Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-22
CRAVEST APPREHENSION
AROUSED IN WASHINGTON
Officials Decline to PrOphesy as to
Next Step Of American
Government.
NOT READY TO ABANDON HOPE
Incident Presents Serious Menace to
Continuance of Friendly Relations
and May BE Accepted by Wilson
rs an Act of War.

WASHINGTON. June 2l.--Heports
that American and Carranza troops had
clashed aroused gravest apprehension
here tonight for future relations be-
tween the United States and :ha Mex
lean de facto government. already
strained almost to the breaking point.
Officials declined to prophesy rs 10
the next step OF the Washington gov
ernment. They made no effort TO con-
ccal their anxiety, but were not ready
10 abandon hope that an ofiicial ac-
count of what happened Mt Carrigal
would remove the more threatening
elements of the situation.
Much depends, II was Indicated on
whether the clash was n result OF Cen
eral Carranzns determination to en-
force his demand for Withdrawal of
American troops from Mexico or merely
n detached incident, arising out Of a
Misunderstanding between command
ers. If 1t was a deliberate attempt TO
hack up the Carranza edict by force,
there seems little doubt that President
Wilson will accept IL as IN act of war.
and make good his words In the lntcst
communication TO the de facto goy-
ernment in which he said that any
such attempt would be followed by
the 'grarest consequences"
MEXICAN SITUATION
At MOST sEHIoUs STAGE
Whatever the outcome OF the official
investigation, however, it was admitted
on every hand that the incident in il
self presented grave menace to the
continuance OF friendly relations and
brought the Mexican situation to per
haps tho most serious stage it has
assumed in tie many months OF uncer-
tainty since IL began to he a factor in
the c"uniry's foreign affairs
President Wilson remained al his
Office until late Tonight receiving such
mcaScr information as was avaiiahlr
and Secretary Baker was i'm close
touch with III" War Dcpa rtment and
the White House. There was every
evidence that crcdcnce was given The
report of clash, even though It came
from Mexican sources. ana that there
was fun realization OF what il might
mean.
The Mexican story of the fc,ht. as
given to General Bell by Consul Garcia.
ut Ell Paso. was forwarded to the War
Department by General Funston with
out comment. The wording OF the dis
patch led TO the announcement bv de-
partmen, officials that it contained a
confirmation from American sources. A
complete copy. however. revealed that
General Bell had no information, how
ever. except that given him by the
Mexican consul.
Whil" II was not accepted in that
FORM as final confirmation, officials in
dicatsd that they had no doub; some
sort of clash had occurred. though
they doubted the consurs report that
American troops had violated their
orders and made an attack
TO AWAIT OFFICIAL. REPORT
HEFoRE TAKING DRASTIC STEP
IT. seemed certain that President Will
son would await an Official report he
fore taking any drastic step in retaiia-
iion upon the Mexican forces II an
American commander precipitated an
engagement this might have weight
with the administration in determining
its course Of action. MI commanders
are under instructions OF the most
positive Kind TO avoid friction with the
Mexican troops and they have no .tu-
thority TO attack any Mexican force.
The reports given out in Iuurez do
not indicate any intention on the part
OF McXicans TO attack Pcishing's main
column.
There was no doubt at the War De-
partment that General Pershing would
take immediate steps to relieve the de-
tnchmeut ii IL had been attacked. but
1t was said that outside of efforts TO
rescue it. he would undertake no Of
tensi"e y formal offensive against
the carranza troops in Northern Mexico
would not be undertaken. H. is believed,
until General Funston's border guard
nad been greatly strengthened with
National Guard troops, and several
columns organized to take possession
OF points OF strategic value,