Evening star., 1915-04-14
HostiIities Between Mexican
Factions at Border Endan-
ger Brownsville, Tex.
BULLETS FROM THE GUNS
FALL ON AMERICAN SOIL
American Agents Directed to Keep
State Department Informed Of
the Developments.

Navy radio reports last night in
dicated that the Carranzista forces had
re-entered Tuxpam and were about to
regain possession Of tho seaport from
the Villa forces under Gen. Manuel
Palez.
The State Department telegraphed
last night to its consular agents In the
vicinity Of Celaya and Irapuato for
more definite information on the mill
tary situation in that section. Agents
were instructed to keep the American
government promptly advised Of de-
velopments.
United States officials Interested.
Interest in the outcome of the i'm
pending battle between Gen. Villa and
Gen Obregon is very keen among off,
cials here. as the question of COM
munication with Mexico City from the
border. and the relief Of many interior
towns suffering where food is short are
a report dated April ~. from Ira
puato." the departments summary
says, stated that Gen. Villa was still
at the front and that the battle would
begin again after the troops had
good rest. 1t Is said that the troops
are in good spirits and that the fight
ed thirty-six hours. The engagemen mt
took place the 9Th and 7th. and 1t is
stated that Gen. Villas troops were SO
exhausted that 1t was thought ad-
visable to withdraw for rest and re-
Inducements"
Maj Gen. Frederick Funston. COM
manding the American forces on the
Mexican border. is en- route today from
San Antonio to Brownsville. Tex. TO
take personal charge Of the situat'"-
= ir1 hoc in -.
ening in consequence of the falling or
Mexican bullets into American terri
tory.
Reporting to the War Department to-
bullets struck the Brownsville side
during the fighting yesterday. there
were no casualties. The general will
| be accompanied to Brownsville by Col.
Col. Blocksom. at Brownsville. in a
report forwarded by Gen. Funston
said the hostilities yesterday extended
from a point about one-half mile In
trenches around Matamoros to about
a mile from the Brownsville pumping
| station. It was in the vicinity of the
pumping station that the bullets fell
on the American side.
The Villa forces had two field pieces
In action during the engagement and
fired about. twenty shots into Mata-
moros
Sortie Against Villas Troops.
According to reports from Matamoros
to the Carranza agency here today. a
sortie against the Villa troops yester-
day resulted in the killing Of 900 of
| the besiegers and the capture Of many
prisoners. with 200 horses. sixty mules.
four machine guns. a large number of
rifles and quantity of ammunition.
A Brownsville (Tex.) dispatch says:
Shelling of Matamoros by Villa artil-
lery had not been renewed early to-
day. 1t was learned today that during
yesterdays battle two women were
slightly hurt when shell exploded
| near their homes. The Villa officers
admit yesterdays sortie took some OF
their outposts by surprise at break
fast. Reliable reports from Matamoros
said that this was executed by force
of Indian troops belonging to the gar
rison. On hands and knees two or
three of them. carrying machine guns
| on their backs. these Indians crept
through the brush. not firing until
within few feet of the Villa outpost
troops. who were mostly circled about
their breakfast fires