The St. Mary banner., 1920-01-31
CARRANZA WISE TO
RAIDS ON BORDER
Testimony Given Before SEN
ate Committee by Wit
nesses on Situation.

San Antonio, Tex.-Carranza and a
few of his principal lieutenants insti.
gated and directed the long series of
raids on American properties that be-
gan along the Rio Grande early in
1915, according to documentary evi-
dence placed before the senate sub
committee investigating the Mexican
situation. This was supported by tes.
timony by John A. Walls, the district
attorney at Brownsville Texas; l.. R.
Barnes, in charge of the United States
intelligence work along the border
during the war, and other witnesses.
The committee secured from them and
from documentary evidence informa-
ton tending to show that not only
were the highest Mexican officials
cognizant of the program of the raid
ing parties, which was carried out un
der the provisions of the plan Of San
Diego" but that as late as June, 1915,
they were still giving encouragement
in those raids in plans inimtcal to the
United States.
Incident to the taking Of testimony
regarding Mexican government Off
Gals connection with the plan of
San Diego" further information was
secured as to the success encountered
by Germans in bidding for the sympa-
thy and support of Mexico during the
war, and the present drift toward boil
shevism. T. B. Altendorf, Pole, who
was in the intelligence service of the
American army during the war, and
who was largely responsible for the
arrest of the German spy, Witstke,
now a prisoner at Fort Sam Houston,
was placed on the witness stand long
enough to identify Mario Mendez, the
director of telegraphs in Mexico, as
one of those whom Minister Won Eek
hardt kept on his payroll during the
war Altendorf said Mendez's job was
to see that copies Of all messages
from the United States bearing on
military affairs were delivered to the
German legation.
A new note on the bolshevik move
ment in Mexico came from a copy of
letter written by Linn Gale to l.. K.
Martens, the bolsheviki's diplomatic
representative at New York. Know
ing you are the financial agent of the
Russia Society in New York. Gale
wrote, 81 take the liberty of asking
you If you can give me financial aid in
my propaganda in Mexico" He added
the explanation that he was the editor
of a magazine devoted to the further
ance of radicalism. He explained that
he went to Mexico to evade the army
draft, 'and since then" he added, Il
have established very close relations
with the Mexican government, which
| have urged to bolshevize the coun-
try, and which will, l believe, do so.
| have been extended unusual help in
various ways by President Carranza
and his prime minister, Secretary Ber-
langa."
The character of the testimony de-
veloped three phases of the program,
the first that which took the form OF
border raids, beginning in 1915; the
second, that held out as bait by the
Germans in the Zimmerman note
when they dangled before the Mexl-
cans the prospect of recovering the
border states, with the possible assist
ance of Japan suggested and the pres
ent. STYLED in the committees record
"the recrudescent plan" The third is
closely allied with the impetus that
has been given the bolsheviki move
ment, and in support of that charge
Chairman Fall announced there would
be placed before the committee evil
dence showing that Carranza is yet
offering support to Augustin Cara,
mentioned in the plan of San Diego
as the military leader, and the min
utes of a melting of anarchistic organi-
cations In Mexico that indicate the
existence of a conspiracy to foment
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