The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-09
THE MEyIciN BORDER R.iIDs.
Testimony NJ Col. ShrGer and Lieut.. Butts
Before the House Cosamittee.

WASHINGTON Jan. g. Tho examination Of
Col. SLATER was resumed to-day by the Sub
Committee on Military Affairs. He said that
the force " regular troops from tho central
Government OF Mexico came to the Rio Grande
toward The close OF last July. He. by request.
presented TO the committee translation OF two
letters from Gen. Naranjo. Aug. 6. Tho Mcxi-
can General says:
trust Won will continue tn be nhlc 10 preserve the
good UNDERSTANDING which now happily exists between
iho two counttic- aud viii nouv my Go,crnmcnl OF
the active part you have taken ia bringing about tins
Col. Shafcr said TINT he could give numerous
instances. up to September " last year. Of the
crossing of Mexican officers to the Texas side
Of the Rio Grandc in pursuit Of thieves from
Mexico. The Indians then lived in Texas and
would pass over to Mexico to commit depr eda-
tons. Gen. Falcon himself crossed over twice
during the time the Colonel had becn in service
on the Rio Grande in pursuit Of Mexican thieves
VINO had stolen his own property. The crossing
OF the river in pursuit Of thieves from either
sidc was IN accordance with mutual under,
was not Iisapproved OF by either Government
so far M he knew.
Lieut.. Bulls. Of tho Twenty fourth Infantry
and IN command of tho Seminole scouts at Fort
Clark, Texas. titled that he had made n num-
hh,,r Of raids into Mexican territory the first in
May 1873. his commanded with thut Of Cen
OF the results Of his raids. into Mexico in pnr-
total number Of the depredatinc Indians IA
about 1916. divided into four different tribes
One of the tribes made two raids into Texas In
1916. killing twenty-five men and one woman,
and these murders deferred the settlement 81
two hundred persons; who az soon rs they
one OCCASION only III. lieutenant encountered
Mexican raiders. The recent incursion to
Snrhgossa and that of Gen NJ ckenzio IN 1873,
were the only two of the kind IN thu vicinity Of
towns previous 10 the orders NJ the War Depart
ment In follow the raiders from Texas into
~.
mont and the restoration Of stolen property. A
pnrt Of me country on our side ex;
north Of DEVILS river, above San Felipe.
contains only one settlement. number
ing about twenty men. The dcpredating
Indiana come into this country from which
they ~ to the nearest settlements tn steal cattle
and horses: at which vocation they are remark
could drive them back were It not for the DIM
Guilty Of finding them. Cavalry are the most ef-
iirient troops tn suppress raids, except In "a
impediment TO operations. Cavalry in such
cases dismount and nsht on foot. The Lieu
n twenty i've miles Of San Antonio during the
whether it would be possible for a sum .i"ni
are cunning; they hide their families In fast
n"ss"s. and i is almost impoesibln To- rea, n and
sirike them" He said that the Twenty fourth
and Twenty-ilfih Infantry and Ninth and Tenth
cavalry rrEimenta. operating on tho Rio
Grandc nrc CONFESSED OF blacks. and all the
other regiments OF white men. He knew ~ no
instAnc. where tue civil authorities Of Texas
have followed the Indians over the river. The
civil authorities have done all they could to
render 81 h protection in their own limit but
when raids are made from the other side they
call upon our cavalry He said that there were
no ON 'rr- III our army anxious 20 bring on n
conflict between the two matte unless with
J1si caus." The thisying Indians have no icar
81 the Mcxiewns. They 20 into towns and
openly trad. with them. The Lieutenant never
knew Of Mexicans 10 take pans To return
STOLEN property. II WAS In the power Of the
Mcxicans TO punish or extcrminate these In
dams, who are the source Of almost all the
troubles.
The committee then adjourned until to-mor-
row.