OCR Text |
Show REFUGES MAY CROSS60RDER U. S. Army Not to Force Mexicans Mexi-cans Back to Be Killed or Injured. GARRISON siNDS ORDER Aid to Wounded Must Be Extended Ex-tended and Humane Treatment Treat-ment to All. Washington, Jan. 2. Brigadier General Gen-eral Bliss, commanding the Texas border forces, has been instructed by-Secretary by-Secretary Garrison to permit Mexican refugees to cross Into Texas from Ojinaga if that is necessary to save their lives. The latest order to General Gen-eral Bliss, which reiterates former orders on the same Bubject, follows "With reference to possible situation situa-tion at Ojinaga Incident to people crossing the river, you will have to I meet demands of the situation, which i cannot be foreseen at present. Ex-I Ex-I tend such aid to wounded as humanity human-ity indicates and permit refugees to cross the rlvtr If crossing is necessary neces-sary to save life. In other words, it is not expected to force people back to the Mexican side if they are ll.iblo to be shot or otherwise injured on their return. Co-operate fully with the Red Cross. You are not expected to turn supplies over to Red Cross, tut co-operate with them in their work to such extent as may be necessary neces-sary to meet urgent needs of the Bit-nation Bit-nation with reference to caring for the wounded." Reviews Mexican Situation. Discussing the situation at Ojinaga, Si if. fir;. Garrr-ou s;iWl "When the fighting lirst took place on the Mexican side and the soldiers of the defeated party began coming across the border, we, without regard to technical question of law, and in the interest of humanity, took In as refugees all those who came unarmed, We kept them as long as conditions on tht other side were such that we felt it would be inhuman to turn them back. In a general way we kept 1 1 1 e rn until they could be safely allowed to filter back across the border into their own country. Those orders have never been changed, and if properly prop-erly Interpreted, tho men who have been fighting on the other side of the I border and w ho come over unarmed, are treated as refugees and are allowed al-lowed to Btay on our side of the line, rather than be turned back to prac t'cally certain death. "Armed men who come over, are of course, disarmed; the arms are held by our people and the men themselves them-selves received as other refugees. "With regard to whal will happen If a very large number attempt to cross over, I can only Bay thai unless the orders are changed (which of couro they may be if an exigency calls for a change) thet-e men will be treated as I have stated; that is, they will be treated as refugees How long they will be permitted to stay, and all other hypothetical questions, I am unable to answer." Ojinaga Battle Continues. Marfa, Texas, Jan. 2. --Reports brought today from Ojinaga, Mexico, where the federal army is being' attacked at-tacked by General Orteca's re were that the battle was still In progress. pro-gress. The federals were holding their position in the border village, while the 6.000 or more rebels were apparently drawing in clo-i r Major McNamee, commanding the United States border patrol at Presidio. Pre-sidio. Raid he was ready to handle the situation should the whole lederal army retreat to this country. Army Telegraph Wire Down. The army telegraph wire to Pre-I Pre-I sidlo Texas, opposite Ojinaga. was not working up to noon today and the I reports were brought here by auto- mhile. Secretary of War Garrison's order j to Brigadier General Bliss regarding the crossing of refugees to the Amer-j Amer-j can side was regarded by the border j patrol as clearly defining the situa-! situa-! tion. Heretofore Major McNamee has I forcPd back to the Mexican side such I wounded federals as have walked 1 across the river with their arms. This resulted only in their coming com-ing to this sido again and a repetition of the task of forcing them back. So far official reports to the war department concerning border conditions condi-tions have made only one reference to the disarming and driving back of Mexican soldiers by the American forces That was in a report from General Bliss, which said "Eighty-four federals crossed to United States six miles below Presidio Pre-sidio after fight at Mulato. were dis-armed dis-armed and put back across the river." Early Attack Expected. Tamplco, Mexico. Jan. 2. Artillery and ammunition are reaching the reb el front in shcIi manner as to indi cate that an early attack may be made on Tampico. or on the force of 1200 federal troops entrenched at Alta mira, 23 miles from the coast. Several pieces of artillery and a large supply of ammunition were delivered de-livered to the rebels at Cervantes today. to-day. Flghtmg Resumed at Laredo. Laredo, Texas. Jan. 2. Fighting be tween Constitutionalists attacking Nu evo Laredo, Mexico, and the federal garrison was renewed today. There was only occasional firing during the night. Rebel reinforcements arrived last night |