Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-04-15
Americans Alleged to Have
Been Unarmed When
Attacked i.
MACHINE GUN USED
One of the Most Treacherous Acts
Yet Recorded in Campaign of Am.
crican Expedition

Washington, April Is. United
States consular dispatches from E
Paso carried unconfrmed reports tc
the State Department today that a
second fight between American troops
and residents had occurred at Parral
No details were given.
Unarmed American troopers enter
ing Parral on a peaceful mission were
attacked by engragcd civilians and
Carranzista soldiers last Wednes-
day, according to reliable advices slow.
ly coming through.
One of the detachment of forty was
killed as they fell back under lire be-
fore their comrades coming to their
aid moved down half hundred OF
the Mexicans with machine gun.
These are the main facts OF the
Parral battle as related in an unof-
fetal report from Consul Letcher and
borne out in dispatches from Mexico
City.
Consul Letcher stated that these
facts were currently related in Chi
huahua City and Gen. Funston in
giving out the report said he was in
.cl;nad to accept it as a fairly accurate
account.
A statement accredited to the sub
secretary of foreign relations at
Mexico City says the soldiers were
forced into Parral for supplies and
were fired on by civilians.
Gen. Funston advised the War De-
partment. today that he had not heard
from Gen. Pershing for three days.
He said he had sent insistent mes
sares to Gen. Pershing urging him
to report on his operations so that
he can keep Washington advised.
Secretary Baker said he was still
without report of the attack on the
American cavalrymen by Mexicans
at Parral. He had no information as
to the fate of the cavalry detachment
led by Major Tompkins.
Secretary Baker refused positive
iy to discuss this mysterious White
House visit shortly before midnight
last night. He saw the President at
ter receiving lengthy report from
Gen. Funston.
Mr.. Baker insisted there was nc
change in the policy governing the
Mexican expedition or in the orders
to Gen. Funston, as a result of the
recent Mexican demands for with.
drawal of the troops. He said that
no change of policy is now contem.
plated.
The report is replete with circum
stantial detail that marks the PARA
attack as one of the most ,treacherou!
acts yet recorded in the campaign Of
the American punitive expedition.
El Paso, April 15.-- Rioting, il
which much property was destroyed
followed the clash between Ameri
can troops and the residents of Par
raj, according to advices received b!
A. J. McQuatters, of Boston, presi
dent Of the Alvarado. Mining and Mill
ing Company of Parral.
Carranza Consul Garcia, quoting
telegram from War Minister Oh
RECON, denied there was rioting, an
stated that the situation quieted dow
after the fight.
A message from the military off
GERS said:
an retaliation for the recent troub
les armed men yesterday Thursday
at noon assaulted the mill, brealiin
in doors, and windows of residence!
offices, warehouses, and stores, dc
stroying property.
"The mob repeated the assault &
midnight, again robbing and destroy
ing and will propably repeat the il
cident. Military authorities kno'
everything connected with the sam
All reports seem to contradict Il
accounts received by mining men ye
terday that the American forces toe
possession Of Parral.
Gen. Gavira of Juarez received
long code telegram from Chihuahu
but refused to make it public.
His previous advices were that O