File No. 811.0144/86
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Mexico ( Fletcher)
Sir: I enclose herewith, for your information, a copy of a note which the Department has sent to the Mexican Ambassador at this [Page 569] Capital, under date of May 21, 1918, in response to one of several protests which he has made during the past few months against the crossing of American troops in Mexico.
In this connection, I beg to say that I am in receipt of a communication from the War Department embodying reports by United States military authorities along the Mexican border, concerning a number of violations of American territory by Mexicans, including soldiers of the Mexican Army. I give below the substance of the War Department’s communication:
- (1)
- On November 28, 1917, a band of Mexican raiders drove into Mexican territory 60 head of cattle belonging to American ranches in the neighborhood of Indio, Texas. The cattle were forced over the border at Indio Crossing, about 4 miles from Indio. The following day an additional 50 head of cattle were driven off, by Mexican invaders, from a ranch 14 miles from Windmill, Texas.
- (2)
- At midnight, December 6, 1917, about 15 Mexican raiders robbed two stores at Ramireno, Texas, and carried off the entire stock of both stores and returned therewith to Mexican soil.
- (3)
- On the morning of December 25, 1917, a number of Mexican raiders attacked Brite’s ranch, 35 miles southwest of Marfa, Texas, and killed a United States mail driver and two of his passengers, both Mexican citizens. The raiders looted Mr. Brite’s store and stole several of his horses which they used to remove the spoils. Mr. Brite appealed to the United States military authorities for aid and upon the approach of American troops the raiders abandoned the stolen provisions and horses, but not until several of the raiders had been killed. One of the dead men wore the uniform of a captain of the Mexican Army.
- (4)
- On December 29, 1917, Gordon A. Parmales and Charles Greensdale, American citizens, while carrying a pay roll of the Borderland Sugar Co., at Mercedes, Texas, were held up by Mexican raiders. Mr. Greensdale managed to escape with the money, but the raiders killed his companion. A detachment of the 16th United States Cavalry captured four men suspected of the crime, two of whom were wounded. These men asserted that there had been a fifth man in the party, but that he had either escaped into Mexico or lost his life in attempting to cross the river.
- (5)
- On March 1, 1918, a band of about 30 Mexican raiders crossed the river opposite Reid’s ranch and killed three cows on the said ranch. Thereafter the outlaws moved up the river on the American side. When they reached the vicinity of Sierra Alta, Texas, a detachment of American troops halted them and asked their leader to settle for the value of the cattle. After a brief parley, the Mexicans attempted to escape and, when called upon to halt, they answered with rifle fire. The American troops returned the fire, the raiders losing 12 men, while those remaining scattered and sought cover in the hills.
- (6)
- On March 4, 1918, a band of Mexican raiders attacked the Herring ranch, at Progreso, Texas, and stole two cows, which they drove across the river. The raiders captured a Mexican workman of the ranch and forced him to accompany them. The [Page 570] workman escaped, however, and he subsequently informed the United States military authorities that the raiders were Mexican soldiers. The crossing and recrossing of the river were effected about a half a mile east of the Saenz ford.
- (7)
- On March 25, 1918, a band of about 50 Mexican raiders surrounded and attacked Neville’s ranch, otherwise known as Prude’s ranch, killed a Mexican woman and wounded one of the Mexican servants. Mr. Neville’s son was killed by the raiders, who fired several shots into his body after he had been wounded. American soldiers pursued the raiders into Mexico and killed or wounded several of them. Following the raid on the ranch, hand grenades and dynamite were found on the premises, from which it would appear that they intended to blow up the buildings on the ranch.
- (8)
- On April 3, 1918, American forces encountered a band of Mexican raiders at Santa Helena, Texas. In the action that followed, an American citizen named Will Stillwell and a Mexican named Pablo Dominguez were killed.
- (9)
- On April 21, 1918, a group of Mexicans raided White’s ranch, which is situated directly south of Sierra Blanca and not far from Bosque Bonito, Texas, stealing six horses and carrying all the provisions they could find to the Mexican side of the river. This raid was committed by a force of Mexican soldiers under the command of Colonel Ruiz. On April 25 a detachment of the 8th United States Cavalry recovered Mr. White’s chestnut stallion, equipped with saddle and equipment of a Mexican officer, consisting of an officer’s sash, officer’s saddle equipment, officer’s coat, and officer’s sweater.
Colonel Ruiz has given a written order in favor of Colonel Langhorne, United States Army, for $2,225, to cover the losses resulting from the raid last mentioned. The order is dated April 24, addressed to Mr. Andreas Garcia, Inspector General of Mexican Consulates at El Paso, and, translated, reads as follows:
Bosque Bonito, Texas, April 24, 1918.
Andreas Garcia, Inspector General of Consulates, Mexico,
El Paso, Texas.
Pay to the order of Colonel Langhorne, commanding officer Big Bend district, the sum of two thousand two hundred and twenty-five dollars: for provisions taken from White’s ranch, fifty dollars; four horses and one mule taken from White’s ranch, three hundred dollars; five cows killed on the American side of the line betweeen White’s Ranch and Hot Springs, five hundred and seventy-five dollars; twenty-five cows run over from this side to Mexico, fifteen hundred dollars, total two thousand two hundred and twenty-five dollars.
The above property was taken or destroyed by soldiers of the expeditionary column under my command. Upon return to the proper United States authorities of any or all of the above property, the money will be refunded at the rate of value it is listed above.
Martinez Ruiz
The Colonel Commanding the Zone
Unless you see objection to such a course, you will bring the foregoing seriously to the attention of the Mexican Minister for Foreign Affairs in such manner as in your judgment appears most suitable, pointing out to him that the violations of American territory complained of as having been committed by Mexican soldiers were, apparently, [Page 571] in no instance the result of any circumstances making it imperatively necessary for them to invade American soil. You may add that, on the contrary, the evidence in the possession of this Government tends to show that the violations were committed for the purpose of looting unprotected American properties.
You will promptly inform the Department of your action. If you should deem it inexpedient to make formal or informal representations at this time, you will advise the Department of your reasons for not presenting the matter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
I am [etc.]