Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-11-02
BULLETS WHIz
over BOUNDARY
Rain Of Lead Hits Douglas
as Villistas Push Their
Attack
ARE SHOT
Shell Bursts Near U. S. Custom
House-Warning Causes Mexicans
TO Turn Guns Away

Douglas. Ariz., Nov. mime Am
ericans, including four soldiers OF the
Seventh Infantry, have been wounded
here since the battle of Aqua Prieta
opened between the CarranZista and
Villistas across the border.
Douglas, Ariz.. Nov. 2-GeneraI
Villa delivered his longeXpected at
tack on the CarranZa garrison 0!
Aqua Prieta late yesterday, and with
n two hours after the first gun was
.ired machine-gun bullets and sheI!
fragments showered over American
territory, seriously woundlng LOUIS
;. Taylor, restaurant walter, and
andancering scores of American soi-
;Iers in trenches south Of the United
States Army camp two miles east o.
Douglas.
Taylor was shot down in front oi
he United States Custom House.
where more than 20 machine-gun
bullets sped among throng of sol
iiers and Mexican women and chill
lren who were coming across the
inc. the bullet struck him in the
middle of the back as he turned to
run for cover and his spine was Sc.
riously injured, paralyzing him. lie
will be crippled for life if he re-
covers.
Gen. Thomas f: Davis, comman
ding the 5000 American troops on
.:uty at the border, promptly warn
ed the commanders of both Mexican
factions to change the direction o!
.,.2:r fire and citizens on The Amerl-
can side were rot endangered there
after.
On the Mexican side losses couiG
not be definitely ascertained up to
nightfall, which brought a lull in the
combat, but Villa artillery, firing
successive salvos. played on the de-
lenses of the Mexicans, with the ap-
parent intention of shatterlng the
barbed-wire entanglements and de-
stroyed the trenches preparatory to
a rush on the garrison of Genera
Gales.
Three houses on the west side Of
Aqua Prieta were blown up by shells
and. according to Carranza reports.
one man was killed and eight Other
persons were wounded, including oni
woman.
The Villa line late yesterday was
a mile from the Aqua Prieta tren-
ches. 1t was believed to be moving
up with cannon and infantry for a
rush on the town at daybreak today.
The Villa guns were at the time
yesterday about 300 yards from the
American lines. They. ceased firing
after few rounds. evidently reallZ-
ing that they were drawing the fire
of the cannon too close to the Ame-
rican line
AT least 300 bullets sped among q
throng of soldiers and Mexican wo.
men refugees who were passing to.
ward the concentration camp on the
American side. Five minutes later 3
score or more bullets flew by Ameri'
can soldiers. They took cover in theil
trenches. taking women and chill!
dren with them.
General Villa himself with four Of
ficers came to the American line t
get the bearings of the boundary
: line.
do. you expect to take Agu;
Prieta?" a United State Army stat
officer asked.
"sure, Mike" replied Villa, grin
ming broadly.
1t was the only English he spoke
In Spanish Villa inquired whethe
the United States intended to he'll
General Gales garrison at Agui
! Prieta, in view of the fact that th'
| American Government had recogniz
, ed Carranza and assisted reinforce
ments in reaching General Gales.
] He was assured that the American
forces in the trenches facing the
prospective Mexican battle field woul'