The sun., 1919-06-17

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the prisoners OF war said to have been
captured By the American soldiers. As
the United States Is not at war they are
not prisoners OF war" in n proper sense
To turn them over to Carranza would
arouse comment in the United States. Il
is admitted. and to permit them to &c
free or to keep them in custody would
be equally embarrassing.
In attempting to forestall protests
from Carranza the following statement
was issued:
The Acting Secretary Of State, Mr..
Phillips, stated this afternoon that
the despatch OF troops across the bor-
der into the city OF Juarez should not
be considered in any manner as I'M
friendly to the Mexican Government
but was made necessary solely by the
fact that the rebel forces occupied
such positions in and about JuareZ
that their shots crossed the border into
American territory and endangered
the lives OF American citizensl After
suffering the effects OF this fire. in
which several persons on the Ameri-
can side of the border were wounded.
the American commander moved his
troops across the line to drive the
rebels away and for no other pur-
pose whatsoever.
"Mr. Phillips further said the
American troops would be withdrawn
Immediately after this object had
been obtained. and that this had been
explained TO Gen. Aguilar. now in
Washington on special mission from
President CarranZa. and 10 Mr.. Rojo
the Charge d'Affaires OF the Mexican
Embassy"
Secretary Bakers Statement.
Secretary OF War Baker issued the
following:
"Our dispatches from Mexico show
that as the result OF the fight be-
tween the Federal forces and the
Nillistas wounded soldiers OF the Re-
public of Mexico were brought TO the
American side and are being cared
for in our military hospitals. Refu-
gees from Juarez are being received
and cared for. When firing from
the Villistas wounded persons in Ell
Psso an American force crossed the
border to dispense these bandits. The
force will be Immediately withdrawn
TO the American side OF the border as
soon as this object is accomplished.
This does not mean any invasion or
occupation OF Mexico, but merely me
protection OF lives and property OF
persons on the American side OF the
line The matter has of course been
fully explained to the authorities.
civil and military. OF the Republic OF
Mexico"
An earlier statement by Mr.. Baker
said:
There Is no possibility OF mis-
understa nding between the Republic
OF Mexico and the United States with
regard to the protection OF life on
the American side. In many instances
previously IL has been necessary for
the American forces very briefly to
cross the border to dispense bandit
forces The sole purpose of the
American soldier is TO protect life on
the American side"
Senator King (Utah) declared in the
Senate that he will reintroduce his reso-
luton calling on the State Department
for a list of Americans killed in Mexico
since the end OF the Diaz regime. also a
reso ution looking to establishment OF a
commission to readjust claims OF Amer
leans for losses in Mexico. He said the
department had been working on these
claims but had made little progress be-
cause compa ratively few had been fied
with It, He himself knew, he said. OF
1900 such claims. while only fifty or
sixty have been filed. He declared the
records would show that from 900 to 400
Americans had been killed in Mexico and
near a billion dollars in property either
confscated or destroyed. the destruction
alone aggregating from s30O.00O.000 10
$500. 600. 900. He Is prepared to insist
that unless Carranza gives protection the
United States shall intervene.