The Benson signal., 1919-12-06
'Carranza Refuses to Release
Jenkins and Hosti|ities With
Mexico Impend.
ARMY AND NAVY ARE READY
~ Governments Efforts to End Coal
Strike by Negotiation Fail, Min
ers Rejecting Garfield's Offer
Of IL Per Cent Wage In
crease.
BY EDWARD w. PIckARD.

It appears at this writing that the
breaking point with Mexico has been
reached at last-Or should one say
again? Carranza's government, defy
ing the United States, has fatty re-
fused to release Consular Agent Jenk
ins in response to the demand made
by our state department Since that
demand was in the nature of an ulti-
matum, threatening unpleasant con-
sequences, it would seem either Wash
ington or Mexico must back water, or
hostilities will result.
The Mexican foreign office said the
demand of the United States was not
based on any legal foundation or prin-
,ciple of international law; that the
executive department cannot under
Mexican law intervene now in an affair
that is strictly in the hands of state
courts; that the Imprisonment of Jenk-
ms was neither arbitrary nor unjusti
fed and that he is preventing his own
freedom by refusing to give bail. Mex
ico's assertion that Jenkins, as a con-
sular agent, was not immune from ar
rest is not contested in Washington.
but Secretary Lansing has stated that
his department has more information
bearing on this case than has been
made public, and presumably it is this
information that led to the demand
for the release of Jenkins.
Reports from Mexico that have come
through official channels show that the
oil fA 9
credit Jenkins. The court at Puebla re-
fused to hear witnesses who would re-
flute the story that he was seen in
conference with members of the gang
that kidnapped him; and according to
the correspondent of a newspaper Of
t-MexicO City, number of poems de-
clared the judge and police inspector
had exercised pressure on them to tes-
tify against Jenkins.
1t was believed in Washington that
Athe administration would maintain it's
firm stand in the crisis. Otherwise,
said the well-posted, congress would
take up the matter promptly after con-
vening, call for all the facts in the
case and proceed to frame q definite
policy. In both house and senate, it
was asserted. the great majority was
in favor of a showdown with Carranza,
who for years has flOuted the United
States and In innumerable ways dis
played his open hostility. There is no
forgetting or forgiving his attitude and
actions during the war, which the gov
ernment knew all the time and with
which the public is becoming better ac-
Quainted every day.
Should armed Intervention be nee
essary, we are in good condition for
quick action, for the army has had
this possibility in mind for some
months. Along the border these forces
are now available. Both wings of the
aviation service, including Is aero
squadrOns, ten balloon companies, five
regiments of field artillery, ten of the
13 regiments of cavalry remaining in
the army organization, three regi-
ments of engineers, one brigade of in
fantry, with four within calling dis
tance in the central department, 10
motor transport companies, one field
battalion and two telegraph battalions
of the signal corps, % or more pack
trains and all the additional force of
supply to care for an army of that size.
The marine corps is ready for the
emergency, and so is the navy. With
a fleet in the Pacific as well as the
\ Atlantic, forces could be landed on
Both coasts. If the navy needs more
men the reserve force can be called on,
and that includes large part of the
extra personnel in service during the
war.
I Besides looking on the arrest OF