The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-16
Entire Force of Fifteen
Mounted Men Assigned
To Duty.
COLQUITT PRAISES
THEIR ACTIVITIES
List of Incidents Made Public by
Governor Shows Men, as Peace
Officers, Forestalling Trouble
Before 1t Reaches Stage
of international Com
plications.

Austin. Texas. March 1.-THE entire
force OF Texas Rangers totaling at
present fifteen mounted men, was as
signed TO duty on the 500 miles OF
Texas Mexican border to-day. with tho
arrival of two Rangers at Raymond
vile Texas in response to an appeal
from iifty-three persons there for pro-
lection against cattle thieves.
Along with news OF the Rangers dis
position. Governor .. Il. Colduitt made
public lengthy list of the Texas bor-
der troubles on which his appeals for
more power to protect the boundary
have been based. and which explain
the nature OF the Rangers activities
These incidents show the Rangers "a
peace oificcrS; not as an armed power
which might cause the United states
government embarrassment. Many OF
lhese incidents are comparatively petty
crimes. not included within the SCOPE OF
neutrality laws. and outside the police
paths OF United States troops on border
patrol duty. The records Indicate that
IN handling them the Rangers some
time forcstall trouble before 1t has
reached the stage OF international COM
plications.
Make Mnny Timely Arrests
The timely arrest of cattle or n
horse thief before he has had time to
escape into Mexico has warded off
more serious consequences such az tho
Al, n r.
lean. which grew out OF horse stealing
The records indicate also that while
many OF the lawbreakers have come
across the international line. In raids
from Mexico, some mischi iefmal<ers
have been residents Of American terri
tory in sections where the Mexican
population is large, and have used
Mexico as n refuge.
The sending of Rangers to RAYMOND
Vile was based on petition asserting
! fAt l..
thieves have been depredating and sew
eral murders have been committed"
With this petition. another signed by
twenty eight persons. and making the
same charges, was made public to-
night from Sebastin, Texas. Ranger
Captain j. 4. Hughes. who brought
these petitions to Austin three days
ago. after n personal investigation said
that an American named Rowell had
been killed and that several McXicans
names unknown, We're reported slain;
that the killings We're alleged to have
grown out OF depredations by persons
who took refuge in Mexico. and that
the petitioners believed more police
protection would allay the trouble.
On Border 500 Miles Long
How fifteen Rangers can furnish any
real protection along n border 500
miles long was explained In 4 statement
by Captain Hughes. In some places one
Ranger is assigned to patrol nifty to 100
miles of border. he said. These Rang
crs. clothed with all the police powers
or both state and county officers. are
feared by the trouble makers, who
know that the Ranger can arrest them
even on suspicion.
The present disposition OF Rangers
on the Texas border is:
Company Al. r. Hughes, captain,
El Paso; Raymondville, two men:
fsleta. one; Heoronvillc. one; Lyford,
one.
Company B--J. j. Sanders, captain.
Laredo. with three other men; Shafter.
one; CarriZo Springs. one; PalafoX two
Company C-Munroe Cox. captain,
I emergency calls.
In ten cases during tho last three
years. In which Governor Colquitt has
acted through the state Department at
Washington In efforts to secure the
extrndition from Mexico OF alleged
criminals, wanted in Texas, none of
the applications. which the Washing
ton authorities duly presented. has been
successful. according To the Texas re-
cords
Typical instance.
The first of these ten instances is
typical OF the entire trouble for tho
annoyance it caused is to-day cropping
out afresh near Laredo. This was the
application on January 2S. 1911 for
Dionicio MARTINEZ, alias Juan Garcia,
accused OF murder in Caldwell County,
Texas. Martinez has heen seen along
W
Mexico. and is accused OF making secret
expeditions into Texas. but the Rangers
have been unable to capture him. Some
OF the complaints reaching tho Texas
State Department were confidential es-
pccially those charging demands for
money, because the victims said they
feared for their lives II Mexicans heard
OF their action. Governor Coluuitt said
he has received letters asserting that IL
the United States should intervene there
are American families residing among
Mexican settlements on the Texas side
who would be masSacred immediately
by the foreign neighhors. lie said he
did not know how much truth thero
was in such reports AS an Indication
that the Rangers activities made for
peace and order, Governor Colquitt
made public part OF his correspondence
in 1911 with President Taft. who re-
commended that the Federal govern
ment pay for an increase In the Ranger
force for border patrol at that time
Fcdernls Return 10 Attack.
FL Paso. Texas, March ia private
message received here to day states
that the Federals. after being defeated
in an engagement with the rebel
returned TO the attack and routed the
rebels, with loss of 200 killed. Tho
Federal losses were not stated.
Alarmed by threats against his life,
made by former members OF his own
command, General Mercado has appeal
ed to General Scott. commander at
Fort Bliss. for protection Mercado
says the men blame him for their In
carceration in the prison camp.
A car load of Mauser cartridges for
use of Villas troops around Torreon.
N-., ynI 1ao