The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-27
Supposed to ..lng
 Wing Arr est Side .,1 fly
REPORT OF FIGHTING
 PROVES INCORRECT
War Department Thrown Into Excite ment-Bill Introduced in Con- gross to Give Taft
 More Power

Ell Paso. February 26.--At l1:5o o'clock tonight the forces of Campa have arrived on the river bank oppo- site Fort Bliss and mile northwest of Juarez They are supposed to be extending wing around the west side Of the city.
 small detachment of Company K, Texas state militia, engaged in guard Ing tIe El Paso electric light plant. was fired upon tonight by persons con- cealed behind boxcars and said to be Mexicans. Maxim silencers were used on the guns and more than 20 shots were fired, one bullet passing through the hat of Il guardsman. El Paso speedily took on q martial ap- | pearance tonight when announcement that telephone conference between Mexiean 1 Consul k. C. Llorente and Emilio Canipa. l commanding the Vasquesta army at | Bauohe, regarding the fate of Juarez, had terminated unsa satisfactorily. | Six hundred United States troops of ! the Fourth cavalry and of the Eighteenth
 infantry. with machine guns. were sta- l toned at strategic points, although Colo nel Steyer said he had no instructions to do other than protest should Mexican bullets be fired into American sterritors. Americans in Juarez responded prompt- ly 10 the warning issued by the United states consul, Mir Edwards, and crossed the river to E Paso, together with hun- dreds of Mexican nOn-eombatants.
 These preparations were hastencd by, the report that Campas troops already had begun their advance from Bauche, but at o'clock 1t could not be ascer- taned when they might arrive. Mexican authorities were silent as 10 their purpose, but were engaged in active preparations for d defense of Juarez. The defense consists of about 100 police, rein forced by 400 volunteers, who declare they will not surrender without a fight. Two machine guns have been posted on build ings in Juarez and soldiers stationed 1t important points in the city.
 Rumor of Battle Incorrect
 There was no fighting in Juarez or It's enVirons today.
 Citizens are unable to explain tho origin of tho report that lighting had oceurreh at Juarez. or some fliles south. There has been no fighting iu the city. Hailroad employees south reported all quiet. peace commission. which will attempt to persuade the rebels not to enter Juafes has departed for Bauche, a few miles south of this city.
 Juarez Waits
 ,Juarez is waiting Seven hundred reb- els under Emilio Campa are encamped l2 miles south. The rebels are maneuveI~ ing. The commander announces his in- tention to attack unless the town sur renders as soon as endorsements. thousand strong. arrive from the south. Juarez is guarded by more than iou ap- rarently determined but untrled recruits. Officials declare they will fight. Mexican Consul Llorente says Pancho Villa and 800 loyal state troops are en route to Juarez from Chihuahua, and that the rebels may be expected to be attacked from the rear any time.
 A committee of Juarez citizens went out to the rebel camp to appeal to them to return southward without making an at tack and avoid a possible cause for inter- vention. bridge which the Juarez citi- zens burned to keep the rebels from sip ping in on trains has been rebuilt and
 the rebels are getting water and supplies
 from Iuarez over the direct line of com-
 municaton.
 i Rebel Promises
 The rebels promise to give notice before attacking so that foreign resi- dents may leave. They also will move around to the northwest of Juarez after mobilization so they can fire on line parallel with Fl Paso.
 Colonel Steever, Fourth cavalry. com
 mandng the United States border guards, said:
 l q did not send to Washington any report that there was fighting near | Iuarez sent message Sunday
 morning stating 1t was reported there
 had been skirmish near Juarez dur | ing Saturday, This proved only to | have been an exchange of one or two shots between guards in Juarez and not any sklrmish fusiilade with rebels officials of the Mexico Northwest railroad in Juarez are in constant touch with the rebel camp at Bauche over their railroad wires. They report
 no trouble at Sauche.
 They reported later that some of the | expected rebel endorsements had ar rived and that Antonio Rojas and Inez Saazar, leaders. had joined Emilio Campa, who commands tho first forces | that arrived Saturday.
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