note enumerates nine raids last
September as typical, recites in detail
the successive steps taken to prevent
the attack on the Gust mining prop
erty which eliminated in the SANTA
Ysabel massacre" and the subsequent
pursuit of the bandits which. to date,
has resulted In the capture Of only
one bandit by the Mexican govern,
inent.
Allowed Villa to Escape.
Taking up the operations of Villa,
the note charges that villa was per-
mitted to remain for days in the vi
cinity of Gust unattached, that his
progress toward the American border
was unimpeded by single Carranza
soldier. eliminating In the attack on
Columbus. The note charges that no
effort was made by Carranza to stop
Villas flight, although, in his retreat
he passed within sight of the Carran-
"a garrison at Casas Grandes.
Declaring that this government had
no recourse but to run villa down, the
note charges that the Cooperation or
assistance in the field" which General
Carranza promised the punitive ex-
petition has never been Forthcoming.
IT charges that the Carranza soldiers,
In an attack on United States troops
at Parral, "arrayed themselves on
the side of outlawry and became in
effect the protectors of Villa and HIS
bandits"
The next Indictment of Carranza
lies In the charge that his attempt to
block the American expedition by
negotiation was directed ito the form
and nature Of the agreement rather
than the practical object" that his
sole endeavor was "to impede the
progress of the American troops rath-
er than to place obstacles in the way
of the escape Of the outlaws"
Mr.. Lansing charges that nowhere
In the memorandum drawn by General
Obregon and General Scott will the
Mexican government find justification
for its charge that General Scott prom
Used the withdrawal of American
troops except upon conditions not yet
fulfilled; that nowhere did General
Funston promise that no more punt
tive expeditions would invade Mexico,