Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-08-19
SECRET SOCIETIES
OF NEX|CANS ARE
MENACE TO TEXAS
More Border Outlaws Reported
to Have Crossed Into Ameri-
can Territory-Grafters
Cause Strife.
~PAN-AMERICAN NOTE SENT
Carranza Troops Known to
Have Occupied an Island In
Rio Grande-More Bat
ties Anticipated.
P%AN-AMERICAN NOTE SENT

Laredo. Tex. Aug. 16.-A party of 80
MeXicans. under a leader named Ca
brera, has appeared between Zapata
and Rio Grande. City, 80 miles below
Laredo. on the Texas side. A detacl-
ment OF the Fourteenth cavalry is sta
toned at Zapata and. with the aid of
citizens. is prepared to resist the ban-
dts If they reach that point.
News of this was dispatched here
from Iapata today.
Nogales. Ariz., Aug. 16.-MeXican SOL
diers entered American territory, 1b
miles west of Nogales. today and be-
gan Strengthening cattle, according to q.
report from the Harrison ranch on the
border. Three automobiles, loaded with
armed men, started for the scene soon
after the report reached here.
Austin. Tex, Aug. 16.-MeXicans in
Guadalupe, HAYS and Gonzales coun-
ties are forming secret societies, which
are a menace to the safety of Ameri-
cans, according to F. c. Weinert, man
ager of the state cotton warehouses.
who yesterday returned from a trip to
Seguin, where he was called to advise
a group Of farmers who had received
threatening letters.
Grafters at Work.
These Mexicans are organized by
agltators from San Antonio" said Mr..
Welnert. The agitators have one ar
gunent that always brings results.
They say to the peon. These lands are
really ours and incite him to seize
them"
III agitators after organizing secret
societies for the redemption of lands
~ ~ " 4 nc: unnnrn1Iyy i~r ~ n f%or-
collecting dues from the members.
Washington. d. c., Aug. 14.-GeneraI
Funston reported to the war depart
ment today, that after a conference
with Governor Ferguson, of Texas. it
was agreed that no more troops were
needed at this time.
General Funston added hat most
of the raiders who crossed the line
near Brownsville We're Mexicans, and
that they were Joined by about 25 Mex
lean residents of Texas. He believes the
band has now been dispersed.
Most of Them Gone.
The war department issued this sum-
mary of its adVices from General Funs-
ton;
Nothing serious has occurred within
the last two days. 1t is known hat
the principal part of a band of outlaws
was driven across the Rio Grand into
Mexico. 1t is now established beyond
doubt TINT a considerable portion Of the
band came from Mexico and We're of
ficers and soldiers of Carranza's forces.
doubtless acting without authority Of
their chiefs. Once on this side of the
river they were joined by about rs
Texas MeXicans, all well armed and
mounted and proceeded to raid through
the country as far as Norias."
Brownsville, Tex. Ang. 14.-There
were indications today of possible CO.
operation of Carranza forces on the
Mexican side of the Rio Grande in the
clean up of bandits, which is now being
made in the Brownsville section by
rangers and United States troops. it
was reported today that Carranza
troops last night fired on Mexicans who
We're trying to cross from the Ameri-
can side into Mexico near Mercedes. 1t
is believed the Mexicans who tried to
escape We're part of the band which
crossed from Mexico near Mercedes last
night.
Brownsville. Tex, Aug. 14.-Car-
rama soldiers. it was learned today.
temporarily took possession of Island
No. 10. in the Rio Grande, for a short
time, while the Mexican raiding was at
its height a few days ago. This ISL
and, containing pasturage for con-
siderable stock. American residents of
the vicinity. which is neal Rio Grande
4 My. wv llllSS dbONe ISIc, We're lI1ySll-
fed by the actions of the Mexican SOL
dters. The latter finally withdrew
from the island.
Peace officers and rangers have &C
copied a code of handling
suspected M%exicans. AT Fort Brown
here. the following report was turned
in. made by peace officers to an army
patrol officer on duty at a small sta
ton north Of Brownsville:
We met two Mexicans. They tried
to escape. We could not identify them
50 we left them there"
These MeXicans were killed.
owing to the of means of
travel n great distances. the full
force of soldiers and rangers ordered
out to auell raids did not all reach their
early TODAY.
Troops Awe M~exicans.
AS nov disposed. they make a strik-
ing showing at railroad stations. At
Harlingen. a big cotton platform is
covered with brown. army tents.
MeXieans are visible.
working in the fields or mixing with the
soldiers and rangers at the stations.
| Mexicans on trains or those who seem
to be going any distance by other
means of travel arc closely watched.
Train crews are ready to uncouple their
engines at any TING and turn them over
to the use of soldiers or peace officers
for runs to alarms of appeals for aid.
The entire lower Rio Grande valley
| section has the appearance of martial
law. but it is a silent law. The popula-
| ticn is so compaIatively sparce that
strangers are recognized and checked
up Immediately usually, without being
asked any ut,estionS.
Matamoros. Mex, opposite Browns
Vile does not appear to be suffering
from food shortage or exorbitant
prices. For Is cents American money.
the following dinner was served in a
cafe there last night: Small porter
house steak, one pork chop. potatoes.
beans. coffee, bread, cake and one-half
| quail.