Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-06-23
CARRANZA DEMANDS OF
u. S. AN EXPLANATION
Wants to Know Why Troops Engaged at carrizal Were
So Far from Reported ase-Both Governments
Hopeful of Aver ting Hostilites.

Washington, June 22.-Roth the
United States government and the de
facto government Of Mexico apparent
" hope to treat the clash at Carrizal
Yesterday as an incident aggragating
gravely strained relations, but not OF
itself likely to precipitate general
hostilities. This fact stood out to-
night at the close of day of many
developments in the Mexican crisis.
So far as the Washington admins
tration is concerned, no official deci-
sion can be reached until President
Wilson has received report on the
fight from American army officers. All
information so far has come from
Mexican sources.
Events moved swiftly here today.
Preparations by the war department
for possible war with Mexico went
forward rapidly.
At the same time there came hints
that General Carranza had been al
most persuaded by European influ-
ences not to persist in a course GER
tain to bring on a conflict. 1t is
known that many officials here have
not abandoned hope of a peaceful out
come, although they admit that each
day as the present situation stands
sees new clouds gathering. Their
hopes to avoid war are based solely
on the reports that the CarranZa gov
eminent is inclined to seek peaceful
way out.
The Carrizal incident, of course.
overshadows all other developments.
Although they have only Mexican re-
ports to go upon, officials do not
question the statement that many
American cavalry men were killed,
wounded OR taken prisoners. In
view of the orders given American
officers in Mexico, however, they re-
fuse to credit the charge that the
commander of the detachment was
the aggressor.
1t is certain that no steps toward
reprisal will be taken, at least until
the report has been carefully studied.
One of the first actions, however,
would be to demand the release OF
the Americans said to have been
captured
1t is not probable there will be
an immediate move as the result of
the incident Sunday at Mazatlan,
where Mexican soldiers made an un-
| jackets.
1t seems probable that if General
| Pershing's report on the Carrizal
| fight shows the Carranza forces to
| have been aggressors there also, an
| opportunity to explain the two Incl
dents would be given the de facto
government before any drastic step
| was ordered.
Mexicans Notify United States.
Both cases have been officially
called to the attention of the United
States by the Carranza governments
Observation-Disclosures Eliseo Are
dondo who presented to Secretary
Lansing today a mildly worded tele-
gram from Mexico City relating to
the Carrizal incident. No details
were sent but an alleged admission
of an interpreter with the captured
Americans was quoted to blame the
American commander for the trouble
Secretary Lansing made no reply &c
| Mr.. Arredondo. as he had no advices
| of his own.
| While the Carrizal incident is UNI
settled, circular note addressed to
| the South and Central American dip
lomats by Secretary Lansing was
made public at the state department
: 1t accompanied copies of the note tt
| General Carranza, distributed as {
matter of information and was &C
cepted by the diplomats as the las
word by the United States before
proceeding with any steps which
Carranzas course had made neces
sary. The statement is blunt as
sertion of the purpose of the United
States to defend "our national peace
and the safety of our citizens" ever
| at the cost of war.
Mexico Wants Explanation.
Mr.. Arredondo also sought an ex
PLANTATION of the reported action o
General Pershing in occupying tn
towns of Casas Grandes and Nuev'
Casas Grandes. saying such an &C
would be one of open hostility.
Official Mexican dispatches wer
described to Secretary Lansing as i'll
dicating that the Mexican force
thought the American troops who ap
preached Carrizal intended to TAX
the town.
Mr.. Arredondo said he called Sec
rotary Lansing's attention to the dis
lance traversed by the American
troops from their base, and to wha
he called 1.-The lack OF prudence o
the American commander in ap
preaching the Mexican railway"