The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-06-30
High Tension is Relieved When
23 Troopers Captured in Bat
tie of CarrizaI are Given
Their Freedom as Requested.
OTHER VITAL QUESTIONS
REMAIN UNSOLVED
Whether War Has Reen Prevented or
Merely Postponed No One viii At
tempt to Say.-Preparations For
War viii Go Steadily Forward.
Officials Are Optimistic.

Washington.-An immediate break
between the United States and Mexico
has been averted by compliance with
the American demand for release of
the % troopers captured in the fight
at Carrizal
Whether war has been prevented
or merely postponed no one here
would attempt to say. Official infor-
nation as to the attitude Of General
Carranza was lacking. Until his re-
sponse to Secretary Lansing's note,
dispatched Sunday, making to peremt-
ory and distinct demands is received
there will be no decision on whether
President Wilson shall lay the crisis
before Congress.
News OF the release of the prison
ers, received in press dispatches,
brought undisguised relief to high Of
ficials. 1t was accepted as correct
and assured that Carranza, impressed
with the urgency of the situation, had
ordered the captured cavalrymen
started for the burder without waiting
for his announcement of the action
to reach Washington.
Big Question Yet Unsettled.
While 1t generally is conceded that
this move lessons tension and makes
the crisis less imminent no one con-
versant with the grave problem lost
sight Of the fact that the all-important
question OF Carranza's attitude to-
ward the American expedition across
the border to protect the territory and
citizens Of the United States from
bandit outrages remains unsettled II
the de facto government stands upon
the orders to General Trevino to at
tack Pershing's men when they move
otherwise than toward the border the
situation actually is just what 1t was
before, except that there now is pos
sibility Of diplomatic negotiation that
did not exist while the Americans
were held prisoners at chihuahua.
The preparations of the United
States for war will go steadily for
ward. There will be no interruption
OF the rush of National Guardsmen to
the border and General Funston will
continue disposing his troops as
though he expected an immediate at
tack.
Carranza's copliance with one Of the
demands is accepted by the more opti-
mistic officials here as an indication
that he is striving to prevent break.
Even though he again should attempt
to throw all blame for the Carrizal
fight upon the American officers and
insist upon his right to forcibly oppose
any except northward movements Of
American troops, 1t is thought pos
sible that he will state his position
in such a way as to make further dis.
cussion necessary.
During any negotiations, however,
the United States will insist upon free
dom OF movement of the troops in
Mexico and any attempt to interfere
with them will be met by such force
as is necessary. The possibility OF
Latin-Americar offers OF mediation in
the crisis again was widely discussed.
Ignacio Calderon. Minister from Boil
via. will make a second call upon Sec
retary Lansing to ascertain whether a
tender Of good offices by South and
Central American Republics would
be entertained at this time.
1t Is known that powerful infiu.
ences have been brought to bear on
Carranza in the past few days to make
him turn over the American prison
ers. Prominent Mexicans in the
United States as well as American
bankers and business interests with
influence in Mexican affairs have
flooded the First Chief with messages
They all sent him the same warning
that to hold the prisoners would
mean war.
Secretary Baker Busy.
Secretary Baker waited at the War
Department for report from General
Funston on General Trevino's an
nouncemC that he had sent the cav.
alrymen to Juarez to be set free. He
finally went home without the report.
Secretary Lansing had not studied
the trio Of communications submitted
to the Department within the last "a
hours by Eliseo ArredoDdo, Mexican
Ambassador designate. They protest
against the alleged actions Of a large
column of General Pershing's men to.
ward Mexican citizens, against the
arrest of other Mexicans In the Unit.