South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-14
Military Element Again in
Saddle of Mexican Govern
ment and Repetition of
ParraI Fight is Likely.
BORDER is PREPARING
AGAINST AN ASSAULT
Only Few Automobiles Ven
ture Out of EK PaSo Unarm-
ed Following Reports
of "Sniping."
international News Service:

International News Service:
FL PASO. Texas. April 14.-Fear
OF a general Mexican rising and at
tack upon American troops such as
dyed crimson the plaza at Parral,
| brought a new tension today 10 the
already menacing situation that con-
fronts the American expedition and
the international relations OF the
| United States and Mexico
The military element in Mexico Is
again in the saddle. Official advices
from Mexico City state that First
Chief Carransa has arrived there
from Queretaro on his way TO Vera
Cruz whence he win proceed 10
Yuoatan. He has issued a decree
| calling upon the Mexican people to
show calmness in the new crisis that
has arisen, but in Carranza's alb
sence Gen. Aware Obregon. his min
lister OF war, and Gen. Candida Agu-
liar, foreign minister, will conduct
the government.
To the opportunities of these two
leaders, both ambitious, is attributed
the de facto governments demand
for the withdrawal Of American
troops from Mexico. Observers on
the border assert that with Carranza
away and ObregOn and Aguilar d.
recting Mexican affairs the situation
will not brook of long diplomatic
negotiations.
Reports Conflicting.
Reports as to the battle at Parral,
which began when Shippers" opened
fire upon American soldiers who
were Obeying the request Of Mayor
Jose De La Luz Herrera, TO leave
the town, were still conflicting today.
| Most Of them we're TO the effect that
one American soldier had been kill
ed and 20 wounded and many Mex
leans killed. One rumor had IL that
fully $50 Mexicans had been killed.
but this Is believed to BE- an exagger-
alton.
Closely following the news OF the
Parral battle came rumOrs that an
American force had clashed with a
body OF Mexican troops near the
town Of Troya on the railway be-
tween Bminez and Parral This ru-
4 NOR said that the MeKicans were
mostly Carranzistas and that the
Troya clash preceded the fight at
Parral. the Mexicans hurrying on TO
| that town and melting the pOpulace
TO attack the Americans
Several Carranzista soldiers are
reported 10 have been killed either
at Troya or Parral. but this report
lacks confirmation. The Americans
- h.
conflict and this was undoubtedly
what caused heavy execution among
the Mexicans that attacked the
americans
Guard Against Attack.
Throughout the length Of the
state of CHIHUAHUA the American
troops are taking extreme precau-
tons against attack Their vigilance
is reflected along the border. Only
few automobiles venture out Of e
Paso and other border points with
out arms Reports reached police
headquarters today that Mexican
Shippers had fred across the Rio
Grande at motorists following the
trail along the river bank. but no
one vas injured.
can war be avert q . Is the chief
question asked on tie border today
II has replaced the y. eeks-old query
Of how long will it take 10 capture
Villa >" The fact that the Amer
lean troops responded without hest
tation 70 the FIRE directed upon them
AT Parral shows that a "shoot-frst
and-then-ask- questions attitude has
been adopted by the expeditionary
forces This spirit MAJ at any mo-
ment set diplomatic quibbling at
naugnt and bring war with a rush,
according 70 border observers.
Mexican official reports referred 10
the Parral battle as a "lAmenta bic
incident but through Mexico there
went today reports that the grin
goes" were responsible for the clash
because they had disregarded Car
ranza's warning against entering
towns in Mexico
Ordered Civilians Disarmed.
No explanation has vet come /
from Mexican sources OF the fact [
that the civilians Of Parral were
armed. More than two months ago