Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-06-22
MEXICAN PRISONERS DE-
CLARE THAT INVADING
FORCES WERE RESPONS-
IBLE FOR ENGAGEMENT
Continued from page

Continued from page !.
Juarez that all was quiet, althoug
the news of the battle was widespread
there.
The only details Of the engagement
received here came from the Mexica1
side of the river. General Gonzale
said his information was TRANSMITTED
to him from Villa Amuada by Genera
Rias, who commanded the Mexican
after their leader, General Gomez
was slain. Jsaf
General Gonzales also gave thu
Mexican explanation of how the twt
forces came in contact. According Il
General Gonzales, he was informed
by General Gomez at Villa Amuads
last night of the presence OF the
Americans eastward between Villa
Amuada and Ell Vale. He said he i'm
mediately instructed General Gomez
to proceed to the Santa Doming ranch
where the Americans were reported
''in unknown force and advise theil
commander to retire to their camps
Refused to Retire.
This, he said, General Gomez did
this morning. The American com
mander, whose naale was not given
by General Gomez, is said TO have re-
piled he was instructed to proceed to
Villa Amuada and must do so.
A story brought to Ell Paso by
James c. Cubbell, an American, who
had been employed by the Compani
Agricola at Boquilles, bears out sew
eral Of the details of hte engagement
presented by General Gomez. Cub
bells story was corroborated by
James Maxey, another American, who
also was on his way TO Ell PasO from
the interior
According TO the story they told
us, the Mexican command was con-
cealed in the underbrush, when it dis
covered the American cavalrymen rid
ing toward them over the sand Cen
eral Felix Gomez, the Mexican COM
mander, Immediately sent courier
asking for parley under flag of
truce with the American commander.
The parley was arranged and as the
Mexican leader and two aides started
forward. the Americans suddenly de-
played in a semi-circular skirmish
line.
Sienaied Machine Gun.
General Gomez, apparently believ-
ing he was about to be attacked, rails
ed his arm and signaled a machine
gun in the rear to open fire on the
Americans. The machine gun swept
the cavalry branch, causing heavy
losses,
Immediately, however, a detach-
ment of American troops dashed for.
ward under heavy fire to the center
of the field, where General Gomez and
his staff were sitting on their horses
In the resultant encounter one of the
cavalrymen killed the Mexican leader
with his. pistol, lille the remainder of
the Carranzistas party escaped to
their own line"
A detachment of American cavalry
clashed with Carranzista forces at
Carrizal, about 80 miles south of 81
Paso, today, both sides suffering
heavy casualties, according to unoffi-
cial reports received by Mexican mil
ltary authorities in Juarez tonight.
Scout Patrol.
The American command is said to
have. been part Of scout patrol from
Guzman, returning to Gen Pershing's
line OF communication. Carrizal, nam
ed as the place of the encounter, is
about nine miles southwest Of Villa
Thumada, the Mexican field base, in
northern Chihuahua. All the prison
ers admitted that the blame should be
put on the American commander for
having ordered the attack. The pris-
oners were sent to Chihuahua City
with the customary protection
Gomez Killed.
According to the report, which the
Mexican authorities are Investigating.
40 Americans were killed by machine
gun fire in surprise attack. The
Mexican casualties were said to have
not been heavy. but General Felix
Gomez is named as being among the
Mexican dead. g
Gen. George Bell, Jr., who was first
informed of the fight by Mexican
Consul Garcia, said that no military
action would be taken in Ell Paso
"hhc oiuets were dNdlleu lIolu TeE.
Funston. In the meantime. he said.
mis- forces were ready for any demon
stration from the other side of the
Rio Grande
Gen. Bell said there was no uues-
tfon but fight had taken place. but
was inclined to diSbelieve the report
that any Americans had been taken
prisoners.
The news was spread throughout
Juarez, but the Mexican city remain
ed calm.
Not Confirmed.
Later Gen. Gonzales, Mexican com
mander at Juarez, gave out state