Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-17
MEX|CANs CROSS BORDER
. AND ATTACK CAvALRYMEN
Armed Force Sets Upon Outpost of
Half-Dozen u. 8. Soldiers,
killing One.
PLAN TO ATTACK MERCEDES
Band Which Invades Texas Said to
BE About 27O Strong-Washinx-
ton Has Received No Replies to
Pan-American Appeal.

BROWNSVILLE. TEXAS. August ts.
ARMED Mexicans in force crossed the
Rlo Grande at n ford near Mercedes
tonight, attacking an outpost of half
dozen cavalrymen at Saenz
Ranger Lieutenant Reynau, at Mer-
cedes. telephoned State Adjutant- Gem
erai Hutchins here that Corporal Will
man, of Troop c. Twelfth Cavalry. was
Killed In this fight, and Lieutenant Roy
y. Hendry. of the same troop, was
wounded.
Reynau said he understood 27o Mex
leans had crossed, and that thew were
coming to attack Mercedes
hcynau reported that the Mexicans
had crossed the border in three bands
ana were advancing toward Mercedes.
About seventy United States cavalry
men ana half-doZen Texas Rangers
are stationed at Mercedes.
Reynau said 1t was reported that in
addition to the Mcxicans who had
crossed into Texas, a large number of
others were assembled on the Mexican
side.
ke-enforcements of rangers and SOL
diers from Harrington were ordered
rushed 10 Mercedes by automobile liar
iinsen is about fifteen miles form Mer-
cedes The MeXicans have seven or
elEht miles to cover before they reach
Mercedes IL that town is their objec-
tive.
No details of the fight between the
ieAlcans and the detachment of the
troops at the river crossing had been
! received ut Mercedes late to-night.
ohe troop of Twelfth United States
cavalry. numbering about fifty men. left
HarlinEen for Mercedes about an hour
! anu hait after the MeXicans crossed
the river Ranger Captain Fl. r. RAN
som went with his troop.
WASHINGTON. August l6-Carran-
za's representatives here expect him TO
send an unyielding response to the
Fan american peace appeal to Mexican
leaders. they think he Will adhere TO
the position he took at the time of
| the Niagara Falls media ton conference
last summer, maintaining that inter-
vention by other nations in their af-
fairs Is unwelcome to the Mexican
people
According to some of his friends.
{ Carranza in his reply will assert that
peace already has been established
throughout much of Mexico by his own
armies: that the government of which
he is the head is constitutional and in
full control of the territory in which
order has been restored and that upon
transferring his capital from Vera Cruz
to Mexico City within n few weeks, he
will agree to confer with all revolt
ing factions.
In some quarters. however, it is sug-
Sested that Carranza may consent to
| n joint conference. If held in Mexico
City and arranged on a representative
basis. delegates to be chosen from the
various factions in accordance with
the amount of territory controlled
Word was received at the State De-
partment to-day that both Carranza
and Villa had received the Pan-Ameri-
| can appeal General Gonzales the Car
! rama commander n Mexico City, has
| promised safe conduct for messengers
! TO carry the appeal to Zapata and
others.
! The department announced tonight
that no replies had yet been received.
DATTLEsHIps SENT TO
PORT OF VERA CRUZ
Orders finally were dispatched to-
| day to the battleShips Louisiana and
| New Hampshire, en- route to southern
| waters. to proceed at once to Vera
| Cruz. They are expected to arrive
| there on Wednesday, and Rear Admiral
Mclean, OF the Louisiana. has been di-
| rected to assume command of American
naval forces in Mexican waters. The
| gunboat Marietta, now at Vera Cruz,
, has leen ordered to return to Progreso
as soon as the battleships arrive. The
! Sacramento, halted by a storm in the
Gulf off the Mississippi River, will
| not return to Vera Cruz.
The battleships have been ordered
to Vera Cruz" Secretary Daniels said,
Ito replace the gunboats, which will
not return. The Marietta is returned
| to ProGreso because Of complaints that
| there is trouble there in getting the
American Sisal shipments out of that
| port There are no further alarming
reports from Vera Cruz. and no trouble
| is expected. Since General Carranza
repudiated the anti-American demon
STATIONS there, Vera Cruz has been
! quiet"
The battleship Connecticut, Mr.. Dan
iels said. would remain for the present
| in Haitian waters.