Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-19
ARMY HEADS FEAR
WAR WITH MEXICO
) TO Be INEVITABLE
Opinion Expressed by Some Officers
at Border Headquarters Clash
Near if Threat Of De Factos
( Is Carried Out.
see SITUATION VERY SERIOUS
Crisis Reached When Three Hun.
dred American Soldiers
= Cross the Border.
TENSION AT CAMP IS EVIDENT

San Antonio, Tex, June 49,
United States army headquarters
here tonight regarded the Mexican
situation as most serious. Assuming
that the de facto government would
authorize General Alfred Ricaut to
carry out his threat to attack any
American force that crossed the line
into Mexico, some declared their be-
lief that war was almost unavoidable.
Thee risis was reached today when
more than 800 men of lie Third cav
airy crossed the river below Browns
vile in pursuit of the bandits that
! attacked little detachment of the
/ Twenty y-sixth infantry at San Benito
last night.
General James Parker, command
ing at Brownsville, sent cavalry
securing the country in the vicinity
of San Benito and on "hot trail''
discovered by Lieutenant Newman,
commanding troop H, the Americans
we're sent toward the border. The
trail led across the river and Lieuten-
ant Newman led his troop across late
in the forenoon.
Bandits Put to Rout.
Major Anderson with squadron
of the same regiment and machine
gun company closed in on the same
trail and early in the afternoon fol-
lowed the lieutenant and his troop
into Mexico. He was too late for
the fight and bloodless skirmish that
had taken place. Troop H engaged
the bandits almost Immediately after
getting on that side but Genera
Parker indicated no one on either
side was injured. The bandits flee
without great resistance.
The pursuit was continued. Late
today Major Anderson had movee
his force up the river towards Mata
moros, the Mexican town opposit,
Brownsville. He was still on thu
Mexican side tonight.
General Parker reported that hi
had sent to Consul Cara in Browns
vile note informing him that Amer
icant roops had crossed the interna
tional boundary in conformity will
the spirit of the agreement betweel
the two countries authorizing. tn
passage of troops when on "ho
trail" in pursuit Of bandits.
Expresses Regret.
He also called the attention of tn
consul to the fact that the bandit
had been run back to district whicl
American authorities had long insist
ed was the rendezvous of teh bandit
and outlaws. Consul Cara replied
acknowledging receipt OF Genera
\ Parker's note, adding that he kneN
\what it meant and expressed his dee
regret
Army officers here regarded Con
sui Garza's note as tacit admissio
that he believed his government
would resent the entrance OF this la'
est punitive expedition, perhaps eve
to the point of attempting to force
from the country. . :,
General Parker reported to the dt
tachment of the Twenty-sixth intar
try last night but it was not unit
late today that he supplemented tn
with any information as to the meas
ures he had taken to run down tn
attacking party. His first repol
brought the news that detachmer
I, of cavalry had entered Mexico.
Third Battalion Arrives.
: General Parker has ordered II
Third battalion of the Third Tex;
regiment from San Benito to Brown
vile and it is understood to have a
rived there tonight. Other preca
ionary troop movements were mad
His action in not reporting was il
iicative of the character of orde
that the commanding officer on Il
border has. All are under orders
4 run down any band of raiders al
10 follow them across the intern
|rr.--sonal boundary line if there appea
y reasonable chance of getting in co
tact with them
The raid on the camp of the SIN;
infantry force at San Benito has
suited in one Mexican killed and Il
Continued on Page 2, Column l.