The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-21
OF A L o
Attack Planned by Carransa
Officers. IL Belief.
~ GEORGE a.. CLEMENTS.

~ARTERs IN FIELD NEAR MANI
oriPA. April ID. by aeroplane to co.
lumbus, New Mexico. April c0.-The
larral situation continues to be the
principal topic of conversation in army
circles. though Gen. Pershing and mem
bers OF his staff refuse to discuss IL for
publication in m OF it's pha SEES. The
next move 10 be made. II known to the
military authorities in the field. il kept
a profound secret.
While the first version of the AFFAIR
led those who heard the story of the at
tack on Major Tumpkins and his little
handful OF men 10 believe that Gen.
l.ozano, jefe de Las Aramas OF rarral.
was in the plot to bring about the de-
structIon OF the Americtn force through
drawing II into Il trap from which no
man would he permitted TO escape with
his life. II is now thought that he acted
in good faith and did his best 10 cause
the oldiers in the mob to return TO
the barracks. lie is said to have gone to
the extent of elnptying his pistol into
the ranks OF the mutineers. wound!ng a
number Of them in "A vain effort to stop
the attack upon the Americans.
BE that as II may. there ~ "A strong
belief that the attack was favored, 4
not really ordered. by carranZlsta Of
fcers high in command. and there is "A
disposition to demand that the most
: tTdS'lG dtllDll Ne tdEtn ~ tdNIU tIoS'
who participated in the anti-American
demonstration or those who gave IL
countenance in any manner and To give
them a lesson which they Will remem-
Der to the end Of time.
Zen. P~rshing silent.
In justice to Gen. Pershing II must
he said that he Is having no part In
his declaration of intentions and is
J 81, . II, -, - taiy.tr n rnnS .lDnlntI SllenNp
conten;iug himself with discussing
the affair in all its phases with
his superiors in San Antonio, Washing
ton or wherever they may he in the
United states.
As facts of the affair become known
In their entirety. the more, ineXplicable
the attack seems TO be. except upon the
hypothesis tina, there was n gigantic
plot on the part Of responsible officers
Of the Parral garrison to indulge In a
wholesale massacre of American soldiers
which would make the world gasp.
TIL, plans might have succeeded had II
no, been for undue haste exhibited in
the matter Of beginning the orgy or
death by some members of the mob.
The throwing of stones and the fring OF
pistols and In. Wild shouts of "Muerte
a los gr!ngoes 80 death to the Amer!-
,aus) gave motto. that they had enc
mics in the crowd which gathered 10
ieer them as they waited for their COM
mandinG officer to conclude his confer
cnce with the various chiefs. military
and political. in the jefeatoria in the
central plaza of tine city.
These manifestations also made
Ma Tor Tompkins aware that he was
not in the hands Of friends and
TO make him wary Of taking advice
given him as TO the place In which he
should camp. II seems certain, TOO, that
had he followed the advice given him ne
and his men would be numbered among
MARTYRS to a desire to punish the man
resnonsible for the columbus massacre.
rather than merely having suffered the
loss Of two killed and a number
wounded. and himself nursing n wound
In the shoulder.
PIT Of Death selected.
The place selected by the Parral ai-
thorities as the camping ground Tor the
America s-near n packing house-was
Ideally located for its conversion into a
nil OF death II the leaders Of the mill
tary garrison OF the town SO willed H.
and in the opinion of those familiar
with the terrain Major Tompktns was
wise to refuse to occupy II ana witnurew
IN a point we'll without the city limits
near Lacunda Gomera Instead
Parral is naturally n fortress and
should he held for an indehnite lensth OF
time BY q comparatively small force
against a force Of attackers many times
, as great. This city Is OF
ali sides by hills which not only com
mandt the approaches to the passes lead
ing into H., but command every portion
: of the great amphitheatre in which iii.
city Is built. There Is not a spot OF
place IN that great circle in which thu
Americans would have been safe. and il
the minds OF those who know conditions
they were wise In rctreatinR to the opei
country toward the north and west
where they would have a fighting chance
;. The wisdom of their decision to leave
the city WAS exempliied In the little
A>A1A ushiNh than Anal1v CARA lAPaAk