The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-06-22

El Paso, June 22.-The story Of the
battle between the Mexicans of Car
ranza's army and the American troops
of the 10th regiment is gradually com
ing through, but so far entirely from
Mexican sources.
1t appears that upwards of 1000
Mexicans under Gen Gomez at Carrizal
ambushed 500 Americans and killed 40
of the U. S. troopers and captured IT.
The colored soldiers OF the 10th though
outnumbered 10 to one fought the
Mexicans savagely and charged them
repeatedly finally retiring before
weight Of numbers.
The Mexican loss is thought to be
about 200 and includes Gen. Gomez
who was killed. The number OF
Americans wounded is not large but OF
the II captured several were probably
wounded.
Five troops of the 10th were scout.
ing in the vicinity of Carrizal and were
attracted to the village by the MeXi
cans waving a flag of truce. 1t ap
peared later that the Mexicans had
concealed their soldiers and machine
guns and when the Americans ap
preached the Mexicans opened fire.
The fighting lasted nearly two hours
before the Americans retired The
Mexicans in spite of superior numbers
were too demoralized to follow.
Gen. Pershing has sent reinforce
ments to the troops attacked and an
other battle is likely to occur near the
same scene.
Washington, June 22.-The nationa
guard will be pushed forward to tn,
border as fast as ii is equipped ant
ready and the states which are read!
first will have the preference.
FL Paso. Tex, June 22.-Americal
and CarranZa troops fought blood.
battle yesterday only few hours afte
President Wilson's 6000-word rebuk
Tuesday to Gen. Carranza had gon
forward to Mexico City. With whicl
side victory rested is not known here
The engagement took place on tn
Santo Domingo ranch near the Mex
| can town of Carrizal, which is min
miles southwest of Villa Ahumada, tn
| the Mexican field headquarters il
| northern Chihuahua The number O
| dead. American or Mexican, was no
| definitely known last night, but neal
| ly score of Gen. Pershing's men ar
said to have been killed and the Mex
cans are said to have lost more tina
| two.score. Seventeen Americans ar
declared by Mexican officials to hav
been captured and two have been hui
ried to Chihuahua City under adequat
| guard. A machine gun used by tn
MeXicans is reported to have don
heavy execution. The Americans ell
gagged are thought to have been men
bers OF troop from the 10th cavalr!
Negro regiment. returning from
scouting trip to Guzman. The size {
the Mexican force, whose commando
Gen Felix Conner, was killed, is nc
known.
News of the battle was received i
Juarez early yesterday aittrnoon b
Gen. Francisco Gonzales, Carranz
commander of the military zone of tn
border For some reason Gen Col
zales kept the story secret until LAT
in the afternoon, when an American,
C. Huffrel, returning to the horde
from the interior, brought to III Pas
the news that he had seen numbers {
Mexicans dead along the Mexican CeI
tral railroad tracks at villa Ahumad
and had been told that there had bee
an encounter.
Gen. Gonzales's first step after co
| firming the news was to issue stat
ment placing the blame on the Anne
ican commander. He charged that Il
American troops fired first on Il
Mexicans, and that their shots we
directed at a courier who had just pr
sented to them u request that they r
tire. American army officers declare
absolute disbelief last night in Ge
+ | Gonzales's assertions. The opiniC
was expressed that II the American
fred on the Mexicans they did so b
cause 1t was necessary in order to
sure their own safety.
Early last night the only official d
tails of the engagement received he
came from the Mexican side of q
river General Gonzales said that Il
information was transmitted to hi
from villa Ahumada by Colonel Gen
veso Rivers, who commanded {
Mexicans after their leader, Gener
Gomez. was slain. General Gonzal
also gave the Mexican explanation
how the two forces came In contact.
Which ever side began the engal