New-York tribune., 1919-06-17

uation this afternoon stated that
wounded Mexican soldiers and refugees
from Juarez had been taken care of
on the American side; that the border
was crossed by American troops only
after shots from the Vilista forces
wounded persons in Ell Paso; that the
force would be withdrawn as soon as it
had dispersed the bandits, as intended;
that no invasion is planned, and that
the matter has been fully explained to
the authorities, civil and military, of
the Republic Of Mexico.
At the invitation of the Department
of State, General Candido Aguilar
Carranza's son-in-law, now in Washing
ton on a special mission for the Mexi-
can President, and DR.. Juan B. Rojo,
Mexican Charge d'Affaires, visited the
State Department this morning. Act
ing Secretary of State Phillips stated
this afternoon that he had explained
to the Mexican representatives that the
expedition was not to be considered
unfriendly to the Mexican government
1t was made necessary, he said, by
shots from the rebel forces endanger-
ing the lives Of American citizens;
that the expedition had no other de-
sign than to drive the rebels away;
and it would be withdrawn Immediate
ly that objective had been obtained.
resolution asking full information
on the action of Juarez was drawn
to-day by Representative Gould, Re-
publican, of New York. but was with
held on the advice of Majority Leader
Mondell, pending developments.
Representative Gould attacked the
War Department in a speech in the
House for permitting cooperation of
American and Carranza troops in
opposing Villa. He approved sending
troops into Juarez, but emphpticaly
disapproved offensive action against
the Villista forces beyond the city.
He read to the House a table show
ing that between 1910 and 1915 800
Americans had been killed in Mexico
or by Mexican bandits along the border
The lcrgest numbers were killed fol-
lowing the de facto recognition of
Carranza by the United States, he said.
american troops. with or without
the !Sn nowledge Of the State Department
or the American White House in Paris,
and certainly without the advice or
consent of the constitutional war max
ing authority, the Congress of the
United States, yesterday occupied in
force the Mexican city of Juarez," Mr..
Could said.
The first announced purpose of this
invasion was to protect American lives
by preventing shots from being fired
into American territory by either or
both of the warning Mexican factions,
one of which has been recognized by
this government as the de jure govern
ment of Mexico. With such purpose
l certainly have no quarrel, although
to find our government concerned with
the protection of American lives in or
near Mexico is a bit unusual
"Press dispatches from the border,
end such meagre information as is OBJ
tainable from the State and War de-
partments, indicate very clearly that
this purpose is not to be adhered to.
1t is positively stated that American
cavalry since occupying Juarez has
been engaged in offensive operations
against the so-called Villista faction,
and that American artillery has
shelled supposed concentration points
OF VllllSta troops.
"Such activities constitute tacit
offensive military alliance between the
United States and Mexico of which. l,
as one member Of the Congress Of the
United States, have not been apprised."
Carrizal Ambush Recalled
After going into detail. in regard to
deaths of Americans in Mexico, Mr..
Gould added:
"And here is another fact: OF the
seventy-nine Americans murdered in
Mexico or by Mexicans along our bor-
ders in 1915, the year following the de-
facto recognition, there were included
two officers and fourteen enlisted men
of the United States army, who were
treacherously ambushed ana massacred
at Carrizal on June 18, 1916, by Car
rama troops, with whom they were sup
posed to be cooperating In the pursuit
of Villa.
"1n spite Of this terrible experience,
for which no Mexican authority ever
has been called to account, and in spite
Of the whole rotten record with respect
to Mexico and Carranza, American
troops, we learn from the newspapers,
are again cooperating with Carranza
troops in the pursuit of Villa.
"There can be but one opinion enter.
tanned by any American" said Repre-
sentative Julius Kahn, chairman of the
House Military Affairs Committee at
is that the Mexicans must be made tc
realize they can no longer jeopardize
American lives without being held tc
strict accounting.
"Now that we have ceased fighting in
] Europe, we should turn our attention
to Mexico. Wherever and wheneve]
American lives are in danger we must
act with firm hand. Mexicans must
be made to understand that we are not
going to allow Americans living on ou1
side of the border to be imperilled any
| longer The movement Of our troops
across the border should have a salu-
tary effect. / believe the movement
was justified under the circumstances
Mexicuns Here Fenr