The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-21
PARRAL ALMOST
ANOTHER ALAMO
SAY ARMY men
Indisputable Evidence Carranza
Troops Attacked Cavalry.
Changes Entire Military Aspect
of Punitive Expedition.
UNDER FRIENDSHIP GUISE
Tompkins Was Assured HOspi-
tally by Parral Officials.
Was with De FactO ENJOYS
When Firing Commenced.
Changes Entire Military Aspect
of Punitive Expedition.
FRIENDSHIP GUISE
Was Assured HOspi-
tally by Parral Officials.
Eas with De FactO ENJOYS
When Firing Commenced.

w
EPershing's Camp at the Front, April
rs. via Aeroplane to Columbus, n. NJ
knril 21.-The fight at Parral, where
according to indisputable evidence
reaching here today, the Carranza
troops in force attacked the force OF
Major Tompkins, has changed the en-
tire ASPECT of the Villa chase so Tar
as immediate military plans are con-
earned This attack upon an Amer
lean force which went in good falth
into Parral in the most friendly fash
- t,locl,ad what seemed to be an eX-
client opportunity for either the cap
ftre of villa or the dispersal OF one
OF his strongest BANDS. +rooDs
Heretofore the American Ioop9
have racokoned only on meeting cppo-
elton from brigands but resistance
from regular troops of the MeXlcaIi
army put the American military iedu
ers Immediately under the h 1iSeic,ifie 81
sreparing for serious dl1Ii nc i'-sss
whether these preparations Will nave
10 be completed depends upon me u
tt1re course of the Carr ANA Ieclt III
III can be stated That Wltnii ~
hours after the Parral fight the new
dispositicn of American FORCES va
-.artlvy coupleted and within two Gays
is most important features hau
entirely carried out
-, Anil 70 about noon. Major
81, Tompkins of the Th1rteenh
cavalry. who chased the Nlillsea a
sisross the line at Columbus, went liito
Parral with only a small P1[Si ,1 "a
bis force. which totaled about 10y
men including "A pack train. lie hau
Troops NJ and K of the IhIrtee ~. -.
Nfs5or Tompkins had taken the pre-
caution the night before 70 SEM " "a 1s
Nv a messenger to the president %
perral Luz Herrera, that ne Woulu
cali upon him the next day to arrange
FOR buying provisions and 10 nave tile
Parral military officials designate
some camping place for the Americans
S,,+si,1e of Parra1, in accordance with
fha agreement by which the American
troops are not to occupy Mexican
cities. Major Tompkins lett most OF
his men outside of Parral but took ms
advance guard into the city ourlI a me
call. The presence of this guard was
both a military precaution. considered
necessary in a country credited with
being strongly Nillista in sentiment,
and was also the usual formal escort
recommending commanding oftlcers
when. according to Mexican customs,
they pay official visits.
say Messenger Was Slain.
The president said he had not re-
ceived the message which Major Tomp-
kins had dispatched. The messenger
was q Mexican. a Carranza petty Of
thorities claimed they found that this
officer had been captured by Villistas
and killed on the way to the city The
conference in the city with the presi-
dent and with the Carranza general
commanding in Parral, General Lo-
zano. was pleasant. Promises were
made to sell the Americans food and
to show them good camping site.
q Immediately the Americans started
Out of the city accompanied by Her
rera and Lozano. who were riding
with Major Tompkins. When the
Americans were out of the town the
pack train at their rear, Major Tomp-
lxins heard firing, looking back he
shooting at the pack train. He had
heard shouts of Viva Villa" and
tsViva Mexico" and curses against
.Gringoes"
Major Tompkins turned to the Car
rama leaders and asked them what
they knew about firing on his pack
train. General Lozano and the presi-
dent hurried back toward the town
to stop the shooting The Americans
were in column formed for defense
when this firing began, a formation
which Major Tompkins had ordered
as he heard the shooting against his
pack train which had been five or six
hundred yards to the rear. The two
soldiers killed in the action were near
Major Tompldns.
Wore Carranza Uniforms.
As the firing became general Major
Tompkins and the men of his COM
inand could see some of the assail-
ants. They wore the khaki uniforms
OF Carranza soldiers. Major Temp
kins discovered one column of these
Uniformed men moving out to cut Of
the road to the east and north. WheI
they did not heed his warning to gel
away from the road he ordered hi.
men to reply to their fire. Sergeant
Jay Ridgeley of troop NJ. Thirteenth
cavalry. was the first American t
fplI. His body lay all day where i
fell in the road. as his comrades were
too hard pressed to pick it up.
A bullet struck Major Tompkins il
the left breast. The wound was slight
according to military standards. anC
The major continued in command al
afternoon and until yesterday, wheI
l,einforcements under superior officer
arrived to relieve him. Lieut.. J. 3
Ord of the Sixth infantry who accom-
panied the cavalry. was shot in tn,
left ear. a slight wound. AS the figh
began. Major TompEins received wor,
from the Carranza general that tn
citizens were doing the shooting, tina
his troops were unable to control then
and advising the Americans to fal
back.
Pursued Five Hours.
The retreat continued for five hour
and a half over distance of fifteel
miles on a road bordered by bushe
and hills affording good cover 70
Bursuers During all this time tn
american troops repeatedly caugh
sight of men in CarranZa uniform
shooting at them but seeing few,
any, civilians After moving out from
the trap of hills Major Tompkin
Formed p line of dismounted men Z
retard the attackers until the pacl
hnimals and stores had time to ge
back toward the American rear. Re
peatedly during the afternoon this de
Tense line continued. to form, to fir
from the cover of rocks, ploughe'