Omaha daily bee., 1915-10-31
MEXICAN SOLDIERS
ATTACK U. S. CAMP
Twenty Infantrymen Charged by
Gang Of Outlaws Open Fire on
Them from Trenches.
oARRANzA MEN KILL FIFTEEN


BROWNSVILLE, Tex, Oct So.-
A new attack by Mexican bandits on
a patrol camp OF United States sol
diers and the reported killing Of fif-
teen bandits in a battle with Car
rama soldiers. acting under orders
of first chief Veniustiano CarranSa
to clear the border of outlaws, were
developments today in the border
situation.
Details Of the reported fight on Mexi-
can SOIL which was said TO have occurred
fifty-flve miles west Of Matamoros, still
we're lacking tonight, but color was
added to the story by the dispatch Of $50
soldiers up the Rio Grande by General
Eugenio Lopez, commander Of the gar
rison at Mstamoros. 1t was understood
they were to aid In prosecuting the search
for outlaws who have been marrying the
Texas border counties by incursions from
their hiding places across the Rio
Grands.
First reports Of the fight between the
bandits and the Mexican soldiers came
from Reynosa, which repeatedly has been
bandit activities
The Mexican bandits who attacked
patrol Of twenty United States infantry
men at Capote ranch early today charged
the camp from three directions. The sol
diers were In trenches and opened fire
on the Mexicans at fifty yards. The fir
ing continued for perhaps ten minutes,
when the Mexicans retreated in the d.
reotion OF the Rio Grande, three miles
away, and escaped.
The infantry were parts of Companies
Z and H, Twenty-eighth regiment, In
command of Lieutenant M. R. Wainer.
"No safety for Americans"
DOUGLAS, Artz., oct. 30.-At least fifty
and perhaps 100 Americans still in that
part OF the state of Sonora controlled by
villa partisans were placed in grave dan
ger today by the posting at Cananea of
printed copies Of the protest which Carlos
Randall, acting Villa governor, sent to
the State department at Washington.
This protest declared that unless per-
mission given General Carranza to trans
port troops over American territory to
Aqua Prieta was Immediately revoked
there would be no safety for American
citizen IN Sonora, much less for their
property"
At Cananea alone American mining in
terests have property valued at millions
of dollars.
The document posted there was signed
by ]. M. Acosta, a Yadui chief, in the
form OF notice to the Cananea prefect
that the governor had sent q protest to
Washington.
Seven Americans already are In the
hands OF villa troops, according to in
formation available tonight JAMES Carr,
sr.; James Carr. Jr.; Lawrence Carr and
William Doran are held at Esqueda, and
three Enemen employed on the Eltigre
power line. Archie Mcdonald and two
others named Nelson and Greene, are
prisoners at Fronteras.
1t was at first believed that these man
were kept from coming to the border to
prevent Information leaking OUT Of the
movement of villa troops, but friends
showed much anxiety after learning of
the Randall threat.
Representations to Carranza-
Representations have been made to Cen
eral Carranza by the United States ask
ing for positive orders to military authori-
ties in the vicinity OF Matamoros to pur-
sue and arrest Mexicans raiding In Ameri-
can territory. It Is understood that such
orders have already been issued.
The State department. received today
the protest of Acting Governor Randall of
the Villa government In Sonora against
the transportation OF Carranza troops
through American territory en- route to
Aqua Prieta. There will be no response
to Randall, but as the communication is
understood to have conveyed ths informa-
hon that General villa as a consequence
Of the movement OF troops through Amer
lean territory would not hold htmself TO-
sponsible for the protection of Americans,
the consul at Nogales probably viii be
instructed to inform Villa officials that
the recognition OF the de facto govern
ment will not relieve them of personal
responsibility for injury to citizens Of the
United States.