Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-21


States troops at tho same place sew
eral days later.
Since these attacks leaders Of tho
bandits, we'll known both to MeSican
civil and military authorities as we'll
as to American officers, have been en-
JoHing with impunity tho liberty of the
towns of Northern Mexico. So far has
the indifference of the do facto govern
ment to these atrocities gone that some
or these leaders. as 1 am advised, have
received not only the protection of that
government, but encouragement and aid
as we'll.
nEPKiIArIONs BECOME
Still. MORE NUMEROUS
DepredationS upon American Dersops
ana property within Mexican jurisdic-
ton have been still moro numerous
This government has repeatedly re-
quested In the strongest terms that
the dc Iacto government safeguurd the
lives and homes Of American citizons
and furn. sh the protection. which in
ternationai obligation imposes, to
American interests in the northern
States of Tamaulipas. Nuevo Leon.
Coahuila. chihuahua and Sonora, and
niso In tho states to the south For
example, on January 8 troops were re-
laws which looted .he Gust Mining
property. eighty mics west of Chi
huahra, but no effective results came
from this request. During the follow
ing week the bandit. villa, with his
bnnd OF about ZOO men was operating
without opposition between Rubio and
santa fsabel. fact well known to Car
ranziSta authorities. Meanwhile, n
party OF unfortunate Americans started
by train from chihuahua to visit the
Cusi mines, after having received as
surances from the Carranzsta authorf-
ties in the State of chihuahua that the
country was safe. and that n guard OH
the train was not necessary The
Americans held passports or safe con-
ducts Issued by authorities of the de
tacto government. On January 10 the
train was stopped by Villa bandits. and
eighteen of the American party were
stripped of their clothing and shot in
cold blood. In what il now known az
the Santa Ysabel massacre"
General Carranza stated to the
agent of the Department Of State that
no had issued orders for the i,nn:e-
date pursuit. capture and punishment
or those responsible for this atrocious
crime, and appealed to this govern
nent and to the American people to
consider the difficulties Of according
protection along the railroad where
the massacre occurred II is true
that villa. Castro and Lopez were pub
liciy declared to he outlaws. and subject
10 apprehension and execution but so
FAR as known. only II single man per-
sonally connected with this massacre
has been brought To justice by Mexican
authorities. Within 4 month after this
naroarous slaughter OF inoffensive
Americans, II was notorious that villa
was operating within twenty miles
of Cusihuiriachic. and publicly stated
mat his purpose was TO destroy Ameri-
can lives and property. Despite re-
peated ard insistent demands that
military protection should lac furnished
TO Americans, villa openly carried on
ms operations, constantly approaching
closer and closer to the border He
was not intercepted, nor were his
movements impeded by troops of the
De tacto government, and no cffectual
attempt was made to Illustrate his hos
tile designs against Americans.
villas unhindered activities eliminated
IN the unprovoked and cold-blooded at
trek upon American soldiers and citl-
Gems IN the town OF Columbus on the
night or March Q. . . After murder
!ns burning and piundering, Villa and
ms bandits, fleeing south, passed w!th-
III sight OF the Carranztsta military
post a, Casas Grandes. and no effort
was made 10 stop him by the officers
and garrison OF the de fac,o govern
nent stationed there
LEFT NO RECOURSE
but TO EIPLOY FORCE
In the face of these depredations,
the perpetrators OF which Gem
er"i Carran2a was unable or possibly
considered II inadvisable to apprehend
and punish, the United States had no
recourse "thcr than TO employ force TO
dispense the bands OF Mexican outlaws.
VINO we're with increasing holiness
Systematically ruiding across the inter-
national boundary. The maraudcrs en-
gagged In the attack on Columbus were
driven back across the border by
American cavalry. and subsequently. as
soon az a sufficient force to cope with
the band could be collected, We're pur-
sued into Mexico In an effort To can
ture or destroy them. American
i"rcts pursued the lawless bands AS
lar as t'airal, where the pursuit was
halted by the hostility Of Mexicans,
presumed to he loyal Ia the de factn
government, who arrayed themselves
on the side OF outlawry and became in
effect the protectors of villa and his
band
In this manner and for these reasons
nave the American forces entered
Mexican territory. Knowing fully the
circumstances set forth, the de facto
government cannot be blind 10 The /
necessity which compelled this gov
erhheht 10 act. and yet IL has seen iii
To rocifc groundless sentiments Of hos /
unity toward the expedition and to
impute to this government Interior mo- /
ives Tor the continued presence OF |
american troops on Mexican soil 1t is I
charged that these troops crossed tee ,
frontier without first obtaining the |
consent or permission. OF the dc facto |
government. Obviously, as Immediate |
action alone could avail, there was no |
opportunity to reach an agreement |
tother than that OF March 1913, now |
repudtated by General Carranza) prior
to tho entrance of such an expedition
INTO Mexico If the expedition was to |
he effective
WOULD NOT HAVE