Evening star., 1915-03-29


War Departm officials feel that
American forces already al Browns
Vile, Tex. are ample to protect that
town during the fighting between the
Mexican factions at Mata moros, across
the Rio Grande.
At Brownsville. Col. Blocksom has a
squadron of the Sd Cavalry. a machine
gun platoon and Battery p of the sth
Field Artillery. Nearby. up the river,
are two sauadrons of the 18th Cavalry.
Additional troops could be sent by
train from Fort Sam Houston at San
Antonio, Tex, or Fort Mcintosh at
Laredo. Tex.
From the American consul at Mata-
Jnors, who went TO Brownsville to
send a dispatch. came a puzzling re-
port that shots had been fired into Mat
anors from the American side and
that two men had been wounded No
shots had been fired into American
territory, he said.
Secretary Bryan said that he had
caused warnings to be sent to the Car
rama and Villa commanders not to fire
across the line SO to endanSer
American lives and property.
Fire Not to Be Returned
Acting Secretary Breckenridge said
today that Col. BIocksom. who has
warned the Nexicans not to fire into
American territory. acted under in
structions of long standing. lie said
that under no circumstances would the
fire be returned without direct instruc-
tions from Washington
Col. Bloeksom has ordered that the
bringing of wounded Mexicans into
Texas territory be stopped. This is done
also under "A general instruction for
bidding the admission of refugees from
battle. except where humanity demands
IL.
Mai Gen Funston, commanding the
border forces, reported today that Gen.
villa has sixteen field guns and A large
number of machine guns. while the Car
rama forces have fifteen field guns and
thirty or more machine guns. Gen.
Funston added that neither faction had
artillery yesterday.
The arrival of the field guns has in
creased the apprehension here. The
held pieces have long range. Browns
vile is only about a mile and q half
from Matamors
There is a desperate situation among
1000 Mexican refugees who have con- :
centrated at FL paso. Tex. according
70 advices 10 the American Red Cross
headquarters here. Charles T. C'Con
nor. the Pacific coast director Of the
Red Cross, has been instructed to pro-
csAd 10 II Paso II once to take charge
of the relief work.
Two of the Red Cross nurses ordered
Il
quarters yesterday 10 care for the
thousands of wounded and refugees
arrived at Brownsville this morning
One Of them came from Houston and
the other from Beaumont. Tex
Carranzas Forces May Return.
Dispatches received In diplomatic
quarters here today from dipIomatists
IN Mexico City said II was understood
there that Gen. Obregon, with Car
rama forces. was returning to the
capital and that Zapata forces were
about TO evacuate-
Nothing Of that kind was mentioned
however. in todays official advices to
the State Department
Secretary Bryan. without making
public the contents OF the dispatch
raid he had word from Gen 6;arza IN
Mexico city that he would give inrnedi-
ate consideration 70 the food situation
in the capital. Word also came that
order prevailed IN Monterey.
Possibility OF danger 10 American life
and property at Brownsville, Tex.
should Gen. Villas forces lombard the
Mexican border city OF Matamoray III
tneir effort to recapture II from the
1arranza forces caused the War De-
partnleut officials today 10 consider
steps for the protection OF America
tuterssts i'll the Texas city
Ecports said that the villa force.
we're only awaiting the arrival or ar
fFl.sFt before renewing INelT attack
steps already have been taken by the
inerican Red Cross Society here tc
care for the Mexicans at Brownsville
who were wounded in the fighting a,
Matarnoros Saturday.
The CsrrsHza headquarters here was
ST. receipt last night OF several dis
patches claifning complete rout Of the
Njliistas. with 900 dead and wounded
dispatches 70 the American National
I.ed Cross early In the day told of the
arrival of more than 200 Mexican
wounded at Brownsville. and STATED
that 400 wounded were expected there
before night
Four extra Red Cross nurses were or.
dered to the Texas city, and Dr. j. l.
Eenfrew. the Red Cross agent there
was directed to superintend the work
Meanwhile s. r. Morris. acting nationa
director. prepared to proceed from
Washington to Brownsville should hi,
services be required.
E.lisco Arrodondo. head Of the consti.
tdtionaiist agency. today received a tele.
gram from Brownsville as follows:
The total number of men lost yes.
terday by the reactiona ries in their at
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