The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-07-01
FEW ESCAPED THE
TRAP OF MEXICANS
Both of Capt. Boyd's Troops
Probably Were AnnihiIated
Says Pershing.
ONLY I HAVE REACHED CAMP
This Would Leave Possibly 100 Men
of Detachment Unaccounted For
Washington Tense.

San Antonio, Tex, June 24-Two
troops of the Tenth Cavalry under
Capt Charles T. Boyd practically were
annihilated by the attack of Mexican
forces under Gen. Felix Gomez at
Carrizal Wednesday, according to in
dications given in a fragmentary re-
port received by General Funston from
General Pershing tonight.
General Pershing's message stated
that only seven survivors, including
those who arrived last night, have
returned to the main column. All
were enlisted men, but the report did
not say whether there were non-com-
mlssioned officers among them
Mounted MexicanS Charged
According to the stories of the sur
vivOrs as outlined in General Perish
ing's report, a mounted force of Mex
leans made a mounted charge from
the flank at the conclusion of a par
ley between Captain Boyd and Gen
eral Gomez, at the same time that a
machine gun opened fire from the
front as General Gomez reached his
lines.
Captain Boyd ordered his men to
dismount as the machine gun opened
fire, and the combined effect of the
Mexican charge, the machine gun fire
and the rife fire from the Mexican
garrison of Carrizal, which had al
most surrounded the little American
force under cover of the parIey sought
by General Gomez to discuss whether
Captain Boyd should be allowed to
pass through the town, stampeded the
horses.
Attacked from Three Sides.
With their mounts gone, caught
without means of escape, ringed about
on three sides with the fire of an over
whelming force, the fate of the little
detachment is believed by officers
here to have been sealed.
Tension Up in Washington.
Washington, June 24-General Per
shing's report indicating that the
American cavalry command engaged
at Carrizal was the object of a treach-
erous attack by Carranza soldiers
stirred Washington tonight with a
deeper apprehension than has been
aroused by any other development in
the series which have brought the
countries to the brink of war There
were many grim evidences that ten
sion had been greatly increased. Pres
ident Wilson, who had retired before
the news reached Washington, was
awakened and talked with Secretary
Baker over the telephone. At the
War Department officials apparently
credited for the first time the story
that the Mexican troops had been
guilty of an act which could lead only
to the most serious consequences.
Only Seven Left Out of 100.
The strength of the two troops, G
and K, is not known here, but it is
estimated that they could not have
exceeded 100 Omen, allowing for those
sick and on detached service. With
only seven survivors reported as ar
irving at the main column the num-
Der of those unaccounted for, at least
speculatively, is pitifulIy small.
The report from General Pershing
stated that the stories of the survivors
was confused and did not conform in
all details with the report made from
the first arrivals from the battlefield
Relief Squadrons Not Heard From.
General Pershing reported that
there was a scene of wild confusion
when the Mexicans opened fire and
their cavalry charged. The stragglers
apparently were cut off in an effort
of Captain Boyd to extricate his men
from the jaws of the trap which was
| closing on his command, or fed be
! fore the outcome of the battle could
be learned.
General Pershing, according to his
report, had received no word from
| the two battalions of the Eleventh
/ Cavalry which he had sent to rescue
/ the remnants of Captain Boyd's ex
petition. He stated that he had TAX
en- no measures to support the squad
rons of the Eleventh Cavalry.
Vera Cruz, June 24.-The streets Of
Vera Cruz are thronged tonight with
American refugees seeking quarters
| in hotels and rooming houses. Many
| OF them will occupy benches OF wall
| the streets tonight, because most o.
the available quarters were occupied
| long since.
At $50 o'clock tonight a specia
train of eight box cars, carrying
Americans and their baggage, arrived
here. after being on the road for near
/ /,