The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-03
ACROSS BORDER
American and Mexican Troops
Exchange Shots.
Official Account Places MeX1-
can Dead at Four.

Douglas, March 3-Neither Amer1-
can troopers nor Mexicans crossed the
boundary line in the battle yesterday
five miles from here where two troops
of the Ninth u. S. cavlary fought' a
3O-minutes battle with Mexican regu-
lars yesterday. More than 2,O0o shols
were fired by the American troopers
and it is estimated that fully as many
were fired by the Mexicans. None or
the Americans was hit but four Mexi-
cans were killed and numper
wound wounded. ,
Col GilfovIe commanding the Ninth
cavIary today sent a detailed report
of the skirmish to the war department
at Washington. General Ojeda, Mex1-
can commander at Aqua Prteta, To-Day
declared the American troopers fired
first. This is denied by U. S. army Of
ficers.
lieutenant Nicholson in command of
the guard patrol of fifteen which first
engaged the Mexicans and Captain
Armstrong, who commanded troops Il,
and F. when they came to the reheI
of the patrol declared today that vol
lev of shots came from the Mexican
side before the fire was returned py
the Americans According to the ac-
counts given by the army off1cers
lieutenant Nicholson and fifteen men
were fired upon without warning py
rs Mexican federals. The patrol re-
turned the fire but in a few minutes
retreated to the c. and A. smelter SEND
inpr to +he camp of the Ninth for rein
forcements.
strong responded with machine gun
and 12o rounds of ammunition per Hlan an
AT sight of the reinforcements tne
Mexicans again began firing. Inc
troops replied vigorously and genera al
engagement was soon on.
rThe onposing forces were stationed IN
skirrnish lines 300 yards apart, Win
the international line between t~heLii' ~
After 80 minutes the Mexlcans retredt
cd bevond the range of the troopers
rifles. u,.,~
r,,ish. and which is believed by some
observers to have some connection WIN
it was the arrest by the Nlntn caVdiIy
horuer patro. Saturday afternoon OF
Iuan Castillo, as he was trying TO
cross from the American side to Aqua
Prieta with messages from Il. CaIIoS'
leader of the Maderista junta in Doug
las to his followers in Sonora The mes
sages were addressed to the comman-
der of the Maderista force which dis
armed the federal garrison at From
teras last week and demanded the re-
lease of two Maderista officers he
captive by the regulars.
Castillo is still detained by the au-
thorities and the messages are IN the
hands of Colonel Gilfoyle, commander
of the Ninth. Soon after arrest OF the
rebel messenger Saturday a few shots
were fired across the line at a squad
of the border patrol.
The sergeant in charge of the fed,
eral garrison of Aqua Prieta and
Felipe Lunas were executed at Aqua
Prieta yesterday on order of General
Ojeda on charges of conspiracy against
the Huerta regime.
1t Was Fake Story.
Mexico City, March 3.-There is no
truth in the accounts published in the
United states of the killing on Sunday
by federal soldiers with machine guns
of 100 mutinous irregular troops who
had fought under the late President
Francisco Madero. The story was
based on the explosion of number of
firecrackers in the Santa Julia suburb
by a crowd of demonstrators. There
were no casualties.
Mexicans Shoot Across Border.
Ell Paso, March 3.-Mexican SOL
diers on patrol duty on the Mexican
side, early today fired a few shots
over the international line. The bull
let's fell in Washington park, three
miles east of Ell Paso. No one was
injured.