The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-23
Fled Garrison After e. S. Cav.
alrymen Were Killed.
q. S. FOrtifies Every Promi-
nence With Heavy yGuns.
REBELS AND ExILES WELCOME
DefactOs Receive Them Back
With Open Arms.
Ex-PoIitical and Ex-Rebel
Leaders in Ell PaSO Return.

San Antonio June 23.-General
Funston eagerly awaited today fur
ther details from General Pershing of
the attack near Carrizal by greatly
superior force Of Medcans under Gen.
Felix Gomez, on troops C and K of the
Tenth United States cavalry under
Capt. Charles Boyd.
The final outcome of the battle was
not made known in General Pershing-s
report received at headquarters late
last night nor was any indication given
of the number of casualties suffered
by the little American force which had
been almost entirely surrounded by a
ring of Mexican troops The report
was based on the stories of several
stragglers, who had made their way
back to the main column. These men
apparently had been horse-helders.
not actively engaged. and had made
their escape before the fighting was
over. According to the story told
General Pershing by the stragglers
the attack was entirely unprovoked
and was made after the Mexican force
had partly surrounded the Americans
under cover of parley between Cen
eral Gomez and Captain Boyd. 1t was
not until after the Mexicans had
opened with machine gun on the
American troopers that Captain Boyd
dismounted his command and re-
| turned the fire, according to the strag-
glers' story.
! Reached Carrizal at 1880 a. m.
They reported to General Pershing
that the forces under Captain Boyd
and Capt. Lewis s. Morey joined at
Ojo Santo Domingo on June 20 and
proceeded together toward Carrizal.
arriving within mile of that town at
| 1880 a. m. on June FL. Captain Boyd.
the senior officer. ordered a halt at
that point and sent a courier into
Carrizal asking permission of the
Mexican commander to pass through
the town. This permission was re-
fused, according to the courier, but
while he was making his report a mes
senger arrived from General Gomez
with word that the American troops
would be allowed to pass through
provided Captain Boyd would stop
within the town for a parley
| Before Captain Boyd had dispatched
ain answer to this message, General
| Gomez himself rode out to meet the
American commander, accompanied
by several members OF his staff
| While they were talking, according to
the stragglers, large numbers of tho
Mexican garrison poured out of tho
| town and began to crowd toward the
American forces from all sides so that
they were in danger of being sur
rounded
| Didn't Meet Reinforcemenfs
Captain Boyd, according to the re-
port, protested emphatically against
this movement What reply was made
to this protest by General Gomez was
not known by the returning troopers,
but General Gomez retired toward his
own lines. The moment he reached
his men. according to the report to
General Pershing. the Mexicans
opened fire with machine gun Can
-
men, deployed them as skirnishers
and returned the fire. There, ac-
cordiEg to the message received hv
General Funston, the story of the
straggler ends
Apparently the men who made their
way back to Pershing's headquarters
did not encounter the two squadrons
of the Eleventh cavalry sent by Gem
eral Pershing to reinforce the two
troops of the Tenth and no report
Pershing last night.
General Funston pointed out a dis
crepancy in the report coming through
Mexican sources to the effect that
Captain Morey had been killed The
Mexican report stated the American
commander had been killed. while
General Funston pointed cut ! hat Can
tain Boyd was the senior officer OF
Morey sand would have been in COM
mand
Boyd Had Precaution.
General Pershing's report stated
that he had warned Captain Bovd be-
fore the latter left the maiTs column
that he was on reconnoitering ex-
r pedition only and that he was To use
every prs caution against precipitatine
a clash with Mexican troops The fact
> that there instructions f1a6 been given
is taken by army officers here to sub
: stantiate the story Of the stragg1ers
e that the attack was unprovoked by
t the Americans and made without
= warning. complete report from the
two sauadrons of the Eleventh cavalry
CONTINUED on Page Two.l