Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-04-17
UNPROVOKEDATTACK
ON PERSHING'S men
American Commander Reports to
Funston Upon Battle at
Parral.
FIRST OFFICIAL STATEMENT


SAN ANTONIO. Tex, April 1e.---lt
was an "unproyoked attack" on un-
armed American soldiers who had
entered Parral merely to purchase
supplies that precipitated an action
between Mexicans and Americans
there Wednesday. according TO an
official report received tonight from
General Pershlng.
His report was the first official
news that has been received OF the
incident which drew from Carranza
the urgent recommendation that the
American troops be withdrawn, and,
though brief, II confirmed the report
sent by Consul Letcher from Chi
huahua Wednesday.
General pershIng sent hia report In
duplicate from satevo. ninety miles
northwest Of Parrai. II appeared that
he did not receive report from the
troops yet in the vicinity Of Parrsl until
today and that upon It's receipt he for.
wArded his report to General Funston
Immediately
Eater 20 my Food.
lie said that 4 part OF the soldiers
leaving their arms at the camp outside
the town. entered 70 buy food. They
we're fired upon and retrsatod in the al.
rectlon Of the camp, The troops there
moved forward to meet tho Mexieans,
who were pursuing the rstreating troops,
and began a sharp fire. killing forty
Mencans.
lie reported the American dead "A two.
No mention Of wounded, either OF the
Americans or the Mexieans was made.
The Americans we're a detachment Of
the Tenth cavalry and II was indicated
that they were commanded by Colonel
w. G. Brown,
General Pernhng said he had dis
patched additional troops In the dlrec-
ton Of ParraI. but General Funston with.
held for military reasons that part Of
the information relating 10 what units
we're being moved and the exact disposi-
ton. although he intlmated that he re-
earded as satisfactory the orders Con-
crsl pefahing had issued.
Report IL Too short,
General Funston did not regard Gem
erai Pershlng's report as wholly salts
factory. however, because Of its breyIty'
lie sent him a message tonight asking
him 20 ampllfy II ~ quickly as posAlble.
Whether tho attack on the men who
went to Parrni was made by residents
or by soldiers. or whether by both was
not stated and no mention was made Of
any assistance given by tho Mexican
troops In the suppression OF rioters or In
tho restoration Of order
One cory Of tho report was sent through
'onedl fetther at Chihnahua to,hc State
1cpaytrheft III code This wan sent from
chihushua over the commercial wires IN
,ontrol Of nc Mcxicen government The
American. military has not boon permitted
D nee the wires Tor tfahafnission on coded
The duplicate report was taken
20 NamIqlIIpa by seroplsne and from her
PASSED over the field wire that General
has act up from there TO his
case At Columbus since the report
assed over that wire late this afternoon,
4 waa cut
Genatal pershlng dld not indicate IN hil
seport that any fresh news a. to this
whereabouts OF villa had been received.
although II 10 understood he told of the
continued advances Of cavalry detach-
menls who are yet forcing thfir way
along mountain trails in the neighborhood
Of pArrai.
Few More Troops GO.
a few additional troops have been sent
into Mexico from Columbus. but their
addition TO those in Mexico was not due
directly to the pnrrai incident Il was
occaEioned by tho reports Of unexplained
by tho de facto government
troops. especially those troops commanded
by General Arnulfo Gomez. who was re-
ported TO be moving into position from
which he might menace the line OF COM
munlcation Scouting operations along
the line were continued today and pre-
Cautlonary measures 10 guard against at
tack were taken. Orderh TO. take all pre-.
cautions we're sent 20 General Davis AZ
Douglas. opposite from which place
considerable Mexican force Ia stationed.
Whether Colonel Browns troops ara
stun camped In the immediate vicinity Of
rarfal OF whether they have continued
on TO the south over some trail that
asses around the town was unknown
here General Funston also Il without
Information rogarding the Developments
Al parrai on tho day after The trouble
between the MeNicana and American
troops
neIief u Eytaent.
Relief was evident AZ headquarters to-
uieht. however. Tor even there the ramaFt
tnat the entire detachment q troops hat
been wiped cut tia, the Americans had
occupied rargnl, that they had dlsarmsd
ihs entire population that Mexican
iofoe Nas ehaslnE ths Americans Into
ne hga and other reports equally wild
eefs fsealsea from unattielAi sources II
Ale absence 81 authsutla fsnaf,s. effiesrs
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asY AiaaaaKa even fais q u na kn8wn
fest ehefe ths asisehlusng q of hsW tt
fas fsfed sinas Wednesday, ths sfeapHi
"a save ID nsaif Wednesday has eeas
sinlsa affleafs hsle ghat i1 has been abs
IS taks safa a ltself
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