The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-06-23
AMERICANS AND
MEXICANS CLASH
Continued from Page ~

have done deadly execution in the
ranks of the Americans. That the
latter were not inefficient, however,
was proved by the number of Mexi-
can dead and wounded removed to
Villa Aumada and seen by Ameri-
cans coming north on train bound
for Juarez.
Short but Bloody.
The battle began at 10:30 a. m. and
lasted not more than an hour. 1t ap-
parently ended with both sides with
drawing. The failure of Gen. Per-
shing to report on it indicated that
the American survivors had not yet
returned to their base early tonight.
A story brought to Ell Paso by J.
c. Hubble, an American, who has
been employed by the Compania Agri-
cola at Bouquillas, bears out several
of the details of the engagement pre-
sented by Gen. Gonzales. Hubble's
story was corroborated by James
Maxey, another American, who also
was on his way to El Paso from the
interior. Hubble and Maxey said that
while their train was stopping at Villa
Ahumada they noticed numbers of
dead and wounded being brought in
and were told by a Carranza captain
that battle had taken place. Captain
Informed them, they said, that num-
ber of American prisoners had been
locked in cattle car and were being
taken to Chihuahua City to be hanged.
They met Mexican soldiers who told
them that several hundred Americans
and 120 Mexicans had been engaged.
"The Mexican officers at Villa
Ahumada treated us with the great
est courtesy" said Mr.. Hubble. "They
answered our question quietly and
with no show of antipathy or excite
ment.
According to the story they told
us the Mexican command was con-
cealed in the underbrush when it dis
covered the American cavalrymen
riding toward them over the sand.
Gen. Felix Gomez, the Mexican COM
mander, Immediately sent a courier
asking for a parley under flag of
truce with the American commander.
The parley was arranged and as the
Mexican leader and two aides started
forward the Americans suddenly de-
ployed in semi-circular skirmish
line.
"Gen. Gomez apparently believing
he was about to be attacked, raised
his arm and signaled a machine gun
in the rear to open fire on the Amer
leans. The machine gun swept the
cavalry ranks, causing heavy losses.
Immediately, however, a detach-
ment of American troops dashed for
ward under heavy fire to the centre
of the field where Gen. Gomez and
his staff were sitting on their horses.
In the resultant encounter one of the
cavalrymen killed the Mexican leader
with his pistol while the remainder
of the Carranza party escped to their
own lines"
Hubble and Maxey said some of the
Mexicans openly boasted that the
Americans had been drawn into an
ambush.
| The two Americans said their infor-
nation was that the American dead
number II and that the MeXicans had
taken 40 prisoners. Neither Maxey
nor Hubble was able to learn wheth-
er the Mexicans had retreated, it be-
| ing pointed out that all of the Mex
leans with whom they talked appar-
emily left the field before the engage
ment had been completed.
Late tonight p reparations appar-
emily were under way for the peace
| full evacuation of Juarez. Several
troop trains pere pulled into the
railroad yards. Andreas Garcia, Mex
ican consul in Ell Paso, crossed the Rio
Grande after the first reports of the
engagement and remained with Gen.
in touch with Gen. Bell, on the Amer
icap side, by telephone, however.
Neither the consul nor the Mexican
military authorities would discuss the
report of the proposed evacuation.
A large number of citizens of the
town were busy loading their house
hold goods on vans and other vehi-
cles ostensibly to transport them to
the south.
Numerous persons gathered about
the plaza Immediately when news of
the battle became public but there
were no demonstrations
MeXicanS apparently confined
themselves to speculation as to the
consequences. Heavy patrols were
thrown into the streets with instruc-
tions to put down any disorders.
At Gen. Gonzales headquarters a
vicio for Mexico was being claimed.
TIE scene H. the front room of the
Commandments where the younger
officers were gathered was holiday
like. Several of them, speaking of
the battle, said, eve won"
They remained composed, how
ever. and made little reference to the
incident.