Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-22
DEADLY EXECUTION
IN THEIR RANKS
BY MACHINE GUN
Sanguinary Engagemen ent
Occurs Near Town of
Carrizal.
DEAD AMERICANS BELONG
TO TENTH CAVALRY TROOP
More Than Forty Of Attacking
Forces Shot Down Before
| Both Sides Withdraw
GEN. FELIX GOMEZ VICTIM
Preparations Apparently Under Way
for Peaceful Evacuation of
JuareZ.
GEN. FELIX GOMEZ VICTIM
Preparations Apparently Under Way
for Peaceful Evacuation of
.JuareZ.

ELL PASO. TEN, June 2L.--Ame7!can
and Carranza troops fought sangui-
nary battle to-day only a few hours
after President Wilson's e.ooo-word
note, warning General Carranza that
the 'gravest consequences" would fol-
low an attack upon American forces
in Mexico had gone forward With
which side victory rested was not
known on the border tonight, as 10
report from General Pershing had
come through.
The casualties were also not known
but nearly n score of General PershirS's
men were said TO have been killed. and
the MeXicans were reported 70 have
lost moro than forty. Seventeen
Americans were declared by Mexican
| officials to have been captured and
hurried to Chihuahua City under guard.
y machine gun used by the Mex!cans
was said to have done heavy eXecu-
! tiou. The engagement occurred near
the town of Carrizal. nine miles south
east of Villa Ahumada. the Mexican
| field headquarters in Northern CHI
nuahua
| The Americans engaged we're thought
20 have been members o: 4 troop er.,m
| the Tenth Cavalry, n negro regiment,
| returning from scouting trip TO
! GuZman. The size OF the Mexican
| force. whose commander. General Felix
| Gomez, was not known.
GONZALES KEEPS STORY
| SECRET UNTIL LATER
| News Of the battle was received in
Juarez early this afternoon by GEN
eral Francisco Gonzales, Carranza COM
mandcr OF the military zone Of tho
/ border. For some reason. General Con
zales kept the story secret until lats
! in the afternoon. when an American.
]. C. Hubble. returning 10 the border
! from the interior. brought TO I'll Paso
! the news that he had seen numbers
of Mexican dead along the Mexican
/ Central Railroad tracks at Villa
/ Ahu,nada. and had been told that there
! had been an encounter.
| General Gonzales'S first step after
confirming the news was to issue a
! statement placing the blame on the
American commander He charged that
| the American troops fred first on the
| MeXicans, and that their shots were
directed 1t Il courier who had just pre-
scented to them a request that they
/ retire.
| Army officials declared disbelief to-
! night in General Cionzales's assertions
| The opinion was expressed that If the
! Americans fred on the Mcxicans. they
! did so because II WAS necessary, III
order to insure their own safety.
! General Trevino's reccn, warning to
| General Pershing not 70 send his troops
! east, south or west OF their positions
was recalled.
HE'LL. KEEPS ENTIRE
/ FORCE IN READINESS
/ Excitement spread III FL Paso az
extras were issued and the news he-
! came known. quiet was maintained,
/ however, in view OF General Bells fire.
uucnt admonitions that his soldiers
7 could take care OF any situation that
might arise. While awaiting instruc-
tons from headquarters at San
/ Antonio. General Bell kept his entire
| force in readiness for instant action.
In the meantime. however. word
! came from Juarcz that all was quiet,
although the news OF the battle was
, widespread there. Early tonight the
! only official details OF the engagement
! received here came from, the Mexican
side OF the river General GonZa!cs
said that his information was trans
! mitted 10 him from villa Ahumadn b.
! Colonel tienoreso RiyaS. who command.
!
General Gomez, WaS slain. General
| Rivas also gave the Mexican axplana-
tion of how the two forces came in
! contact.
| According to General Gonzales. he
was Informed by General Gomez last
night of the presence OF the Amer
leans. He says he Immediately in
I Structed General Gomez TO proceed to
the santo- Domingo ranch where the
Amcricans we're reported in Unknown
force and advise their commander
to. retire TO their camp.
This. he says, General Gomez did
, this morning. Tile American som.
mander. whose name VAS rot given. 10
said to have replied that he vas in
structed to proceed to Villa Ahumada-
aud mnSt do
STA rEMENT ISSUED
BY JUAREZ COMMANDER
The statement issued ny the Juares
commander read:
Immediately upon learning of tha
presence OF the American ,.oops IN cha
vicinity OF Carrisai. Genersi Folk