The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-22
Pershing Reports to Funston
Details Not Received.
Mexican Foreign Minister
Sends Inquiry to q. S.
WANTS TROOP MOVE EXPLAINED
President Says q. S. Will Strike
Hard if War Comes.
Mex. Garrison at Juarez Moves
Men and Equipment.

Washington, June 22.-No reason
for change in policy toward Mexico
is seen by the Washington government
in Mexican accounts of the clash at
Carrizal yesterday between American
and Carranza troops. Until a report
comes from General Pershing there
will be no decision, but President Will
son is said to view the fight as an in
cident for which subordinate COM
manders probably were responsible
and not as unlikely to precipitate gen.
era1 hostilities.
l. An official communication from the
| Mexican foreign office announcing the
| fight and the capture of seventeen
| Americans and seeking an explanation
| of the presence of United States SOL
diers in that part of Mexico, far from
| their base, was presented to Secretary
Lansing today by Eliseo Arredondo,
| the Mexican ambassador designate. 1t
said an interpreter employed as a
guide by the American force declared
| that the American commander was re-
sponsible for the encounter
Would Avoid Break?
| From the tone as well as the con-
| tents of this communication officials
drew the impression that Carranza
| desired to disclaim reSponsl b1lty Tor
the affair. From foreign diplomats at
|
rama was exerting every effort to
avoid break with the United States
| War department officials believe
that if seventeen American soldiers
actually are in the hands of the Mexi-
cans they will be surrendered at the
first opportunity A demand for their
immediate release would be one of the
first steps taken by the United States
| government. Callers who saw the
| president today got the impression
that he is determined that if despite
all efforts to prevent it, war with Mex
leo should come, the action of the
United States would be prompt and on
a scale of considerable magnitude. 1t
would not be a war of conquest, but
Mr. Wilson is prepared if necessary to
use the maximum available military
strength of the nation for short, de-
cisive campaign to re-establish order
and a stable government in Mexico
j as we'll as to permanently insure pro-
lection of the American border from
| outlaw forays.
| send Official Note on Battle.
Washington, June 22.-The com
munication telegraphed by General
Aguilar, Carranza foreign minister.
| follows:
the department of state that an en-
gagemept occurred today (21sD at
Carrizal near Villa Ahumada, Chihua-
hua, between American forces num-
bering about 200 men with force OF
our government. during which en-
gagement Gen. Felix Gomez and sew
eral of our troops were killed. There
were several casualties among Amer
ican troops seventeen taken prisoners
According to the statement made
by the Interpreter who was acting as
guide for the American forces, the
commander of the latter is responsible
for this encounter.
please make proper representa-
tions to the department and say to the
secretary of state that this government
finds it difficult to understand why
the American troops that took part ir
the engagement should have been al
Carriza1, a point on the line of the
Mexican Central railroad some dis
, | tance from Ciudad Juarez and rather
far from the point which is alleged
: to be the base of the rest of the
| american troops which entered Mexico
from Columbus. Further details will
: follow"
American Leader Captain Morey.
Ell Paso. June 22.-The Americans
who engaged the Carranza soldiers ir
battle at Carrizal yesterday were heav-
ier losers than the Mexicans, accordins
to reports issued by the Mexican con-
sulate at FL Paso today. The Mexi-
can claim is that while fourteen OF
their number were killed and thirt,
wounded. the Americans suffered ar
even dozen killed and lost seventeen
as prisoners In addition they say the
Americans had an unknown number
J OF wounded which they carried of
with them
They point also that while the Car.
rama commander. Gen. Felix Gomez
lost his life, the American leader aIsc
was killed
Uncertainty regarding the identit,