New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-07
Officials Suspect Carranza
Men of Planning
Border Battle.
10000 u. S. SOLDIERS
REPORTED ON WAY
New Orleans Hears Strong
Army Is Being Drawn from
Eastern States.

Washington, Sept. 6.-Reporting that
facing across the border, that shots
were fired at an American aeroplane
from a point believed to be a Carranza
outpost, and that fire directed at the
pumping station at Brownsville was re-
turned by American troops, dispatches
from General Funston on the border
to-day indicated that a break at any
moment would not be surprising.
officials here tonight viewed the sit
uation with the greatest apprehension.
They were especially concerned over
the report that the Carranza general
proposed to bring up more troops, sup
posedly for the purpose of preserving
make his force outnumber the Ameri-
can troops three to one. With two
large forces facing each other, serious
trouble is feared, for it is believed here
that the border raids are the work of
Carranza soldiers.
General Funston reported that the
American aeroplane had been fred on
thr,e separate times and that at least
one hundred shots had been counted.
General Nafarrate, commanding the
Carranza forces, told the Carranza Con-
sui that all the Carranza forces were
assembled and on parade when the
shots were fired. The consul expressed
the opinion that the shots were fired
by outlaws and not by Carranza SOL
diers.
Would Bring Up More Troops.
General Nafarrate suggested that he
bring more Carranza troops into the
troubled zone to aid the American
troops in stamping out outlawry. Cen
cral Nafarrate has about $1,000 men
under his command, while General Fun
ston has about 5000 in this section.
The dispatch sent by General Fun
ston TO the War Department says:
FOLLOWING received from Colonel
Bullard: 'Carranza consul states to
me that he has to-day in person IN
formed Carranzista district commander
at Matamoros of facts that American
and Carranzista troops are this morn
ing facing each other across the river
near Mission, and in danger of con-
fict: that Nafarrate replied that he
would order his troops to move back
from banks of river. and that any
shooting from Mexican side would be
by men other than his; that yester-
dav one Carranza officer was killed and
one civilian wounded in fight across
river at Cavazes, already reported by
CAPTAIN Mccoy. Same consul suggest
ed conference of military authorities
with Constitutionalist military author
tiles at bridge to try TO avoid dim
culties.'"
100 Shots Fired at Aero.
General Funston also forwarded this
dispatch from Colonel Bullard at
Brownsville:
"Aeroplane now in air in vicinity OF
Brownsville has been fired on three
separate times. Some 100 shots IN all
were counted. 1t has been over United
States territory all the time. Our out
most at international Bridge and the
one at Brownsville pumping plant To-
Gated the firing as coming from the
big bend in the river just west OF
Brownsville, probably Mexican outpost
as the firing on aeroplane reported sep
tember | was from same locality. The
troops occupying the south bank at the
river are Carranzistas. At same time
that firing on aeroplane was going on
cur outpost at Brownsville pumping
nlant was fred on. This fire was re-
turned. No casualties on our side"
A dispatch from San Benito told OF the
raiding of number of bandits TO with
in two and one-half miles of that town
and the pursuit by a posse OF citizens
and troops. .
Captain Mccoy reported details Of
the pursuit of band OF bandits on
Saturday. From the fact that Mauser
carbines as well as Winchesters were
used by the bandits. he concludes that
some Carrsnza soldiers were IN the
party. lie was told by Mexican shop
keepers in small village visited BY
the raiders that the band was composed
of we'll known smugglers and horse
thieves. with about six Carranza SOL