Page:Mexico under Carranza.djvu/88

72 government by the Carranza administration would not be complete without some reference to the chapter which led to the Columbus massacre and subsequently to the killing of American soldiers and officers at Carrizal, which is briefly as follows:

After the United States had recognized the Carranza regime as the de facto government of Mexico the latter applied for permission to transport by rail through American territory a military force to attack Villa, for the reason that the famous bandit could not be reached in any other way. The request was granted; and Carranza soldiers, carried upon American railroads through United States territory, invaded that portion of Mexico controlled by Villa's forces and defeated them. This, of course, inspired Villa with the bitterest hatred of America and led to his attempt to secure revenge by raiding Columbus, New Mexico, and killing a number of the citizens and several United States soldiers. Before the President ordered the punitive expedition to invade Mexican territory he arrived at a diplomatic understanding with Carranza which is embodied in a communication from our State Department to the Carranza government under date of March 13, 1916, which included the following:

 "The Government of the United States understands that in view of its agreement to this