Salt Lake Tribune | 1916-05-11 | Page 1 | Bishop Hurst Says Our Army Must Stay

BISHOP HURST SAYS OUR ARRAYMUST STAY: Obregon Will Be Compelled! to Back Down or Fight, He Declares. By International News Service. EL PASO, Texas, May 10. "The United States troops are not coming out I of Mexico. I have been told this offi- ctally by Generals Scott and Funs ton. And Mexican Minister of War Obregon will have to back down from his position posi-tion or fight." This was the statement made tonight by Bishop P. H. Hurst, charged with the interests of the Mormon colonists in the Casas Grandes valley, where 500 American men, women and children have again been warned to leai'e for the northern north-ern side of the internatibnal boundary. "The Americans in Chihuahua are not wanted there by the United States government," gov-ernment," continued Bishop Hurst, "either because they would be in the way in case of war, requiring many soldiers sol-diers to protect them, or for some other reason not announced. "Matters are coming to a head rapidly now. I have been in constant gfcm muni-cation muni-cation with thf hlehest government officials offi-cials now In El Paso to carry on he negotiations with the Mexican government. govern-ment. "The big play Obregon is making at this moment is to urge the release to the de facto government of I lie 10,000,000 rounds of ammunition now held by the United States at customs ports along the border. Obregon is claiming that with this ammunition the Mexican military forces can rid the country of bandits and I hunt down Villa. I "Generals Scott and Fuuston are standing stand-ing firm. They have told me that American Ameri-can troops will not be withdrawn. The only thing which can prevent a break in relations, or dissolve threatened war between be-tween the United States and Mexico, is Obregon's unequivocal backdown from his ! stand. "And if he does finally recede from his i present position and sign tiie agreement I which President Wilson has acc epted. It ! will only be putting off tiie time of set- tlement which must come before Amerl-; Amerl-; can lives and property in Mexico will be I secure."