Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1912 — ARMED TROOPERS 60 INTO MEXICO [ARTICLE]

ARMED TROOPERS 60 INTO MEXICO

Nineteen Infantrymen Endanger International Peace. GREAT EXCITEMENT IN JAUREZ Mexican Populace Is Aroused at Thought of Armed Invasjon, Guards Are Distributed Along Border and Intervention Is Feared. El Paso, Tex., Feb. 16. Because nineteen United States infantrymen wanted to save a walk of three blocks, and attempted to make the “Juarez loop” while going to guard duty, there came near being international hostilities between Mexico and the United States. Cars from EL Paso to Juarez cross into Mexico on Stanton street and return after making a loop in Juarez over the Santa Fe street bridge. These nineteen United States infantrymen just arrived from Fort Whipple, Ariz., were assigned to guard duty at the Santa Fe bridge. Instead of getting off at the Stanton street bridge and w-alking west to the Santa Fe street bridge on American soil they remained on the street car fully armed and equipped, and rode into Mexico. Lieutenant H. W. Fields was in command. The Mexican officials stopped' the car at once and temporarily placed the United States soldiers under arrest. The comrades of the Americans heard of their detention arid were threatening to go over the line andi force their release. The Mexicans in Juarez heard of. the-United States soldiers being on Mexican soil and they were certain that intervention had arrived. It was a serious situation for an hour or more, and has not entirely quieted, as the Mexicans of the more ignorant class are not satisfied that the affair was anything less than a deliberate attempt at invasion. Street cars were stopped, Mexican volunteer guards were thrown across the Mexican side of the international bridges, the excitable populace of Juarez, veterans of a battle, a mutiny, and four scares, became alarmed and seized their rifles to repel the “invaders.”