Arizona republican., 1916-06-22
AMERICAN SCOUTING PARTY SURPRISED BY GOMEZ FORCE
 SEVERAL MILES FROM BASE
(Republican A. P. Leased Wire)

FL PASO Tex June 21-American and Carranza troops fought bloody battle today only few hours after President Wilson's thousand word rebuke yesterday to General Carranza had gone forward to Mexico City, With which side victory rested is not known.
 The engagement took place the SantO Domingo ranch near the Mexican town of Car1za which nine miles southwest of Villa Ahumada the Mexican field headquarters ill northern Chihuahua The number of dead, American MeXican was not definitely known to- night but nearly of General Pershings are said to have been killed and the MeXcanS said to have lost more than two
 Seventeen Americans are declared by Mexican off cas to have been captured and to have been hurried to Chihuahua City under adequate guard. machine gun used by the MeXcan reported to have done heavy eX ecltiOn.
 The Americans engaged are thought to have been members of troop from the Tenth cavalry, negro regi men returning from scouting trip to Guzman The size of the Mexican force whose commander General Felix Gomez, was killed is not known.
 News of the battle received in Juarez early this afternoon by General Francisco Gonzales, Ca1Tanza mander of the military of the border. For other General Gonzales kept the story until ate in the afternoon, when American, J C. Huppe turning to the border from the interior brought to E Paso the that he had numbers of Mexican dead along the Mexican Central railroad track at Villa Ahumada and had been told that there had been encounter with the I gringos.
 General Gonzales first step after confirming the was to issue statement placing the blame the Amer- can commander He charged that the American troops fired first the Mexcans and that their shots d rected at courier who had just presented to them | quest that they retire.
 | American army officers declared absolute disbelief tonight in General Gonzales assertions The opinion was expressed that if the Americans fired the Mexcans they did because necessary in order to insure their own safety. General 1revnos recent warning to General Pershg not to send his troops east south west of their positions recalled.
 Excitement spread in Fl Paso as extras were issued and the became known. Quiet was maintained how ever i'll view of General Bell frequent admontons that his soldiers could take of any situation that would arise While awaiting instructions from headquarters at San Antonio, General Bell kept his entire force in readi ness for instant action.
 In the meantime however word came from Juarez
 that all quiet although the of the battle was wide l spread there
 At early hour tonight the only details of the en- gagement received here from Mexican side of the l1ver General Gonzales said that his information was transmitted to him from Villa Ahnada by Colonel Geno vezo Ryas who commanded the MeXicans after their lead er General Gomez san General Gonzales also gave the Mexican explanation of how the two forces in . contact
 d According to General Gonzales he was informed by n General Gomez at Villa Ahumada last night of the pres ence of the Americans westward between Villa Ahumada and E Nalle. He says he immediately instructed General Gomez to proceed ot the Santo Domingo ranch where the Americans were reported ''n unknown force,' and ad- e wise their commander to retire to their camp. ~ This he says, General Gomez did this morning. The IS Amelcan commander whose name not given by Gen era Gomez is said to have replied that he instructed Ito proceed to Villa Ahuma and must do so
 Whichever side began the engagement, the MeXicans had the advantage for they provided with machine gun and this is supposed to have done deadly execution s in the ranks of the Americans That the latter were not inefficient however proved by the number of Mexi- dead and wounded removed to Villa Ahmada and wit messed by Americans coming north train bound to i- JuareZ.
 The battle began about 1030 a. m and lasted not more re than an hour It apparently ended by both sides with drawing The failure of General Pershng report on it indicates that the American survivors had not vet return of ed to their base at an early hour tonight he story brought to Fl Paso by J C. Hubble an Amer lIcaO hyyt tbaC of BO0lllaS hears of details of tba ry ,,,o.,+ Aa1 l ~ MI ~ TT Nioe'Se