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Show U. S. NEAR WAR LAST JUNE. How near tho United States camo to armed intervention in Mexico last June, with war as an almost certain result, re-sult, is revealed by the publication of a dispatch which Secretary Bryan sent to tho secretary of war in regard to tho attack on tho Unitod States con-sulate con-sulate at Piedras Negras, formerly called Ciudad Porfirio Diaz. Tho dis-patch dis-patch appears for tho first timo in tho annual report of Brigadier Gcnoral Taskcr II. Bliss, commanding tho southern nillltarj' department, with headquarters at. San Antonio, Tex. Goneral Bliss points out that for sev eral days tho question of possible peace or war rested entirely within the discretion discre-tion of the United State."? consul at Piedras Ncgrns. Lato in May this consul, con-sul, Mr. L. T. Ellsworth, informed the stato department that tho Amoricaus in that city wero being mistrcatod and menaced by band6 of troops affiliatod with tho constitutionalists. A few days lator ho again reported disturbances by tho same troops, and added that whon ho wont to tho commanding officor to lodge a protest he was seized and threatened with violence. Later there was a throat to attack tho consulate and tear down tho United Statos flag. In consoquonco of theso outbreaks, Secretary Sec-retary Bryan on Juno 5 sent tho following fol-lowing dispatch to tho secretary ot war, asking that it bo transmitted to General Bliss: Whllo It Is not desired to nend a. military foreo across tho lino, except ns a last resort, thero would appear to be ample authority and procedunt for dolns so to prevent tho Killing of or Injury to the consular roprcsonta-tlvo roprcsonta-tlvo of this nation, whom proper Mexican authorities are unablo to protcot. I thoroforo have tho honor to request that you will at once lsmio the nccesHary Instructions to tho officers offi-cers nt Eagle Pass to keep closely In communication with tho Conuul and to hold a force in readiness to so to his aid If the necessity arises. When uonornl Bliss received the dispatch, dis-patch, it was accompanied by Instructions Instruc-tions from Secretary Garrison to "tako tho neoossary stops to comply promptly prompt-ly with tho request of tho state department depart-ment in case necessity should ariBo." Gcnoral Bliss, in telling of tho circumstances, cir-cumstances, says: Tt was almost a foregone conclusion that should the necessity for this action ac-tion arise our troops would havo to light their way Into Mexico. Tbe strength of neither our forco at Eagle Pass nor at any other point on the border had been fixed with thla possible pos-sible object In view, and It becamo necessary to re-enforce the troops at Eagle Pass, which I Immediately did, and in view of tho delicacy of tho situation placed Colonel Fred W. Sibley, Fourteenth cavalry, in direct command. The possibility of war was removed by General Carran7.a, the chief of tho constitutionalist forces. Whon Colonel Sibley, an old Indian fighter and a man ; of long experience on the Mexican bor- , dor, had communicated with Carranza, the latter gave the most positive assur- i ancos that his men and tbe bands of I troops affiliatod with his cause would J abstain from molesting Americans and would pay due respect to American of- ficials and Amorican consulates. Ho at I once sent a military guard of trusted officers ana men to protoct tho con- ) Bulato at Ciudad Porfirio Diaz and dis- patched -a" message to Consulate Ells- worth apologizing for what had oc- ' curred and promising him ovcry possi- j ble protection. |