Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-30
More Troops for
 Mexican Border
SENT AT SUGGESTION OF MAJOR
 GENERAL FUNSTON.
NECESSARY PRECAUTION
To Impress Upon Mexican Warning Factions Fighting at Matamoros That Bullets Must Not Cross the Border Battle at Matamoros.

Battle at Matamoros.
 Washington, March 29.-At the sug- gestion of Major General Funston, commanding the American forces on the border, Acting Secretary Breckin- ridge of the war department today ordered three batteries of the Third Field Artillery to Brownsville, Texas, as a demonstration to the Mexican forces contending for possession of Matamoros that American lives and property must not be endangered by firing across the line. A regiment of infantry also was ordered held in readiness at. Texas City to be moved to Brownsville on short notice.
 Precautions Deemed Necessary.
 These precautions were deemed nec- eSSary, although assurances had been given by both CarranZa and Villa agencies here that no shooting across the line would be permitted. Secre- tary Bryan said orders had been sent by the commanders of each faction to their troops in and about Mata- moros to see that no shots entered American territory.
 Matamoros Difficult to Capture.
 The attacking force is finding Mata- moros a difficult place to capture, ac-
 
 today, which said 200 Villa soldiers met death in the first assault on the Carranza trenches Saturday while the defenders lost only eight killed and thirty-six wounded. It was reported that both sides were receiving rein forcements, including artillery. Many | wounded Villa soldiers have been | brought into Brownsville, but only | those in most urgent need of atten- tion will be permitted to cross the line | hereafter.
 Villa Forces Lose 300 Killed and Wounded.
 The Villa agency here received to- | day a despatch from Brownsville say | ing that only a, small part of the Villa army operating against Matamoros took part in Saturdays action and 1 giving the losses on that day at 500 | killed and wounded.
 | Although the confidential agency is l informed that the Carranzaista force l defending Matamoros has deliberately | entrenched itself in such a position as | to compel the attacking convention l troops to fire in the direction Of Brownsville the. statement added, | assurance is given that the fire of 1 the convention army will be directed with careful consideration of the lives and property on the American side.' | To Minimize American Danger. | Delay in the final attack on Mat 1 amoros will be necessary in order to l give time for the convention forces to manoeuver into such a position as | will minimize the possibility of bullets falling on American sol.'' l Situation in Mexico City.
 The situation in Mexico City assum- 1 ed another of it's rapid changes to- day when Sir Cecil Spring-Rice. the l British ambassador, called to Secre- | tary Bryan's attention a report he had received from the Mexican capital that | the Zapatista forces under General Garza were about to abandon the city again and that General Obregon, the CarranZa cf1ieftain in the vicinity, was moving forward to re-occupy it. | The ambassador is understood to have | asked what precautions for the pro- lection of foreigners were contemplat- ed by the American government in this event.
 l No Reports of Evacuation
 Secretary Bryan said later that no reports of the intended evacuation had reached the department. He charac- received as suggestions as to what might happen referring, apparently, to the statement of the British am- bassador. Earlier the secretary said assurances had been received from General Garza that the food situation
 
 of satisfactorily by the present garri- son.
 Carranza Garrison at Tampico May Withdraw.
 British officials also are understood to be concerned about reports that the Carranza garrison at Tampico might withdraw, burning the town and pos sibly the oilwells in its retreat toward Vera Cruz. The Tampico oil supply is understood to be of vital import ance to British naval operations and British as we'll as American capital is involved in the wells. The state department had no information as to these reports.
 Fighting on West Coast. Navy department messages today Mexico except near Colima, in the state of Jalisco. Fighting was reported last Saturday 15 miles from that place Commander Williams of the cruiser Cleveland. on the west coast, reported that General Carranza had ordered his military chiefs to have no correspdon- ence with diplomatic agents of foreign government in that region. It was announced by the state de- partment that the Amercan- owned steamer Benito JuareZ, held at Aca- puco by Mexican officials, did not carry arms and ammunitions as was alleged as one reason for her deten- tton. The Juarez was granted jro- v1sional American registry recently but Mexican officials have asserted that her previous Mexican registry was not surrendered. Department of ficials were still in doubt as to wheth- CT this was necessary before Ameri- , can registry could be granted. | Movements of Steamships,