Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 184, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1915 — U. S. TROOPS READY TO RETURN FIRE [ARTICLE]

U. S. TROOPS READY TO RETURN FIRE

Six Latin-American Diplomats and U. S. Officials in Conference — Wilson Resolved On Step.

Plans for today’s conference at the state department on the Mexican problem have been completed after Secretary Lansing had talked to President Wilson at Oornish, N. H., over the telephone. Proposals that are to be made to the six Latin-Amer-ican diplomats, whose governments have authorized them to co-operate with the United States to end Mexico’s civil war, were discussed, but Secretary Lansing maintained silence as to the program that had been outlined.

Mr. Lansing conferred with Paul Fuller, one of the president’s confidential advisers on Mexican affairs, who will participate in the conference. Unusual activity in the war and navy departments was evident today and an order from General Scott, chief of staff, directing a battery of the Fifth field artillery to proceed to El Paso, Texas, aroused considerable surprise. At the war department it was stated that the artillery was ordered at the request of the state department. No official report concerning the bombardment of the Mexican border town of Nogales was received. General Carranza has assured the state department that the attack would not be made. General Funston, commanding all the border troops, has standing orders to reply to the fire of the Mexican bullets if they fall on American soil. Officials believe that he would act promptly if necessary to protect American lives and property. Army officers said that a general assault on the Mexican town could not avoid endangering the lives on the American side of the border.