The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-17
AUTO CAVALRY
TO NIP IN BUD
BORDER RAIDING
Detachment of Troops Finds
Gang and Kills Three.
Sudden Revival of Outlawry
ArOuses Army Officers.
new NOTE WATCHFULLY WAITS
Holds Up CarranZa Message
Pending Developments.
Mexicans Dare Pershing to
Move, e. S. to Cross Line.

| Washington. June 17.-Altfl ough
the United States reply to General
Carranza's last note virtually is com
pleted its dispatch is being delayed
while administration officials seek de-
, tailed information on these develop
mentS:
Carranza's reported threat to Cen
| eral PerShing to start active warfare
If American troops in Mexico are
moved in any direction except north
ward toward the border; another ban
dit raid on Texas territory north of
Brownsville last night; attack on
American troops by Mexicans at San
1gnacio Wednesday; reports of warn
ings by the Carranza commander OPP
poSite San Ignacio that American
troops would be attacked il they
crossed the Rio Grande, regardless of
their purpose.
Additions to the note dealing with
some of these late developments may
be made it is said.
More Raiding Last Night.
Brownsville, Tex, June 17.-Revival
of bandit activities in the lower Rio
Grande valley last night resulted in
vigorous action by army authorities
which was interpreted here as presag-
! ing a determined attempt to nip the
periodical recurrence of outlawry in
the bud by dealing with the maraud-
ers on American soil. Soon after re-
ports were received that bandits had
appeared near San Benito, several de-
tachments of troops were gotten I'M
der way to deal with them.
Motor cars were Communicated in
accordance with prearranged plans
and two companies of the Twenty
sixth infantry were dispatched from
Harrington to OlInito, ten miles north
of Brownsville, with orders to cut off
the bandits retreat across the Rio
Grande into Mexico.
Meanwhile another force of Two
companies of infantry sent from San
Benlto earlier in the night to inves
ugate reports that the Joe Scott
ranch had been attacked, found their
quarry ten miles east of San Benito
A running fight took place in which
according to meager reports avaiIa HE
early today, three MeMcans were
| killed, while the American force 80
| fered no casualties
| VIII U. S. Cross Boundary?
| In addition to these two forces .
tlcop OF cavalry was thrown into the
game of hide and seek played by the
Me2lcans, when reports came that an
otfer bandit force had appeared near
| north of Brownsville, and had robbed
/ a Mexican farmer of his horses The
man escaped unframed and reported
inc occurrence to Fort Brown, from
where the cavalry was sent
| Reports from the various detach-
ments were awaited eagerly here and
at Fort Brown early today. Much in
terest was displayed concerning the
question whether, if the bandits elud-
| ed the soldiers on this side of the
Rio Grande and effected an escape
| into Mexico. the Americans would
pursue a hot rai1' across the inter
national boundary or leave the cor
railing of the outlaws to the Carranza
soldiers under General Ricaut who
recently announced that he had placed
a sufficient force in this territory to
| deal with all outbreaks and that any
crossing by the Americans would meet
with armed resistance.
Crosses But Comes Back.
| San Antonio. June I'm r
Alonzo Gray led his little command of
cavalry across the river into Mexico
today in search of the bandits who
raided his camp yesterday at San
Ignacio, but remained on Mexican soil
only two hours. He crossed the border
six miles below San Ignacio, scouting
along the Mexican side of the river for
a short distance and returned again
/ to the American side. He found no
trace of the bandits. On the American
side three of their bandits were cap
tured and the body of one found.
bringing the total of Mexican dead to