The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-14
DESPERATE BATTLES
FOUGHT ON BORDER
Twenty-Five Dead In Clashes Be-
tween Americans and Mexicans.

Twcnty-twO Dead In Clashes BE-
tween Americans and Mexicans.
GALVESTON. Tex. Sept. l3-Two United
States soldiers. two American citizens
three Texas rangers and fifteen Mexi-
cans are dead as the result of battles on
tie border to-day. in which troops. rang
ers and Mexicans, soldiers and bandits
took part.
Throughout Hidalgo and Star counties
soldiers and citizens sleep OH their arms
tonight waiting for alarms. and rangers
are securing the country. Not since the
beginning of the border trouble has eS-
element been so high. and fear is eN-
pressed for all Mexicans along the RIO
tirande. because to-day Mexican soldiers
Nantonly murdered Americans stationed
across the boundary.
The trouble started when large num-
ber of Mexican soldiers, supposedly from
Mataiuoros. attacked three United States
soldiers at the Turner Ranch on the
other side OF the river near Los lndios
The firing OF the MeXicans did not cease
until the three Americans guarding the
crossing fell under the attack, which
t-ey had instructions not to return.
PRIVATE Kraft was shot through the
head and Private Forney was shot
srl Forney lived but few minutes.
S-rgt. Walsh. commanding the squad.
WAS seriously wounded and escaped only
by dragging himself through the brush.
He saws that a wild cheer went up from
II. Mexican soldiers on the other side
when II was seen that all defenders OF
r.. border at '',1t point had fallen
Fired from Ambush.
The Mexicans behind the cover OF
haystacks, hedges, Corrals and failen
trees fred hundreds Of rounds OF am
nuaitiou upon the exposed troopers
from five different points of vantage.
In the gray light | could just see the
forms OF six or eight men rise from
the weeds and make a rush for the cor
raj west of the ranch house, said
Troop.r Burchill suddenly they let
fir. from the corral Trooper Forney
vas lust sliding out Of his cot when
bullet caught him through the back
and went clear through him. lie
,ouehe and fell over on me. Then II
seemed they began from all directions,
We fired whenever We saw flashes OF
their guns
Said Sergt- Walsh:
Trooper Kraft had been firing from
behind his saddle on the ground under
the tent. I heard Forney groaning and
shouted to Kraft to bring Forney across
to the shed. Kraft didn't answer
Trooper osbourne ran across the space
and dragged Forney into shelter.
Then he told me that Kraft was lying
s'. on his face and that there was
hood on his head. Osbourne ran back
asaiu and dragged Kraft m. The Mex
i,4ns crossed the cotton field and got
into the trees on the edge OF bayou,
That was the last we saw or them
Kraft was 20 years old and had en-
Listed only a month ago at Detroit.
100 shots Fired.
Al Of these troops were from Com
pauy 9 OF the Twelfth Cavalry. More
than one hundred shots were fired from
'ga Mexican side in a short time. The
sluufug was heard further down the
r,.. but when reenforcements reached
the Gene the MeNicans had disappeared.
l.sr.r Gen. Nafarrete declared that enc
mics II Carranza did the shooting. but
I' believed that none but Carrsnza
soldiers were in the vicinity.
In the fghting in Hidalgo county to-
DAY two American citizens were killed
by bandits. This fighting took place far
from the river and more than fifty ban
DTS were engaged. according TO reports.
uuc u the Americans was George John
srr. ranch employee and the other
7as former Mexican who had been
hmerican!zed.
Ten miles south OF this ranch house,
according TO reports. rangers located a
gag of bandits to-day. fight at once
e!.surd. Three rangers and fiye bandits
were kllled The reports were brought
20 %" ranch by rangers who took part
lr 'ae hghHng.
S0tw'hstanding the fact that Ameri-
''' -oidiers we're killed IN nrins across
'f. boundary and American citizens
f'sr ied as the resul; OF bandit raids,