The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-04-22
MEXIcANS ATTACK
AMERICAN TROOPS
Force of the Seventh Cavalry
Under Maj. Thomkins 0riV-
en- Out of ParraI.
MANY ARE REPORTED KILLED
carranza Sends Regrets to Washington
and Hints He is Unable to Con-
troll Situation.

Washington, April 14-American /
troops in Mexico have had their first |
battle with the natives, at the moment |
General Carranza is urging the with !
drawal of the United States forces.
Wednesday night, while General Car |
ranza's note was on its way to Wash
ington. troopers of the Seventh Cav
airy under Major Tompkins, were fired
upon in Parral, Villa stronghold in
Western Chihuahua, pursued to the su-
burbc while the Carranza garrison took
a doubtful part in the ARRAY, and were
attacked again in the night
Many Killed, Carranza Says
General Carranza, directing his en-
bassy here to point out that the clash
proved his contention that the pres
ence of American troops in Mexico is
leading to a situation which threatens
to go beyond his control. telegraphed
that many deaths had occurred on both
sides.
The foreign minister, Senior Aguilar,
in a dispatch sent before that from
General Carranza, said an American
trooper was killed and several civilians
were wounded.
Fought the mexicans.
Complete information regarding the
losses to the American troops or to the
Mexicans had not reached Washington
tonight. Secretary Baker informed
President Wilson that a brief dispatch
to the War Department said that &C
cording 10 unofficial reports, one Amer
lean eaYalryman was killed and that
the troopers used a machine gun
against the Mexicans.
Mr. Baker announced later that ne
! had ordered General Funston to take
any steps that might be necessary to
prevent further trouble. When asked
whether this might mean the enforced
use of Mexican railroads for the move
ment of soldiers and supplies, he said
General Funston was on the ground
and would act as any emergency re-
quired.
Reports Do Not Agree.
Consul Garcia, the Carranza agent at
Ell Paso, telegraphed the embassy that
several persons were killed on both
Sides" His dispatch added that when
the American troopers entered Parral,
the people protested and it appears
the garrison did also"
This latter statement is in direct
contradiction to the dispatches of Car
rama troops attempted to hold back
the Mexican mobs. A report to the
State Department from Consul Letcher
at Chihuahua, forwarded through Gen
eral Funston, said there had been
some trouble" at Parral when the
American column was fired upon by
Mexican civilians.
Mexican Town Raided.
Ell Paso, Tex, April ia band Of
Villistas numbering several hundred
and possibly a thousand sacked Sier-
IA Moiada, five miles across the Goa
| hula line and eighty miles east Of
| Jiminez, destroying many thousands
of dollars worth of American prop
erty and footing the town of every
thing of value.
This rews, which may prove to be
of the highest Importance, as it is be
lieved possible Villa himself was
among the raiders, was received here
today by the representatives of one
| of the largest American mining con-
Germs in Mexico and is accepted by
him as authentic. The bandits made
their attack on the town on April 5.
They came from Escalon, a junction
point on the Mexican National Rail
road, sixty miles southeast of Jimi-
nez, and about an equal distance
southwest of Sierra Mojada. On their
way to the latter place they sacked
the small town of Corrillo.
Reyes Close BY.
Another circumstance that gives
color to this location of the bandit
chief, is the fact that Canuto Reyes
at the head of large number Of men,
was reported from Torreon week
ago to be travelling north in the di
rection of Sierra Mojada- 1t was the
belief at the time in ToTreon that
Villas notorious ally was on his way
to join the brigand-in-chief. If il
proves true, Villa las completely
evaded the American troops, who have
been driving south at an amazing
speed and were to lay reported, from
the most reliable sources, to be well
south of ParraI and very close to the
Durango border.
Sierra Mojada is 140 miles east OF
the nearest point at which American
troops are known to be.