Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-15
Some Reports Have It That
American Force Was Wiped
Out; Others Say Many Mex
leans Were MasSacred,
VILLISTAS CIRCULATE
INFLAMMABLE STORIES
Two Private Soldiers Thought
10 Have Been First Attacked
by Mob; One Killed. Battle
Then Ensued.
~, aosnrse JOURNAL sree,A. .sAsso w'ss,

El Paso. Tex, April 1.-THE mys-
terry over what really happened at
parral, where American troops are
reported to have clashed with Mexicaps
on Wednesday, became more battling
than ever tonight, due to the amaz-
ing variety of conflicting reports
which poured into FL Paso from
every conceivable and many incon-
ceivable points.
There was one point which was def
mite: Amessage was received here
by an American concern from its rep
resentative in Parral stating that at
) o'clock Wednesday evening Ameri-
can soldiers We're passing through
Parral and that everything was nulet
then.
More Probable Story.
As the fighting between the Ameri-
cans and Mexicans is reported to have
occurred some time on Wednesday,
this message only served to make the
situation more perplexing. The most
plausible explanation was offered IN
an account of the affair brought here
today by an American from Chihua-
hua City. This man said the trouble
started when two American soldiers
were sent into Parral by Major Tomp-
kins to make arrangements for the
purchase of supplies Their presence
aroused the people of the city, who
had already been violently agitated Ivy
reports that the advancing American
troops We're going to take possession
of the town.
Attacked by Mob.
The two soldiers We're surrounded
by an angry mob and in the excite
ment a shot was fired which killed
one Of them. The mob then poured
out in the direction of the main body
Of the Americans and some indiscrim-
mate fighting took place in which a
number of Mexicans were wounded.
The Carranza garrison assisted in re-
storing order, according to this ac-
count and later the Americans passed
quietly through the city.
Wild Reports Circulated.
This report was given a good deal
of credence here on account of its
source, but there was no possibility Of
verifying it any more than any of the |
other reports, which ranged from Il /
complete massacre of the American |
soldiers to a bloodier massacre of !
Mexicans.
General Gavira said tonight that he |
had received no reports to indicate
the Parral incident had inflamed the |
people in the district over which he !
commands.
villa stronghold
1T must be remembered that Par |
raj has been one of Villas strongholds |
and contains many Villistas," he said. |
When thu cd ~ J
would have been an easy matter for !
these Villistas to make the ignorant !
believe that the Americans intended to |
capture and hold their town. This
evidently happened"
Gavira said he had received no 9TH
er telegrams, official or formal, relat-
ing to the Parral affair.
News reached headquarters today !
That the Presena ranch in the Parral
district was robbed yesterday by ban
dts who, however, did not shed any
blood.
Americans In Mexico Alarmed.
Ihe request of General Carranza for
the withdrawal of the American
troops, the Parral incident and reports
Of other clashes between American.
troops and Mexicans have alarmed
Americans living in Mexico, as is evil
nehced by the arrival here today of a
number of United States citizens from
!. hlhuahua City and other points.
some of these fled across the border
alter the Santa Ysabel massacre but
later returned in the wake of the
nited states soldiers. They all re-
FUSED to discuss conditions in the in
terror beyond saying that for the pres
nfnfnpFa1 -. 10 fIn
northern side of the international line.
some of the arrivals from Chihua-
lua reported that fighting had taken
pace between American troops and
MeNicans at Satevo. forty-five miles
'outh OF Chihuahua City. This fight
ns was believed here to be the attack