Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-02-12
TRY TO STEAL HORSES
UNITED STATES TROOPS PRE-
VENT THEFT or MOUNTS tliss%ssTTss
FOR CAVALRY
BAND NUMBERS NEARLY 800
TWENTY-ElGHT ARE ALLEGED TO
HAVE BEEN KILLED in A
sklRMIsH


El Paso, Tex, Feb. 12.-There were
25S armed men in the band OF alleged
federal recruits who escaped across
the river at Ysleta last night with
American troopers on their heels, acA
cording to ]. Todd MoClamy, the rebel
cattle agent here.
McClamy told reporters that he re.
ceiyed the first information three
days ago that crossings were to be
made at Ysleta, at the Ell Paso smell
ter and at a point in New Mexico He
succeeded in locating the Ysleta con
tingent, which, he said, was recruited
and led by Sylvester and Rodrido
Quebedos, two federal officers former
" at the head Of the troops at Casas
Grandes.
McClamy said that he notified Cen
eral villa Of the plot ana confirmed
Villas statement made last night that
he had troops down the river waiting
to- receive the intruders. It was cur
rent rumor in Juarez toney that 2S
Of them were killed. but this could
not be confirmed.
General villa having been up most
Of the night. was still in bed at noon.
and could not be disturbed.
The American troops at Yslet heard
no shooting from the Mexican side,
although this does not prove that
there was none, as it might have
taken place two miles away.
The American troops at Ysleta hear I
beating up the stubby growth Of the
vast flats which flank the river, geek
ing the trail of the Mexicans, but at
noon General Scott has received no
important news of their quest, The
horses which the Mexicans failed to
run off are said to be privately owned.
United States soldiers today
resumed search for the Mexicans who
last night headed across the Rio Gran
de from the American side, carrying
arms and supplies in violation Of the
neutrality laws. to join the federal
forces at some point unknown, or to
.harrass the rebel garrison at JuareH
across the river from El Paso.
So far as the American cavalry Of
ficers could learn in the course Of the
night, the plot was to capture a cor
raj Of horses and saddles at Ysleta,
IS miles east Of here. and about a
mile from the river and rush them
across. In some way this part Of the
plan miscarried
The alarm reached General Hugh
L. Scott, in command at Fort Bliss,
about 10 o'clock last night. Ranchers
and others, whose homes are scatter
ed along the road near Ysleta, tele
phoned into the city to find out the
cause Of the unusual number Of auto
mobiles seen. The only soldier SO far
known to have seen any OF the al
LEGGED Huerta recruits was Corporal
Kauffman Of TROOP A, Fifteenth cav
airy. When the alarm sounded he
was dispatched 10 Ysleta to guide
other troops being rushed to that
point He arrived ahead Of the rein
forcements and lay 10 ditch, from
which, he says. he saw detachments
Of about Is men each make a rush
toward the river. When the other sol
diers arrived they had disappeared.
General Francisco villa command
ing the rebel forces, and now at Jua-
rez, received an intimatioH Of the sit
uation at YsIeta early in the evening
and sent small detaohments Of his
men east along the Mexican border Of
the river to capture the invaders.