Arizona republican., 1916-06-26
Republican A. p. Leased wirel

IHepuDllCdn A. F. lCdScu NbHCl SAN ANTONIO, June 25.-MeXican troops fired the first shot on the troop CTS of the Tenth United States cavalry at Carrizal, but not until the American forces, fearing an ambush, had ad- Vanced in battle formation, according to a letter written on the day of the fight by Captain Lewis Mercy, com manding Troop K of the Tenth, the day of the fight, and forwarded to General Funston by General Pershing tonight
 Captain Mercy wrote the letter at 9:05 a. m., June 21, while hiding in hole about 1000 yards from the scene of the battle. Captain Mercy was wounded and had another wounded man and three unwounded troopers with him. The three unwounded men were picked up by a detachment un- der Lieutenant Henry A. Meyers, Jr., of the Tenth cavalry and the letter was brought to General Pershing today. Captain Mercy was left to die upon the desert from thirst and his wounds. The men abandoned him at his own orders. The three unwounded men had carried him, according to their stories to Lieutenant Myer, from the hole where he had hidden and made their way nearly two miles from the battle field They were forced to stop and Captain Mercy, believing himself hopelessly wounded, ordered them to leave him. They also thought him about to die from loss of blood, and thirst, and obeyed.
 The stories of the rescued men to Lieutenant Myer were very vague about the details of the right, accord ing to General Pershing's report to General Funston.
 Captain Morey's letter told of the pointing of Troop c under Captain Charles T. Boyd and Troop K under his own command at Ojo Santo De- mingo June 20, and the advance to- gether toward Carrizal, June 21. They arrived in an open field a mile from Carrizal at 6:30 in the morning. There they halted and Captain Boyd sent a courier into Carrizal asking permis- sion of General Felix Gomez to enter the town, saying he was going to Villa Ahumada. Gomez replied that he would not be allowed to enter the town but might make a detour around it.
 Fearing that they were about to be trapped by the Mexicans who had sal lied out from the town during the par ley, the American troops deployed in battle formation, mounted and moved forward. The MeXicans then opened fire Captain Boyd ordered his men tC dismount and return the fire, the en- gagement lasting about an hour.
 Both C and K troops advanced, the former to the position covered by the Mexican machine gun and the latter closing in to one side. K troop also was attacked from the flank while g detachment of Mexicans from the towr reached the rear of the American lint and stampeded the led horses. The Mexicans succeeded in checking th' American advance and the Americans first were forced to fall back and fin ally to scatter each for himself.
 Following is the text of Captail Moreys letter:
 "Carrizal, Mex, June 21, 1916.
 "9:l5 a. m. gro Commanding Officer,
 "Ojo Frederico:
 My troop reached Ojo Santo Do mingo at 5:30 D. m., June 2O Me Troop c under Captain Boyds com mand and marched by troops in req for Carrizal at 4:15 a. m. Reache open field to southeast of town a 6:30 a. m.
 Captain Boyd sent in a note request ing permission to pass through tn town. This was refused. Stated W could go to the north but not eas Captain Boyd said he was going t Ahumada at this time.
 ''He was talking with Carranza com mander. Commander Gomez sent written message that Captain Boy could bring his force into town an have a conference. Captain Boy feared an ambush. He was under tn impression that the Mexicans woul run as soon as we fired.
 We formed for attack, his intentio being to move up to the line of abol 12O Mexicans on the edge of the tow We formed, Troop on the left in liI of skirmishers, one platoon of K Troc on right of line and another K Troc platoon on extreme right esheloned little to the rear.
 "When we were within 300 yart