The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-21
BANDITS BAND
DEALS DEATH TO
BORDER GUARD
Three U. S. Soldiers Killed,
Eight Are Wounded.
Bandit Band SwOOps Down ON
Guard at OjO del Aqua, Tex.
FIVE MEXICANS KNOWN DEAD
Raiders Flee Over Line When
Patrol Is Reinforced.
Seventy-Ffve Outlaws Use ViIS
las Name as RalIying Cry.
FIVE MEXICANS KNOWN DEAD
Raiders Flee Over Line When
Patrol Is Reinforced.

broWnSV1lIe, oct 21.-About sew
enty-five Mexicans at o'clock this
morning attacked fifteen American
soldiers at Ojo del Aqua, a small Mex
lean settlement on the American side
of the river about 60 miles up the
Rio Grande from here.
Three soldiers were killed and eight
wounded and at least five Mexicans
killed in the forty-minute battle
which followed.
Some of the Mexicans fled across
the Rio Grande into Mexican territory
when American cavalry reinforce-
ments came up.
Outlaws Are villa Men.
Mexicans slain in the fight had
Viva Villa
The dead are: Sergeant Shafer.
Troop @, Third cavalry. and first class
Privates Joyce and Mcconnell, Com
pany d, signal corps.
The list of wounded includes Pri-
Yates Bowner, Behr, Langlan, KupIs
and Shellenback, Troop G, Third cav
airy, and first class Sergeant Smith
and Corporal CansIer, Company ID,
signal corps; Private Stewart, signal
corps.
ojo del Aqua is near the river. and
dense brush, which even in daylight
units the range of vision often to a
rev feet, afforded the Mexicans per-
tect cover as they scattered into small
groups and made toward the Mexican
boundary
The bandits failed apparently in
their purpose to take the American
troops by surprise. A picket reported
their presence in time to give the
troops a chance to take positions for
their desperate resistance against
odds.
The soldiers at the Mexican settle
ment were ,r1aeInbers' of Troop G. Third
cavalry and of Company ID, signal
Sergeant shafer of Troop G COM
manded the entire detachment. He
was killed, and with him Privates
Joyce and Mcdonnell of the signal
corps.
Four cavalrymen were wounded---
Privates Bowner, Behr, Langian and
KUble-and also two signal corps non
commissioned officers, Sergeant Smith
and Corporal Cansler.
Fight One to Five.
The fifteen soldiers, fighting five
against one, against Mexicans skilled
in brush shooting, held their ground,
although half of their number were
put out of action, until relief could
where Captain Frank r. Mccoy of the
Third cavalry had considerable
force in reserve. Captain Mccoy took
two troops of cavalry, totaIing about
sixty men, to the rescue, and the Mex
leans fled upon his approach.
In the last month Captain Mccoy
has received several reports of Next
can bandits gathering on the Mexican
side of the river. On two or three
occasions Mexicans have come across
the river to warn the soldiers that
they heard bandits would cross that
night to raid some town. All these
alarms proved unfounded. and about
three weeks ago when a new Car
rama regime took command at Mata-
moros, an increase in the patrols OF
CarranZa troops opposite the Mission
section relieved anxiety on the Ameri-
can side of the river, as 1T was re-
ported that the bandits had taken to
cover when the new Carranza patrols
moved in.
De la Rosa Suspected.
The early morning attack again
centered attention on activities of Luis
de Ia Rosa, the Mexican bandit. who
is said 10 have led Monday nights
train robbery. Authoritative infor-
nation reached here today that Dc
la Rosa Tuesday night crossed tho
Rio Grande into Mexico at Rio Bravo.
thirty-five miles up the river from
here and thirty miles from the scene
of the wreck. He was reported seen
in the streets of Reynosa, Mex.
which is near the Mission district,
Wednesday morning. "Wednesday
night he was reported in "A camp
three miles from ReynoSa, on the
Mexican side Of the river. at a point
not more than ten miles from Ojo del
Aqua.
Report to Carranza Commander.
The Carranza corsuI here, Jose II.
Cara went to Matamoros today TO
place before Gen. Eugenio Lopez, the
CarranZa commander there, such re-
ports as were available. American
army authorities here impressed upon
Mr.. Cara the fact that they viewed
the situation IN a very serious light
Reynosa, where de la Rosa was re-
ported yesterday and whore ne has
been seen on several previous occa-
sions. is III the patrol district COM
manded by Cen. Lopez.
De la Rosa ard his men were re-
ported to have moved toward the in
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