withdrawn from Mexican territory, that the Carranza Government would ensure that the border would be fully protected from bandit raids.
"Our proposals made at the Juarez-El Paso conference have not been withdrawn,” said General Obregon. "Our army not only is in a position to protect the border against further raids and incursions into American territory, but is in a position to subdue the bandits completely and pacify the country in a short time.
"It is our purpose to give protection and guarantees to everyone, and for this purpose we count on 80 per cent, of the male population to help to restore order. The whole country is now in sympathy with our cause, and we are doing our best to end internal troubles."
On the morning of 18th July, 1916, the Press of Mexico city surprised the people by announcing in big head-lines that the American forces had crossed the Testing the
People. the borders ten miles from Matamoras, and that, on request for instructions by the Constitutionalist commander there, he had been ordered by General Carranza to attack them. The city was somewhat uneasy during the day until 8 o'clock p.m., when the cathedral bells rang furiously, continuing for two hours, and leading to the conclusion that a victory had been obtained by the Mexican Army. Soon a manifestation of public enthusiasm was started at the national palace, and for an hour or more a procession paraded in the principal streets. It was composed of not more than fifty people, who shouted "Muerte los Gringos."
It was supposed that papers on the following day would contain some startling news, but there was absolutely nothing, excepting a few lines saying that the Mexican troops had met the Americans and driven them back across the border, and giving the Mexican loss as one officer killed and one soldier wounded.
It was an attempt to test the temper of the people, and
