The Washington herald., 1916-04-15
TWO SOLDIERS
DIE IN FIGHT
Mob Pursues Am merican
Troopers to Camp Out
side City.
ROUTED BY MACHINE GUN
American Re-enforcements Drop so
Mexicans Before They Are Able
to Regain Town.

olNcial 10 Inc Warrington Hefald.
San Antonio, Tex. April 14-Gen. Fun
ston received a report from Chihuahua
which puts a new aspect on the attack
upon the American troops at Parral
Wednesday afternoon. showing that Car
rama soldiers led in the attack, and were
assisted by civilians. who Joined in the
attack declared to be unwarranted and
unjustifed in every sense.
Two American soldiers paid the PEN
atty and between forty and fifty Mexi-
cans fell victims to American bullets,
a number of whom are said to be Car
rama soldiers.
About $50 American troops were camped
outside the town and had made no at
tempt to enter or cross through the set
tlement. A detachment OF about forty
troopers was sent into Parral to purcha Sc
supplies for the command. and were at
tackled by Mexican soldiers and civil
ians' many Of them sniping from be-
hind walls and buildings at the Ameri-
cans
The forty Americans retreated to the
encampment outside the town, and were
hotly pursued by the MexIcans. who were
met by American reinforcement with a
machine gun. Nearly a half hundred
Mexicans we're Killed before they could
retreat back to Parral. ...
U. s. Consul Reports Fight.
United States Consul Letcher, at Chi
huahua City, telegraphs Gen. Bell. at
Ell Paso. report of the Parral fight re-
ceived there, as follows:
twenty-five unarmed American SOL
diers entered Parral to buy supplies
Were fired upon by Carranza troops and
citizens. Two Americans were killed
They retreated to a camp outside OF
Parral and returned the fire of Mexicans
Forty Mexieans killed. Machine guns
were used. No figures on wounded
Ell Paso, Tex. April 14.-AmerIcan
forces when fired upon by the civilian
citizens of ParraI on Tuesday, were
unarmed. Only a small part Of the
force had just reached that point.
presumably the command OF Mai
Frank Tompkins, Thirteenth Cavalry
had entered the city. and these had
left their arms with the main COM
mand on the outskirts of the town.
Both reports agreed in the decIara-
tlon that the main body of the Amer
lean troops remained outside the city.
The official report said that forty
unarmed American troopers were rid
ing into the town to buy provisions
when fired on. A dispatch to a min
ing company said two unarmed mas
sengers from the American army rode
into the city to look for dfspatches
and were fired on. the arrival OF the
Americans in the outskirts Of the
city having previously excited the
people.
Bell Credits Both Reports.
Gen. George Bell. jr.. credited both
these reports. declaring that proba bly,
the messengers rode In advance OF
the other forty men. Both reports
agreed that when the N.exIcans fred
they killed one of the men In advance
and that the other Americans retreat
ed. followed by the excited Mexicans,
The troops in camp hearing the firing
rushed up with machine guns and
rifles. and soon put the Mexicans to
flight.
Official bulletins in Juarez today
reciting the occurrence said Carranza
military did not take part in the
trouble. and dismissed It as "a diff
Guilty between the American soldiers
and some of the civilian population
of Parral."