Evening star., 1915-03-28
SHOTS ON BORDER
WOUND TWO IN j. s.
Villas Attack on Matamoras
Is Halted When Opposing
Mexican Strikes Flank.
BROWNSVILLE STREETS
ARE IN LINE OF FIRE
American Coast Guard Prevents
Landing of Reinforcements for
CarranZa's Men.

Landing of Reinforcements for
CarranZa's Men.
BROWNSVILLE, Tex. March 27.-An
| unexpected attack from the south late
today caused Villa forces to cease their
attack upon Matamoros. opposite here,
which Is garrisoned by Carranza troops,
but in the meantime stray shots had
crossed the border and wounded two
persons in Brownsville. Neither was
injured seriously.
The persons injured were struck by
shots falling in the residence section
here. They were Mrs. Luciano Hino-
josa, wounded in the foot, and Jose M.
Lopez. wounded in the arm. Many
bullets were said to have fallen on the
American side of the line.
The attack from the south. which
continued tonight, apparently threat
ened to flank the right of the attack
ing force. It came late today after
villa troops had made four Intellectual
assaults upon Matamoras breastworks
and then had been driven back 1000
yards, according to the Carranza de-
tenders.
The attacking force from the south
was believed to have been led by Gen.
Ildefonso VasqueZ, whose departure
from Matamoras several days ago at
the head of a body of troops caused
rumors of dissension between him and
Gen. E. P. Navarette, commanding at
Matamoros.
May Rake Streets.
Villa forces can attack from only two
directions. west or south. Attack from
the west apparently would not endan-
ger Brownsville. but attack from the
south If the guns overshot. would tend
to rake street and sidewalk traffic here,
as the streets lie almost in direct line
of such fire.
The Mexican transport Oaxaca, with a
large body of men believed to be Car
rama reinforcements for Matamoras,
reached the mouth of the Rio Grande.
twenty miles below here, today. 1t was
reported that a landing on American
soil was attempted. but Capt Wallace
Reed of the United States coast guard
at Brazos Island refused to permit this
landing. The Oaxaca was said to have
come from Vera Cruz.
The Villa siege of Matamoras began
about noon today. Cavalrymen opened
heavy rifle fire on the breastworks west
of Matamoras. near the Rio Grande
simultaneously the cavalry, totaling
$500 men, began spreading to sur
round the city on the west and south,
Villa officer told the Associated Press
correspondent that artillery Is due to
reach the firing line some time this
evening.
Matamoras apparently was ready for
siege by the approaching Villa army,
whose advance guard already Is at the
city's outer defenses
Defenses of Three Sorts.
These defenses are Of three sorts.
There is line of yellow earth breast
works twelve to fifteen feet high and
wide and strong enough on top for
passage of an automobile. These
breastworks inclose the city on two
sides-west and south-while the Rio
Grande curves around the other two
sides. Along the breastwork line at
regular intervals are massively built
structures. apparently brick. said to
house at least two machine guns each.
There There are dozen such rsdoubts.
stretches of practically open ground
before the city proper Is reached. On
the western edge the city is curtained
on from this open space by continuous
road yards to catch stray bullets.
Villas troops are approaching from
the west and apparently the hardest
attack is expected from that quarter.
Another Ranch Stripped.
DOUGLAS, Ariz.. March 27-''The
action of Col Miguel Samaniego at
Moctezuma was not looting. but con-
fiscation of property In behalf of the
constitutionalist cause" said Col. p.
Elias Gales, Carranza commander in
Sonora, today regarding reports that
Samaniego had looted Moctezuma when
Gales declared that Americans and
other foreigners would be Unidentified
for all losses sustained.
Reports reached hero today that a
| stripped of live stock. even to chick
| ems, although it had the American flag
| flying over the main buildings.
Ell PASO. Tex, March 27.-ManueI
Otero Of Durango was executed in Juarez
| Friday night after he had been convicted
Of smuggling counterfeit Mexican money
| into Mexico. He was arrested Friday
| afternoon at the International bridge and
fifty thousand pesos in counterfeit money
was found concealed in his clothing.
| SAN ANTONIO, Tex. March 27.-De-
tails of a fight at Ramones, Mexico
were received tonight from Carnage
in a message which said the villa ad-
vance forces of 500 men attacked the
Carranza garrison OF 400 men lef,
there to guard the town. The attack
was made at o'clock in the morning
and continued for two hours. The
Carranza soldiers were undefeated
when additional Villa forces arrived
The dead and wounded of both sides
| was about 800.
| Plan for Government.
That Gen. Francisco Villa relin-
| quished his position as supreme civil
chief of the northern government of
Mexico, and his three cabinet members,
| Miguel Diaz Lombardo. Francisco Es-
cudero and Luis de la Cara Cardenas.
assume charge of their departments in
the cabinet Of Temporary Executive
Rogue Gonzalez Cara, is the basis of
a plan which is reported to have been
presented to the convention at Mexico
City to combine the two existing gov
ernments in the territory controlled
by the convention.
Gen. villa would retain his position
as general-in-chief OF the military
operations Of the convention govern
ments military forces. which he has