Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-04-15
AMERICANS fired
UPON BY Mp AT
PAn',, ,,.,, n .r..nI1MED
.,,sos
Unconfirmed Report Reaching
/ Funston Says Troopers Entered
! City Without Weapons TO
Buy Supplies.
DE FAcTo SOLDIERS ATTACK
Two Of Regulars Killed and Re.
mainder Retreat to Main Body
Outside Town.
ARE PURSUED BY AssAILANTs

SAN ANTONIO. Tex, April IA
The Americans on whom tho Meyi-
cans AZ Parral fired were unarmed,
according 70 an uneontIrmcd version
OF the incident current In Chihuahua
and transmitted 10 General Funston
today.
According 20 this story forty Of
the troopers entered Parral prcsum-
ably TO purchase supplies. and we're
fired upon. Two men were killed
and the remainder retroated 10 the
main body Of troops encamped out
side the city.
The attacking force pursued fhcm and
we're mot by fire from the Americans,
who were using a machine gun, killing
forty Mexicans
soldiers Attack Americans.
According to this story. the attacking
party comprised Caffanza soldiers and
civilians.
This version Of the Parrsl incident wos
sent from Chihuahua 70 General Bell at
El Paso, who forwarded II 70 General
Funston. Fun allowance was given by
departmental Officers to Consul Fletch-
cr's qualifying words. "unconfIrmed yor-
sion that WAS current IN chihuahua.
but there was manifested disposition
TO credit tho report.
Many Of the officers at headquarters
here regarded the story as more prob
ablo than some of the versions that have
come out Of Mexico, II was pointed out
that IN previous dispatches soldiers had
entered the town for the purpose of buy
ing supplies and In a friendly manner,
and that II they had gone into parral
for that purpose II was probable that
they went unarmed
No Word from PsrshiDR.
General Funston continued his efforts
today 70 get an official report from Gem
efal Porshing Of the occurrence, but late
today no word from him or any other
officer IN the punitive expedition hnd
been received Tho last heard from Gem
eral Porshlng WAS that he waa moving
south from aatoyo, and II II presumed
that tho commanding officer Of tho do
tachmont that got into trouble AZ Parral
had sent his report back In the usual
manner, first 10 his colonel, who then
would transmit II 10 General Pershing,
who In turn would have to overcome the
difficulties Of communication by courier
or aeroplane 10 a wireless station.
General Funston's orders to officers
along the line OF communication 10 guard
against attack and TO dispatch scouts to
ascertain movements Of any body Of
troops, are being carried out along the
entire line. II Is understood. Aeutenants
Gorrell and D8rgue. in an aeropane
scouting for some trace Of General Ar
nulfo Gomez forces that we're reported
preparing to move toward Cagas Grsndcs,
failed 10 locate the troops. but did make
what Ia said 10 be new record In army
aviation, flying $40 miles In four hours
and twenty minutes.
See No Troops
They passed along the Chlhuahua-so-
nora state line. some distance over tho
state or Sonora in the neighborhood Of
Pulpltos pass. but saw nothing OF any
troops notwithstanding close scrutiny
o fthe country from an elevation at one
time Of 1000 feet.
General Gomez WAS at Aqua Priota,
where he said he wns waiting orders 10
Join I'm the pursuit Of villa. but some
anxiety had been aroused here by the
dispatch few day aao Of a force in
the direction Of the American line of com
munication, The search fnr that and
other forces viii be continued. Just what
precautionary steps have beon takcn hy
General Funston 20 guard the line ana
meet any eyentuallties we're not revealed.
lie received during The day no new in
structionH from the War department n
was admitted here that he has now al
most fun authority 10 use hts avn judR
ment In mectlng any situation even 10
sendlng into Mexico an the 1900 troops
alons the border, hut the Incident Al Par.
raj has not caused him "a his stnff N.
tieefa tn alter their opinion that A
would he unwise "a draw unon that force
tot support ~ the punitive expedition.