Evening star., 1915-09-18
Mexicans, Seeking a Fight,
Bring on a Border Clash;
Two Engagements BIoodIess

Reports to the War Department to-
day concerning the firing across the
Aexicon border yesterday, told of in
news dispatches. declared that there
were two engagements, and that al
though no one was killed, lit was evil
dent that the attack-was made by Car
ranza soldiers, and that their COM
mander endeavored to make 1t appear
that our soldiers fired first" The re-
port was signed by Col. Blocksom. the
United States Army officer in charge
where the shooting took place.
Diplomatic interest in the Mexican
Situation today shifted to New York,
where the pan-American diplomats are
conferring on the possibility of peace.
Secretary Lansing of the State Depart
ment left for New York last night to
attend the meetings.
In the meanwhile the most important
report received in Washington was that
from Col. Bocksom. Yesterday morning
the sheriff reported to him that an en-
ploye of the Diega ranch near the
Brownsville pumping station had been
fred on. Col. Blocksom sent Lieut..
Glass to the scene with twenty men.
Just as he arrived shot was fired.
Lieutenant Appears Alone.
The lieutenant left his detachment
under cover and appeared on the bank
alone with his hat in his hand He saw
a man on the opposite bank fishing and
called to him. The fisherman, the re-
port says. went back to the levee and
picked up his rifle, reappearing with
-FOUR others. all of whom opened fire on
Glass. no shots having yet been fired
BY the American troops. Glass i'm
mediateiy got under cover and ordered
his men TO open fire The Mexicans
were Immediately reinforced by another
squad About noon, the report says.
American Consul Johnston informed
Col, Blocksom that American soldiers
were firing at Mexican soldiers. but
that the Mexicans were not returning
the fire. and asked Col. Bocksom to stop
the firing.
"I sent word to Lieut.. Glass to with
draw" Col Blocksom telegraphed. but
he had already done So
In another engagement fifty Mexi-
cans appeared on the river bank oppo-
site Red House ferry and 100 shots
Casualties. according to report made
by Maj. Anderson at Harlingen.
Villa Expresses Surprise.
Maj. Gen. Scott, chief of stan of the
army, has received through a New
York agent Of Gen Villa a personal
telegram from the Mexican general ex-
pressing surprise at the recent warn
ing to United States citizens to leave
northern Mexico. Gen. Scott is well
acquainted with Gen. villa. and the
two have conferred on Mexican af-
fairs several times. Coincidentally the
State Department has made public an
announcement saying that the warning
TO United States citizens to leave north
ern Mexico should not be construed as
Indicating an intention on the part of
the United States to favor any partic-
Glar faction. 1t has been widely print
ed that the warning TO United States
citizens was the first step toward the
recognition of Carranza but this ia
officially denied.
Gen. Villas telegram. received by
Gen. Scott. is as follows:
Il thank you for your communication
ara beg you to manifest respectfully
to the government of the United States
that II caused US great surprise that
ne government has given such in
stsuctions to American residents in the
Zone dominated by our forces, because
we have always given every kind of
tsiarantee and protection to foreigners
Sad We fail to understand the motive
tpr sCch action. Please manifest that
q zone completely safe for foreigners
and outside of any danger is the one
from .Iiminez to the border north and
even. mere in the Laguna district the
foreigners win have all necessary pro-
lection and will only be exposed to the
extgencies of war in case the enemy
6oRttnsed On Second 4sgel