Evening star., 1916-03-09
RAID ON COLUMBUS
ST|RS UP DEMAND
FOR INTERVENTION

CONTINUED from First Page.)
administrators Mexican policy have
been most active.
Brought to Critical Point.
At the White House the report of the
massacre was received with evidences
of the greatest concern. Oficials most
familiar with the Presidents Mexican
policy were silent, but they indicated
the raid had brought the situation to
critical point, where it might be diff
cult to stand by the policy OF non-in'
reference.
After the President and Mr.. Baker hae
decided that the new Secretary of Wal
should take office at once. He signed Mr.
Bakers commission and the new eecre
tary went to his office to be sworn IN.
cussed in official circles was to sent
American troops over the line to clean ou
the bandits. 1t was pointed out tnat suci
action could be taken with a declaratioI
sovereignty Of Mexico. or purpose OF oc
cupation Of territory. but simply to dea
with a situation menacing to the Ameri
can border over which the CarranZa gov
ernment evidently had no control.
Doubt as to Authority.
There is some conflict of opinion re-
garding the authority Of the War De
partment to send troops into a foreign
country without the consent of Con
gress. Those who doubt the authority
contend that all American troops may
do without further authority would bt
to >repel Mexican marauders by fire.
Other officials. however. contend tha,
the Constitution vests the President
with authority to repel invasion. ant
that authority. they say. includes the
power to send troops over the line.
They point out that in 1877 Secretary
McCrary of the War Department in
structed Gen. Ord, commanding on the
border. to notify the Mexican authori-
ties that il they were unable to- o-sup-
press disorders which menaced the
American side the United States would
undertake the work, even If the out
come caused the occasional crossing OF
the line by American troops.
Further precedents for sending
troops into Mexico to pursue the ban
archives.
Precedents Are Cited.
When Mexican Indians were pillagine
in Texas in 1871 the American minister
in Mexico City was instructed to say Il
might become the duty of the United
States "at least to weigh the expedienc,
of pursuing the hostile Indians into
Mexico. without the consent of thai
government, If 1t shall not adopt meas
ures to check the robberies referred
to-"
When orders were given Junie 1, 1877
to American troops to cross the border
II necessary In pursuit of "lawles:
raiders" the Mexican government pro.
tested. but the United States justified
the orders as necessary under condi.
tions existing on the border. In June
1882, the United States and Mexico
made a reciprocal agreement for the
crossing of troops of both nations or
Indians in the unpopulated desert coun.
try. and that agreement subsequently
was extended.
In May. 1875. Secretary Fish of the
State Department Instructed the
American minister to Mexico to propose
territory from which raiders had beer
coming. He proposed q zone inside q
line drawn from Matamoras to Laredo
Nothing came OF the suggestion and the
raids later were suppressed.
Cooperation Not Likely.
The possibility of any reciprocal
agreement with the Carranza govern
ment for the common crossing of the
line Is said to be remote at this time,
because federal officials realize that
sentiment along the border would not
permit the presence of Mexican troops
In American territory. Furthermore
they fear clashes with local rangers
and cowboys II it were permitted.
Maj. Gen. Funston is in supreme com
M NJ no uity
and has full authority to do every
thing short of sending troops over the
Nne without communication with
Washington. War Department officials
believe he is in personal charge al
Columbus
Senator Fall of New Mexico, republi.
can. and one of the foremost opponents
Of the Presidents Mexican policy. sent
kilograms to railroad officials and citi-
zens in the vicinity of Columbus ask
ing for details. Senator Fall said he
had no idea what would be done. AS
to his own course. he said, he would
await further information before act
ing.
Sensation at the Capitol.
The news of the raid spread over the
Capitol with startling effect Senator
Stone. chairman of the foreign rela.
tions committee. at once got into com
munication with the State Department
and asked Senator Fall for confer
ence. Senator Stone said he expected
the affair might precipitate another
outburst In the Senate, but that he pro-
posed to await official reports and OFF,
cial action by executive departments OF
the government.
Senator Robinson of Arkansas demo
crat. said:
That means Intervention. 1 don't
see what else can be DONE"
Senator Tillman declared the news
was almost incredible.
There never has been a President
who tried SO hard to keep out Of war
as President Wilson," he said, but II
this is true. 1t looks as If Gen. Funston
would have to get busy at once"
Gen. Funston's First Report.
Maj. Gen. Funston's first report on
the Columbus massacre says three
troopers were killed and that four were
wounded. 1t did not bring full details