Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-09-30
TENSE SITUATION EXISTS
ALONG BORDER OF MEXICO

ALONG BORDER OF MEXICO
Brownsville, Tex, Sept. 25.-The eyes
of the lower border turned today
toward Washington, where it was ex-
pected the next important development
would occur as a result of yesterdays
fight at Progreso crossing in which
Mexicans behind trenches or the Next
can side covered with heavy fire the
retreat of Mexican bandit who raided
the American own of Progreso.
j. b. McAllen, millionaire ranchman,
of Brownsville, and a woman cook,
yesterday fought off a band of il
Mexican bandits who attacked his
ranch house in Hidalgo county. He
killed w and wounded three bandits.
The fighting lasted 80 minutes. The
heavy retired.
Capt. Frank r. Mccoy, commanding
officer at Mission, reported to Fort
Brown today that he had sent out two
detachments of soldiers in automobiles
ard believed that toe MeSicans either
would be killed or driven from the
country. With the exception of activ-
tiles in Hidalgo county ranches no
trouble was reported along the lower
border today. Troops continued active
patrol last night around Progreso with
out en%countering any MeXicans.
Fought from Trenches.
While no Carranza troops p%artici-
l!sso oA1iSiolIS Ia SSoiSIdeS , AiSIIl
there is question whether some in
subordinates did not join the raiders
on their covering party. The trenches
at Progreso We're constructed a little
over two weeks 6 by CarranZa troops
who, at that time notified American
soldiers that they had no intention of
firing on American soldiers. About d
week ago the regular Carranza forces
abandoned these trenches and ap-
parently moved away from the river
oil along this section.
General Nafarrate at Matamoros and
bis staff ave assured officers at Fort
Brown that the CarranZa troops have
the strictest orders to stay away from
the river.
The escape of the Mexican raiders
across the Rio Grande was regarded
in civilian and army circles as one Of
the gravest features of yesterdays bat
tie. When the American soldiers pur-
sued the marauders to the river bank
it was reported by Maj. Edward Ander-
son, of the Twelfth cavalry, hat they
were met by a brisk fire from the Mex
lean side where apparently several
hundred M~eXicans were concealed. 1t
also was reported that a number of the
raiders wore khaki uniforms, but
whether they were connected with the
CarranZa garrisons which hold the
various border towns opposite Progreso
and Brownsville could not be learned.
II O1llGClS USllSNSu lOudy lIld
sufficient troops had been placed at
danger points to forestall any i'm
mediate repetition of the raid.
Capt. A.. v. P. Anderson. Of the
Twelfth cavalry and Private Cecil w.
Kennedy, of Central Lake, Mich, who
were wounded yesterday. We're reported
today to be in 40 danger. The body of
Private Henry w. Stubblefield, Of Big
Stone Gap, Va, who was killed by the
Mexicans, is being held for relatives.
The total of MeXicans killed in yes
terday's battle is not made known in
further reports today. Two met death
on the Texas side of the river and it
was reported that from four to eight
Others We're killed either while crossing
the river or in scrambling up the bank
on the other side.
Another new phase Of the border
situation which Brownsville people dis
cusscd today was the announcement
thar Gen. e. p. Nafarrate, Carranza
commander at Matamoros, would not
be removed from his present post be-
cause Of his supposed lack of sympathy
with the efforts of Americans to rid
this section of bandits and his alleged
failure to keep his own soldiers wholly
within bounds of military rules. This
decision was reached by Gen. Jacinto
TrevinO. CarranZa commander of the
northeastern part of Mexico, who made
a trip to Matamoros to investigate
charges that Nafarrate had been negli-
gent.