The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-31
j. 5. May CHECK
I BORDER bullets
Garrison Declines to Detail
Orders Given Funston on
Mexican Line. y
VILLA Is NEAR TORREON
U. S. Artillery on Way to Scene Of
Irouble-Situatio May Be Du-
plicated at Laredo.

4 There were intimations in oflcial
States government may not be as toll
Grant of shooting across the border al
Brownsville. Tex. as it was at Naco
Ar where more than fifty casualties
occurred on the American side during
three months siege of the town OF
| Naco. Sonora
While Secretary Garrison declined
to state precisely what instructions
had been given to Maj. Gen. Funston,
| commanding the American forces at
Brownsville. during the attack on Mat
amoras across the river. he indicated II
would be unwise to presume too much
| on the-Precedent set at Naco. The be-
lief persists. however. that even II the
attacking Viilistas do let shells direct
ed at Matamoras fall into Brownsville
| the administration will be slow to
| authorize Gen. Funston to return the
| fire.
U. $. Artillery Going There.
Fighting. at Matamoras has been sus-
pended while the Villa troops are await
| ing the arrival Of additional forces. par
! ticularly artillery. The use of artillery
by the troops attacking MatamOras is
| what is most feared with respect to the
safety OF life in Brownsville, as the Mex
lean artillerists arc VIGOROUSLY inaccur-
ate In the use of field guns. With three
batteries of artillery en- route to Browns
| vile from San Antonio. and one battery
already there, in addition to cavalry sta
toned at the Texas town, officials here
are confident that Gen. Funston will be
in a position to control the situation II
the use of force becomes necessary to
protect American life and properly.
The Matamoras- Brownsville situation
is about to be duplicated at Laredo.
Tex, the State Department is advised.
Villa force is advancing rapidly to
attack the Mexican town, Neuvo Larc-
do. now controlled by the CarranEistas.
Carranza troops are already destroying
the railroad south of Neuvo Laredo
as they retreat northward to the bord-
er town. 1t is thought likely that a
preliminary battle will be fought at
Lampazos. south of Neuvo Laredo.
According to the State Departments
dispatches, the casualties in the fight
ing at Matamoras on Sunday were
heavier than was at first supposed.
The Villa troops are said to have lost
300 in killed and about the same num-
Der in wounded. The Carranzistas lost
ten killed and thirty-nine wounded.
The Villa troops are in camp five
miles below Matamoras.
Villa May BE Going to Capital.
Gen. Villa, it was learned, is not with
the northern attacking forces. He has
just arrived in TorreoR and IL expected
to leave in day or for points fur
ther south. There Is sons speculation
here as to what Villa is up to and
whether he is Intending to proceed to
Mexico City. now i'm possession of his
supposed allies. the Zapatistas.
Regarding Mexico City, Secretary
Bryan. said yesterday he had not yet re-
ceived any definite reports concerning
the plans of the Zapatstas with respect
to evacuation. Conditions in the capital
are admittedly bad. the food supply still
being very scant. In short, no evidence
has been furnished at the State Depart
ment of any real improvement in condi-
lions I'm Mexico City in the last few
weeks. However. there is no disorder in
the city at present.
Conditions in the state OF Vera Cruz
are also bad. Practically all the work.
men of Vera Cruz have gone on strike.
The American owners Of the FL Potrero
Cruz. have reported that their property
has been raided several times lately and
have asked for a military guard.
There is no railway communication with
Mexico City at present. and it is now
before mail service between the capital
and the United States can be established.
President Wilson let 1t be known that
he believed everything possible is be-
ing done by the government to protect
Americans along the Mexican border.
RfcRult Flees to Vera Cruz,