The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-25
new LINE CRISIS

Kennedy. Central Lake, Mich VINO
were wounded yesterday. were report
ed. today in no danger.
The body Of Private Henry w.
Stubblefield, Big Stone Gap, Va, who
was killed by the MeXicans, is being
held for relatives.
Half Dozen Mexicans Killed.
OF the five or six MeXicans killed
by the Americans yesterday, two met
death on the Texas side of the river
ing the river in boats and the others
were repored probably to have been
killed while scrambling up the bank
on the other side.
Another new phase of the border
situation which Brownsville people
are discussing today is the fact that
General H. p. Nafarrate, Carranza
commander at Matamoros, will not be
removed from his present post to an
other because of his supposed lack OF
sympathy with the efforts of Ameri-
cans to rid this section of bandits and
his alleged failure to keep his own
soldiers within bounds of military
rules.
This decision was reached by Cen
eral Trevino, Carranza commander of
the northeastern part of Mexico, who
made a trip to Matamoros to- investi-
gate charges that Nafarrate had been
negligent in the discharge of this part
of his duty.
U. S. Patrol Surprised.
The Mexican band which caused the
battle yesterday first looted the store
of FIorencio Saenz at Progreso at
dawn while the patrol of twelve men
was at the river. The patrol spends
the nights on the river and the days
at ProgreSo. When the soldiers
reached the store Private Stubblefield
stepped upon the porch and was shot
from within the store. Two bullets
pierced Stubblefield's body, killing
him. Up to this time the soldiers
were unaware of the presence of the
MeiXcanS.
The Mexicans quickly fled from the
place toward the river, and in the
running battle that followed four of
the Americans horses were shot from
under them. Reinforcements guided
by the sound of firing were rushed
to the scene as fast as automobiles
could make their way over roads
which are Doggy from recent rains.
The Americans pursuit was MAIN
tanned to the river bank, where they
were met by a rafting fire from the
trenches dug recently by Carranza
troops along the river bank on the
Mexican side. About $3.50 o'clock,
the firing ceased and the MeXicans
disappeared.
There was considerable cheering
and shouting from the Mexican side
l1lO LIS I4llHS
Ranchers Fight Off Bandits.
J. B. McAllen, a millionaire ranch
man of Brownsville, and a woman
cook Friday afternoon fought off a
band of fourteen Mexican bandits who
attacked McAllen's ranch house in
Hidalgo county. McAllen killed two
and wounded three bandits. The
fighting lasted about thirty minutes.
This ranch house is in a clearing,
differing from many houses in this
section, which are surrounded by
thick brush. Approach was difficult
for the bandits. who, seeing that their
losses We're heavy, retired. This is the
raided Palpa ranch, near Mission, and
were followed through Monte Cristo
and McAllen ranches into the ranch of
Sam Lane, after they had cut fences
and telephone wires, severing all COM
munication from ranches in that sec
ton for some hours.
Captain Frank r. Mccoy, COM
handing officer at Mission, reported
to Fort Brown today he had sent out
two detachments of soldiers in auto
mobiles and believed that these Next
cans would either be killed or driven
from the country. With the exception
of activities on Hidalgo county
ranches, no trouble was reported
along the lower border today, indicat-
ing all is quiet
States troops continued active pa
troll all last night around Progreso
without encountering any MeXicans.
Carranza Men Not in Battle.
Washington, Sept. 2S.-Dispatches
received at the Carranza agency from
General Nafarrete and the Carranza
consul at Brownsville tego1ically
deny that any Carranza troopers par
ticipated in the fighting yesterday at
Progreso between raiders and -Ameri-
can troops.