The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-22

dead and wounded being brought in
and were told by a Carranza captain
that lttle had taken place The
captain informed item, they said, that
a number of Americans, prisoners, had
been imprisoned in a cattle car and
were to be taken to Chihuahua City
to be hanged.
Got Story From Mexicans.
They mentioned Mexican soldiers
who told them that several hundred
Americans and 120 Mexicans had been
engaged. Hubble and Maxey said some
of the Mexicans openly boosted that
the Americans had been drawn into
an ambush.
The Mexican officers at Villa Anu
mazda treated US with the greatest
courtesy" said Hubble. They an
swered our questions quietly and with
no show of antipathy or excitement.
According to the story they told
US, the Mexican command was con-
covered the American cavalry riding
toward them over the sand. Cen
Felix Gomez, the Mexican commander.
Immediately sent courier, asking Tor
parley under a flag of truce with
the American commander. The parley
was arranged and as the Mexican
leader and two aides started forward,
the Americans suddenly deployed in
a semi circular skirmish line
General Gomez, apparently bellev-
ing he was about to be attacked,
raised his arm and signaled machine
gun in the rear to open fire on the
Americans The machine gun swept
the cavalry ranks, causing heavy
losses.
Daring Trooper Kills Gomez.
Immediately, however, detach-
ment of American troopers dasneo Ior-
ward under heavy fire, to the center
of the field, where General Gomez and
his staff were sitting on their horses.
In the resultant encounter, one of the
cayalrymen killed the Mexican leader
with his pistol, while the remainder
of the Carranzista party escaped to
their own lines.
Neither Hubble nor Maxey was able
| to learn whether the MeHcans had re-
treated, it being pointed out that all
of the MexicanS with whom they
talked apparently left the field before
| the engagement had been completed
The two Americans said their infor-
nation was that the American dead
numbered seventeen and that the Mex
leans had taken forty prisoners.
At General Gonzales headquarters
victory for Mexico was claimed. The
scene in the front room of the COM
| GERS were gathered, was holiday like,
Several of them, speaking of the bat
| tie, said:
I've Won," Declare Mexicans.
I'VE won"
They remained composed. however
and made little other reference to the
incident.
Juarez first learned of the fight in
vague form in the early afternoon. The
civil population then begun to pack
| their household goods. Many already
had left for interior points by morn
| ing train in anticipation of the trou-
Bile. Others crossed to Ell Paso later
in the day. A curious scene late
today in Juarez was a procession of
civilians carrying arms. In age they
ranged from small boys, not as tall
as their guns, up to bent old men.
Most of them were in the ragged dress
of the peon, but some belonged to
the better classes and wore good
clothes.
Much Wariike Activity.
Warlike activity was first noticed
at the railway yard where a string OF
freight cars lay coupled to several
day coaches that bore the name OF
the army corps of the north A num-
Der of men were employed therein
slowing sacks of beans and flour, bales
of forage and other army supplies.
Late in the afternoon a rather large
body of Mexican cavalry passed
through the town toward the hills
Many wagons filled with women and
children were bound also in that direc-
| ton.
| At shutdown the soldiers off duty
were lettering about the street while
| the civilians left behind sat on their
door steps to enjoy the cool of the
evening. A noticeable feature was the
gaiety of the young officers and there
! was considerable drinking. But only
the young officers who had seen little
real campaigning and had wearied OF
| the monotony of garrison routine ap-
| reared jubilant over the prospect OF
war. The older officers, when the
chance of a peaceable solution was
| mentioned would answer: "OjaIa.
| MAY it be 500
No instance of any attempt to mo-
| lest any American was reported during
the daytime. After dark no American
is believed to have remained in Juarez
list IS COMPLETE